What high leverage relaxation do you choose that takes little time? Oh, and for British friends, yes, stopping for a cup of tea does count…
Resilience
Introversion and making myself go to events
I’m pretty introverted, so going to busy events (including the trip out, busy stations, trains, tubes etc) is something I have to push myself to…
The formula for success
The formula for success is the courage to start, the discipline to focus, the confidence to figure it out, the patience to know progress is…
Going on Walkabout
To “go on Walkabout”, an Australian aboriginal term, is to take a literal and spiritual journey, where a teen goes out into the outback.
What’s in a name? – Reißverschluss and more
Under the Reißverschluss (or “zipping directive”), lanes of traffic are actively told to merge at the final opportunity with cars alternating.
Certainty and making waiting easier
How to quickly bring certainty once a flight is cancelled. Medical Diagnosis, Prognosis and Planning.
Consistency and Flexibility
What are you consistent with and that does bring? What flexibility do you give yourself, and does that in fact form one of your strategies?
What’s for you will not go by you
The translation of that Scots phrase is “what’s for you will not go by you” and I am reminded of this as I am currently…
It is what it is and Response-ability
I have, over the years, become more and more practiced about events I have no control over. In short, I can take “response-ability”.
The power of encouragement
I was introduced to the Encouragement Manifesto, when they commended me on modelling point 6 by being consistent with my daily posts.
The difference between quitting and stopping
Quitting to me, as it relates to one’s physical body, is a mental thing, stopping is a physical one.
Positive news – and compartmentalising
A simple thought around compartmentalising. It has been two days since I got this news, yet I am still processing the fact that life can…
Roe vs Wade, Lying Judges, and Hope
One example of what the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe vs Wade means.
How do you eat an elephant?
How do you eat an elephant?…one bite at a time. Thoughts on leading transformative change in a business.
Summer Solstice reflections on Phases and Cycles
Yesterday, June 21st, was the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year.
Bring chicken stock
Being brought chicken stock was a gift of abundance and friendship for which I am most grateful.
The Opposition of Events
The difficulties we have to face are only the difficulties of circumstances, and the only opposition we have to encounter is the opposition of events.
And still I rise. Thoughts on remaining hopeful about gun control
I do not know how one can rise time after time, but I am so glad of it.
Tomorrow may not be like today
Today is simply a reminder for me each day that tomorrow may not be like today.
We are in charge of our attitude
We are, always, in charge of our attitude. Have an attitude of gratitude.
Do, or do not, there is no try
Sometimes it has been tougher than at other times to be positive, yet I have always had that choice, I don’t have to only “try”.
I’m back..and grateful!
When given the surprise news of the need for chemotherapy, I have, as soon as I could, returned my thoughts to being grateful.
Do it now, Carpe Diem
Carpe Diem is one of my favourite phrases, famously said by Robin Williams’ character in one of my very favourite films, Dead Poets Society, one…
In the face of Omicron uncertainty, focus on resilience
The spread of the Omicron variant of coronavirus is probably the most significant threat we’ve had since the start of the pandemic.
My most commonly shared Leadership lesson
Coffee and bacon rolls at Nat's Kitchen by Banstead Woods. Glorious! I have written repeatedly around what I call "Proactive Resilience", otherwise known as "Drink before you are Thirsty" or "You can't pour from an empty cup". Variations on this theme are also my...
Settling in for the Winter
So, the U.K. is going back into lockdown on 5th November. Regular readers will know I predicted this on 20th September and a recurring theme since then has been to encourage preparation, “Proactive Resilience”. On Sunday I made the most of being able to visit stores...
Being vulnerable is more than saying you are
the Open Leadership model Saying you are vulnerable is not the same as being vulnerable. The four core qualities of #OpenLeadership are: Be HungryBe HumbleBe BraveBe Open Linked to that is Chip Conley's idea of being a "vulnerable visionary" a leader who expresses...
Too hot to think
Today at 8 am it is 27c in London and forecast to hit 39c by mid-afternoon. That is simply too hot. No air conditioning. I can't think in this heat. I could make up all kinds of cool metaphors for business and leadership, the beginning of one coming around the...
Do you shut down your office when it gets too hot?
Should offices shut down when it is too hot? If your staff are going to work less effectively and have a miserable time getting to and from work and being at work in a city not designed for high temperatures, consider this. overheated trains in nearly 40c temperatures...
Want to magically increase your performance? Sleep
"Sleep is a natural performance enhancing drug. Tragic how many people think they can get by on 7 hours or less." @DHH My two oldest sons were elite swimmers. As teenagers then university students, it may have seemed to outside observers that they were...
Manage your energy, not just your time
Managing your energy is as important as managing your time and money. So, I sit here at 7pm on Thursday to write the daily blog for Friday at 8am, feeling quite tired after a really active day full of a variety of meetings. As I am about to write, I get an email reply...
Who are you?
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...
Taking time to recharge
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...
Put the oxygen mask on yourself first
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...
Life is about the people you meet
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...
When to fight, when to accept?
I recently learned a powerful lesson from someone close to me who has a disease that they are choosing how to address. They shared with me that they learned from their doctor that this was not something you "fight", as to approach it from a "fight" mindset means that...