"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...
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...
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...
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...
In the world of business we live in, so often we are rewarded for certainty, yet sometimes being uncertain and knowing and stating that this is where we are, that can also be of value to our process and our business. We can be: Certain in Uncertainty. Today a coaching...
What if we aim too low? Today three thoughts on that : Seth Godin on the Icarus Deception My own thoughts on what clients ask for most often from me Marianne Williamson and my favourite quote So, thoughts around "what if we aim too low?" Seth Godin and the Icarus...
Recently I was about to have a first meeting with someone. They were late. When they arrived, they gave no reason. Thought of the term "reputation hygiene", as with only a little focus and attention our reputation is maintained and built upon, yet if we allow it to be...
An adage I follow in working with leaders is: "when you are totally bored of repeating your message, you are probably half way there". Another one is, "repetition, repetition, then some more repetition". So, in the last week I got on a roll talking about "Doing what...
Last week on Twitter in a discussion around leadership someone mentioned the "no a**hole rule". Hadn't specifically heard of it, but will now add this book by Robert Sutton to my reading list. As someone who lead businesses for years and, over the last decade,...
Recently I wrote "Doing what is right - Timpson", about a company in the UK I have admired from afar. Today a story about the corporate purpose and values of a company that I have got to know first-hand and that continues to hugely impress me with the way they live...
The photo above is of the beautiful concourse at Kings Cross Railway Station, opened in 2012 as an exquisite redevelopment and enhancement of a railway station originally opened in 1851. I visit this station relatively frequently to both journey to Scotland and to...
I'm not an Economist...but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night. Ok, so that one may be lost on many readers, but see the brilliant ad video further down and you may laugh at me, as well as other Economists and other experts! Meanwhile, today a simple...
Today am feeling inspired by James Timpson of Timpson and his leadership. By doing what is right, he has also found that this has driven both loyalty in his colleagues and making using Timpson a conscious choice for more and more customers. So, what was it he has...
Last week Hugh McLeod of Gaping Void published this image with a blog that simply said: When looking for a career, consider this: What is going to make you happy long-term isn’t the salary, isn’t the perks, isn’t the social status. What is going to make you happy is...
What do you see first in the picture above? In looking at it, did you notice yourself slowing down and focussing closely on the image? In my most recent three daily posts, I have focussed on a theme of reducing and simplifying. When we do this, we are able to bring...
Image by Imaginary Foundation, thanks to Jason Silva for sharing. This week I met with a client who has a role that sometimes feels overwhelming to them in term of scope, complexity and more. We spoke of the Da Vinci phrase I have written of, "Simplicity is the...
Yesterday's post was called "Give less advice". My friend Bruce Peters read it, then emailed me: "Have you considered "no advice" Or advice is prohibited approach? Wisdom Circles in the Quaker tradition set an example, perhaps?" Sage man, that Bruce. If, as I often...
Coach Gregg Popovich running a timeout for the San Antonio Spurs Imagine that coach watching the game. Naturally, he can see many things he could advise individuals and the group to do, to change, to stop doing. However, the best coaches do one thing consistently in...