My aim is to inspire people around the world one blog post at a time.
This is the place to nourish your mind, heart, body and soul.
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It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch your own business. Maybe you want to escape the rat race and find peace in simple living. Maybe you want to improve your health. Whatever your dream is, it is valid!
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Dreams without action are just dreams. But taking action doesn’t necessarily mean quitting your job and burning the ocean. Small steps matter. It is the ability to plug away consistently at something over time that is the key. Small steps add up. You’ll get there!
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If you keep building slowly and consistently with passion each day, adding value that matters to you, then the growth will take care of itself. The keys to achieving success are patience and avoiding complacency.
Maximise Yor Impact
There’s a simple reason some leaders seem to move mountains while others are forever stuck rearranging pebbles.
The best leaders consistently do the right work at the right level. It remains one of the most powerful leadership lessons I have learnt.
Originally published in November 2000, Stephen Drotter co-authored The Leadership Pipeline, which HR Professionals quickly embraced as a means of approaching leadership development.
However, whilst working with Stephen Drotter for a short while during the implementation of the Leadership Pipeline at the organisation I was working for, I soon discovered that it was a robust framework for understanding how to structure work in a business to optimise results.
Why Teenagers Rebel
We’ve all either lived through it, witnessed it, or felt baffled by it—the infamous teenage rebellion.
It’s the eye rolls at dinner, the dramatic door slams, the dyed hair, the midnight escapades, the loud music with incomprehensible lyrics, or the blunt “you just don’t understand me.”
Teenage rebellion is one of human development's most familiar and misunderstood chapters.
But what if we stopped seeing rebellion as defiance and started viewing it as part of a necessary, even healthy, transformation?
This blog article explores the root causes of teenage rebellion, how it manifests, and how families, educators, and society can compassionately and constructively engage with it.
Underneath the eye-rolling and resistance lies something more meaningful: a young person discovering who they are.
Navigating Office Politics
“In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way.” – Franklin D. Roosevelt
If you replace “politics” with “office politics” in the above quote by US President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the words still ring true.
Whether we like it or not, office politics are everywhere.
They creep into meetings, linger in the hallways and the coffee station, and influence decisions behind closed doors.
Many associate the term with manipulation, favouritism, or backstabbing, but that’s a narrow, often cynical, view.
Office politics are fundamentally about human behaviour, power dynamics, and influence.
They’re about surviving your job and learning how to thrive.
This article, therefore, explores what it means to be politically savvy, why it’s an essential skill in modern workplaces, and how to develop it without compromising your integrity.
Beat the Odds in a World of Failing Projects
In a world where ambition often outpaces excellent execution, large-scale projects such as bridges, airports, rail systems, or digital platforms can be challenging to get right.
In “How Big Things Get Done”, Oxford professor Bent Flyvbjerg and journalist Dan Gardner dive into why so many megaprojects fail and what separates the rare successes from the overwhelming number of failures.
The numbers are sobering: 92% of megaprojects are over budget, late, or both.
Even more alarming, a mere 0.5% are delivered on time, on budget, and with the promised benefits.
But Flyvbjerg and Gardner aren’t just critical voices. They offer clear, research-backed strategies for doing things differently and more effectively.
Foundations of Success
I have spent over thirty-five years working in human resources and witnessed many careers tank or skyrocket.
In recent years, I have noticed an increasing trend of impatience among younger people who expect to occupy a senior role in an organisation soon after achieving an academic qualification, despite spending little to no time in the proverbial trenches.
However, the brutal truth is that success is not tied solely to academic qualifications or inherent talent. While these attributes may open doors, they are the first step in a much larger journey.
What ultimately defines success is the life skills individuals develop and master along the way, skills that help them navigate challenges, build relationships, and continuously grow.
And these life skills take time to develop.
It is said that the road to failure is often paved with good intent, but those who cultivate a foundation of essential life skills have a better chance of achieving lasting success.
Qualifications may get you a seat at the table, but life skills ensure you will stay there and thrive.
So, let's examine some essential life skills and ask ourselves how long it takes to become exceptional in these areas.
