A wonderful depiction by Gaping Void of the core messages of the book "Remote" I strongly believe in remote working. However, today let me take it a level further. For now let's call it "WorkAnywhere", as the idea of remote working still implies a paradigm where...
Context is a powerful tool which can be used at both a personal and professional level. In the last few weeks I've started working with a few new clients. At the beginning of any new engagement, I always like to take time with the client to set a Context before we...
There is no definition of time: what clock are you on? Andromeda galaxy - so far away that light takes two million years to reach us. How long is 38 years to you? Is it the same to each of us? If not, why not? Today a story about 38 years, then some thoughts on what...
Would you give your business away? Well, Julian Richer just did. Let's look at that story today. This week, on the same day that the Institute of Fiscal Studies announced their major new study on inequalities, the IFS Deaton Review, Julian Richer announced he is...
A recent conversation about Kaizen prompts me to highlight what it truly takes for it to work for you and your business. "Kaizen" is the Japanese word for Improvement. In industry, it is used to mean continuous improvement. It was pioneered by Toyota, but, as business...
Establishing your business and personal identity can be a complicated process. Who are you? Simple question, but identity can have many elements. Imagine you lead a business where lack of collaboration and trust is a constant struggle. "Who are you?" is a great...
Remember to take time to recharge and rest during your busy life. Swans and cygnets in a London park this weekend The last two weeks have been pretty intense for me, both with lots of work and also with the death of someone close then their funeral. I thought this...
Routine + Rhythm + Repetition = Resiliency In collaborating with a client on a project where we are moving from the "WHY" and "WHAT" to the choice of "HOWs" that will be actioned to action the Cascading Leadership model of "Align, Engage, Enrol" for their...
"I don't like the term patient capital, that is not long term enough" This line was spoken last night at dinner by legendary Scots investor Sir Angus Grossart. He then noted that he is a long term investor and that he feels he thinks longer term than Warren Buffett. I...
Meeting interesting and inspiring people, listening, being present to them, seeing where I can help them. This is my work, this is what I love to do. This also fills my batter, brings me energy as I (hopefully) bring energy and inspiration to them to. I'm generally...
In working with leaders I often support them around managing their energy, which includes their workload and looking to balance that. I find myself typing this at the end of a day which was way too overloaded with work, yet needing to keep my commitment to myself to...
Today, a reflection on the value of repetition As I approach 600 daily posts here, I recognise that I repeat themes in my writing. Though the stories, perspectives, viewpoints, examples may vary, the themes remain the same. Repetition, though, can have tremendous...
from a wonderfully indepth powerpoint deck by Cristiano Damiani Vasconcellos Language is powerful. Stunningly so. The language we use about ourselves and others can fundamentally change our perception of reality. Tip of the hat (or, as cyclists say, chapeau) to David...
Most of you will know this quote from Steve Jobs, one of several respected business leaders who will give advice along the lines of: Surround yourself with people smarter than you are Today though, let me link this to the idea of giving and receiving advice. Recently...
"Listen with the intent to understand, not to reply" ~ Stephen Covey Great advice from Master Covey, but it is a deeply ingrained human behaviour to listen, have an idea, then cut in, interject, say something. A mentor of mine taught me once that when I am listening...
Just over a month ago a young entrepreneur was killed outside a store he ran aimed at providing inspiration for his community. I didn't know of him, his music, his focus on lifting up his community. However, when his death made the news, I looked him up and this quote...
There are indeed no ordinary moments and life carries on in the people you meet. A personal blog today and also one where I wish to share from what I took from a day of shock news. I write this shortly after receiving the unexpected news that someone very close to me...
Ray Dalio of Bridgewater Capital has a personal net worth reported to be over $18bn, sourced from his hugely lucrative hedge fund business. When he wrote a 7,500-word opinion piece this month called "Why (and how) capitalism needs to be reformed", this created a stir...
