Bravery takes different forms, and it is always relative to the individual. Stories here on swim coaching, mental health, and the bravery of a 7…
Vulnerability
Being a Vulnerable Visionary
"I think the best entrepreneurs are Vulnerable Visionaries. Its a combination of being vulnerable and having confidence." ~ Chip Conley I have referenced Chip Conley in my daily posts multiple times, with his concept of "Vulnerable Visionary" one learning I repeatedly...
I’m sorry. What I did was wrong…
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...
Be brave enough to keep it simple
Be brave enough to keep it simple. How can you be brave enough to get your entire strategy down to a few words. Sharing my…
Simple, but not easy
"It's simple, but not easy" Yesterday I wrote "To be truly radical is to make hope possible", and closed that post by saying today I'd write a little about what it takes for radical change. I love radical change, transformative and brave. Incremental change is...
Kindness as Leadership
Kindness as Leadership. Learning from Mr Rogers
Nothing happens until somebody feels something
My favourite business artist is Hugh McLeod, @hughcards on Twitter. Love this one. Change comes from feelings, not rationality. Feelings connect us to why we would choose to change. "When you get clear on the WHY, the HOW is easy" I see organisational change so often...
None of us is bulletproof – advice for founders
I had lunch recently with an investor who expressed frustration about founders of startups and scale-ups. They are not a fund partner, nor VC or from the Private Equity world. No, they actually built a business of value and lived it for the whole journey through to an...
Leadership, vulnerability and how to apologise
In "Good to Great", Jim Collins talks of five levels of leadership, the highest being Level 5. Level 5 leaders have all that it takes to be at the first four levels, but in addition, have a unique blend of humility and indomitable will. My writing at this site is...
Elite Lessons – Making failure possible
In order to make failure possible, you first have to try, to commit, to go where it may scare or even terrify you, to be vulnerable, to say "this might not work" and do it anyway. Very recently I was disappointed to witness this first hand in someone. They were...
Open Leadership – Being Human
This is a repost and update of one of my earliest posts on this site, "Presence…and Vulnerability". Why a repost? My current musing is on Romance, Beauty and business. Yesterday's post, inspired by the "Business Romantic", Tim Leberecht, had me think about being human...
Stretch but don’t break – and watch Nanette
"A leader is someone others choose to follow" ~ (me) People follow leaders who are "keepers of the vision" and who create and maintain a space where people feel inspired and also stretched to be their best to be part of achieving that vision. What if, however, a...
Onlyness and Chip Conley
In the last year, I've had the opportunity to talk to several thought leaders, speakers, writers who I have very much admired and respected for many years. Two of those people are Nilofer Merchant and Chip Conley. Nilofer I just talked to for the first time recently,...
Leadership – Being alone with our thoughts
Musing on silence. Do find time to rest and recharge and find silence at this time of year
Coaching Skills – Asking is about Connecting
Today I sit on my terrace early in the morning, preparing in my own way for coaching calls with two new clients from an organisation I am supporting as they bravely transform. While sitting quietly as I tend to do before such calls, I opened my online notes of "things...
Smashing Paradigms – Why Be Humble?
Chapeau to Andrés Iniesta, Derek Jeter, Ed Percival and more. Let us all take endings seriously.
Writing I Love – Malcolm Gladwell – Outliers
Malcolm Gladwell – Outliers – what is an Outlier and what did he mean by the 10,000 hour rule ?
Writing I Love – Eclectic Lines
Having and stimulating your Growth mindset is key for leaders, and so investing time to read widely as well as deeply is one way to give focus to this. With that in mind, each Tuesday I post "Writing I Love". Sometimes a business book, sometimes a leadership quote,...
Writing I Love – The Stolen Child
Leaders are often encouraged to be selfless, to be servant leaders (and other such descriptors). However, our egos are very stubborn. They resist the idea of being selfless, as that means dissolving the ego so as to be of greater service to others, to shift and...
Smashing Paradigms – Trains without Timetables ?
What if leaders said “I was wrong” ? What could change (and yes, I will utter the words “gun control” here). Thanks to @chipconley @satyanadella…
Be Brave, Own It! – Keala’s “This is Me” Moment
A story of bravery, owning it, inspiring self and others. #itsyourfault @kealasettle #andtheoscargoesto #thisisme
Smashing Paradigms – “I was wrong”
What if leaders said “I was wrong” ? What could change (and yes, I will utter the words “gun control” here). Thanks to @chipconley @satyanadella…
Smashing Paradigms – What is Bravery?
Bravery takes different forms, and it is always relative to the individual. Stories here on swim coaching, mental health, and the bravery of a 7…
Know Thyself – the story of Yale’s Most Popular Class Ever
Know Thyself – ancient Delphic wisdom for elite leadership, illustrated by this story from Yale
Smashing Paradigms – Ellen
The words of the brave and inspiring Dr Taylor Burrowes on the inspiration and bravery of Ellen DeGeneres
Humble Leadership – “that’s family business”
Who is the greatest Basketball team ever and what can leaders learn from them ?
Belief – The greatest gift you can give someone
Leaders believe in their people, give someone the gift of believing in them
Memento Mori
This week a twist, three powerful commencement speeches to share
Writing I love – Invictus
A masterful poem that has so often inspired me in both dark time and light.
Emotional Equations – Chip Conley
Please share the Emotional Equation that means the most to you. Inspired by @chipconley
Writing I love – Silence in the Age of Noise
Musing on silence. Do find time to rest and recharge and find silence at this time of year
Father Christmas asks – What’s your Centre?
What’s your centre? #MakingPotentialPossible
Humble Leadership and Trust
This week I met with a top executive coach who, in an earlier phase of life, was a famous sporting leader. In that phase of life, one example of their leadership created a famous day that will live on for many years. That moment was created by an example of leadership...
Leadership and Resilience
Give abundantly, and also set boundaries and be resilient. Find the balance
Favourite quote – Our deepest fear
Yesterday I wrote about flipping procrastination and fear into growth. This reminded me of probably my favourite quote of all time. Given how many quotes I love, the fact that this one stands above all others says a lot to and about me. "Our deepest fear is not that...
Flip procrastination and fear to growth
Ok, ok, so I prefer "Do, or do not, there is no try". However, though I aspire to be Yoda-like, sometimes my humanity takes the form of procrastination. I don't write every day for the daily posts here, I post every day. Big difference. I reserve time for...