Can all of these be acquired without experience?
Global Debt and Trade Wars
Debt used to be something most people only worried about when it came time to pay off their mortgage or student loans.
But is global debt emerging as a global crisis in our modern world?
Governments, companies, and households worldwide are swimming in red ink, and the water is rising. From Washington to Beijing to Brussels, the world’s biggest economies are shouldering record-breaking debt loads.
Add a revived tariff war sparked by Donald Trump’s return to the political scene, and you’ve got a world economy teetering between resilience and recklessness.
In this article, we’ll unpack the state of global debt today. We’ll dig into the specifics of the U.S., China, and Europe (the three heavyweight economies) and explore what their rising obligations mean for your wallet, the markets, and the future of global cooperation.
I’m Well, Thanks … And Neither Are You
If someone were to ask how you’re doing right now, odds are your default reply would be: “I’m well, thanks. And you?”
It’s automatic. Polite. Expected.
But let’s pause for a moment and think about that phrase. Are you truly well? Or have you, like many people, accepted a version of wellness that barely scratches the surface?
Here’s the uncomfortable truth: many of us think we’re well because we’re not in crisis. But wellness isn’t the absence of disease or drama.
It’s balance, meaning, connection, energy, and peace.
And if you’re feeling vaguely restless, exhausted, stuck, or constantly “on the edge” despite being “fine,” you’re not alone.
The dissonance is real, and it’s growing.
Puzzles vs Mysteries
The concept of puzzles vs mysteries can serve as a valuable strategic lens for modern businesses.
Why?
In today’s fast-paced and unpredictable world, business leaders face many diverse problems.
Some come neatly packaged with data and frameworks. Others arrive murky, tangled in uncertainty, and impossible to pin down.
In his widely acclaimed book The Wisdom of Crowds, James Surowiecki offers a compelling lens for viewing these problems, namely the distinction between puzzles and mysteries.
He argues that understanding the difference between a puzzle and a mystery can fundamentally change how we think, plan, and lead.
What Makes Change Sticky?
Let’s be honest. Change is hard.
If you’ve ever tried to get your team to adopt new software, follow a new process, or shift a long-standing mindset, you know the feeling.
The endless town halls. The flashy PowerPoint decks. The “strategic transformation roadmap” that got rolled out with great enthusiasm… only to fizzle out six months later.
So, the question isn’t how to launch change. That’s easy.
The real question is: What makes change stick?
The Journey is the Destination
In an age characterised by the relentless pursuit of goals, many individuals find themselves trapped in a cycle of ambition and achievement that often leads to discontent.
The Russian writer Fyodor Dostoyevsky embodied this struggle. He was a tortured soul who questioned everything, including his faith.
As Arthur C. Brooks notes Dostoyevsky’s “deep uneasiness with life led him to create a blueprint for living centred not on comfort and enjoyment, but on meaning.”
The lesson is that life's journey, with its ups and downs, is as significant as the goals we chase. Notably, while undoubtedly important, the pursuit of goals can blind us to the richness of life’s moments.
Successful Choices in a World of Risk
Let’s be honest; we all want to make good choices.
Whether deciding on a career path, launching a new product, or simply figuring out if we should trust the weather app for that weekend hike—we crave clarity.
Yet, we live in a world filled with uncertainty, randomness, and incomplete information. So, how can we consistently make successful choices in a world of risk?
In his brilliant book “The Art of Uncertainty”, David Spiegelhalter offers a refreshing reminder: “Success isn’t about eliminating uncertainty—it’s about learning to live with it better.”
Let’s take a closer look.
The Surprising Habits of Original Thinkers
Many may wonder if original thinkers are rare and if they are born with a special genius. They imagine people like Steve Jobs or Marie Curie blessed with divine inspiration, producing breakthrough ideas easily, clearly, and boldly.
But what if they’ve got it all wrong? What if original thinking isn’t about being a natural-born visionary or having a high IQ?
What if it’s more about specific habits and ways of thinking — many of which might surprise you?