Apologies for being political for a moment, but amidst the constant focus in the UK on Brexit, the country (along with most developed countries) is doing far too little to address one of the greatest social and economic crises of our times, that of preventable illness...
Sir Alex Ferguson in customary pose, yelling at his players Sir Alex Ferguson, one of the greatest football coaches, was famous for "giving his players the hairdryer treatment", ie yelling at them. Today a repost of a wonderful interview this week by Kieran Shannon of...
Love this quote from the author of one of my favourite books, "The Little Prince" (post about that book here). Often when I work with leaders and their businesses and organisations, they seem to find innovation hard. To me, innovation is simple, so why do we often...
We live in a "go go go" world, where we set ourselves targets and feel we need to achieve them right away, asap, now, now, now! Recently I was talking to a business leader who was feeling pressure to and felt they had no space. No space to think, to rest, to consider...
“Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves, like locked rooms and like books that are now written in a very foreign tongue. Do not now seek the answers, which cannot be given you because you would not be able to live...
I saw this photo this week posted on Instagram by my friend Arno de Jong, the amazing founder and lead guide of AlpAdventures. In August 2018 Arno arranged a private trip for me and my three boys to the French Alps, including hiking over multiple mountain passes,...
"Price is what you pay. Value is what you get" A favourite quote of mine from one of the world's great investors, Warren Buffett, a wise elder who I've constantly learned from for well over two decades. Today I'd like you to consider two things. One is the price you...
We've all experienced and given a "non-apology" apology. You know what that feels like to hear and to give. Incomplete or worse. The least apologetic "non-apology" will both try to justify what was said or done with excuses, then say something like "I'm sorry if you...
The Pontiac Aztek. Still no idea what question this answers. Have you ever faced a situation where you really don't know what to do and this has you feel frustrated, or perhaps even overwhelmed, confused? When that happens, do you feel the need to make a decision...
Ken Blanchard has a quote: "catch someone doing something right". I believe in business as a force for good, and in the righteous flywheel of purpose-lead businesses following the new triple bottom line and so creating profit for impact. I've started writing posts...
Love this image from a recent post by Gaping Void. Diversity of thought is a topic I am highly passionate about. One of my core values is "Fair" and the conscious and unconscious biases in our world, ranging from race to gender to sexual orientation to religion to...
Recently, spurred by my friend Bruce Peters, I wrote: "Give no advice". Bruce then wrote a follow-up and I feel to share his wisdom, reproduced below. Some advice bears repeating and accentuating (and yes, I get the irony!). From Bruce Peters: Re: "No Advice" Post...
On April 15th 2019 Notre Dame de Paris, our lady of Paris, burned and the world mourned one of the great man-made structures of human history. Within hours, though, #BeautifulLeadership was shown from business leaders and the French President. Business as a force for...
Yesterday I wrote: "Your business must make a profit", finishing that article with a warning about WeWork. Today, more on that, starting with remembering the lessons of the past and then some alarm bells I am now hearing ring loudly in my ears about WeWork. I remember...
Today a post "Profit for Impact", about the new triple bottom line and showing the following linear formula as iterative, a "righteous flywheel". Purpose + People + Planet = Profit Today I want to emphasise that your business must make a profit. Yes, I may sometimes...
In January I wrote: "Purpose, People, Planet. The new triple bottom line." That article puts forward that it is time for a new triple bottom line, one that creates: "a “Righteous Flywheel”, where the unerring focus on Purpose+People+Planet as drivers allows the...
Prior to my focus over the last decade on leadership and so people, I spent nearly twenty years focussed on numbers and building value in businesses. A key part of that is assessing the hidden assets in a business, the stuff that isn't always apparent in the financial...
This is Dun Carloway, a bronze age fort thought to be built in the first century AD. It is on the Isle of Lewis, where I spent most of my vacations as a child. Often I played and ran around this structure, then many years later my children did the same. While the...