In his brilliant book Originals, organisational psychologist Adam Grant dismantles the myth that originality belongs to the rebellious few.
Instead, he shows how anyone can learn to champion new ideas and challenge the status quo.
The truth is that original thinkers often behave in counterintuitive, even messy ways. But it’s those exact quirks that make their thinking so powerful.
So, let’s look at some of the surprising traits and habits of original thinkers, understand their impact on the world, and, more importantly, discover how to develop your original mind.
Does Attitude Change Behaviour – Or Is it the Other Way Around?
Let’s start with a story.
Imagine you’ve decided to start going to the gym. You buy new sneakers, download a fitness app, and set your alarm for 6 a.m. Monday rolls around. That alarm screams in your ear, and your first thought isn’t “I love working out!”—it’s more like, “Why am I doing this to myself?”
But you drag yourself out of bed. You go. And the next day, you do it again. Fast-forward two weeks: you’re not only still going—you want to go.
What changed?
It wasn’t your attitude that kicked off the new habit. It was your behaviour. You acted first. And your attitude followed.
So, does attitude change behaviour?
Who Moved My Cheese?
In 1998, Spencer Johnson published a simple, motivational story that helps people deal with change in a positive and proactive way.
The book is set in a simple, imaginary maze where four characters live: two mice named Sniff and Scurry and two tiny human-like beings named Hem and Haw.
They all spend their days searching for “cheese,” which represents whatever makes them happy such as success, love, money, a job, health, or peace of mind.
One day, the cheese they’ve all been enjoying suddenly disappears.
Instinctive and straightforward, the mice quickly accepted the change and set off into the maze to find new cheese.
But Hem and Haw, the little people, struggle.
Building Circles of Influence
Ever heard the phrase, "It's not what you know, it's who you know"? There is a measure of truth in this.
Essentially, it refers to circles of influence; a network of relationships and connections that can open doors, provide support, and help you achieve your goals.
There is a limit to what we can achieve by ourselves. So, building circles of influence is key to success, whether you're trying to advance your career, launch a new business, or make a difference in your community.
Imagine throwing a pebble into a pond.
The pebble creates ripples that expand outward in concentric circles. Each circle represents a layer of influence, starting from your immediate family and closest friends and then extending further to acquaintances, colleagues, and beyond.
Is Emotional Commitment the Key to Employee Engagement?
When discussing employee engagement, the conversation often revolves around understanding why some employees go above and beyond while others do the bare minimum.
What differentiates a highly engaged employee from a disengaged one?
According to the Corporate Leadership Council (CLC), the answer lies in understanding two key types of commitment: rational and emotional.
Both types of commitment play essential roles in driving engagement, but emotional commitment is where the magic happens—it’s what fuels the passion, loyalty, and extra effort that are the hallmarks of high-performing teams.
I Agree You Nod - Thinking What a Crock of Sh#t
Have you ever found yourself nodding along in a conversation, even when your inner thoughts scream in disagreement?
Many people experience this phenomenon, often referred to as “social agreeableness. " It refers to our propensity to conform to social norms, often at the expense of our authentic opinions.
So why do people nod in agreement despite their true feelings? Who are the individuals most susceptible to this behaviour, and how can we recognise these patterns in ourselves and others?
What Defines Exceptional CEOs?
When you think about an exceptional CEO, what comes to mind first?
Is it charisma? Ruthless efficiency? Maybe a big personality that dominates every room they walk into?
Those might be common traits we associate with CEOs, but they don’t quite capture what sets the great ones apart.
The truth is that exceptional CEOs share a deeper set of qualities—things that don’t always appear on the surface but make all the difference over time. It’s less about showmanship and more about substance.
So, let’s take a closer look at what truly defines an exceptional CEO, using some real-world examples to see these traits in action.
Conversations With Yourself
Have you ever caught yourself in mid-thought and wondered, “Who exactly am I talking to?”
The voice in your head—sometimes encouraging, sometimes critical—narrates your life, debates your choices, and even argues with itself. But if it’s your mind producing these thoughts, then who is listening?
This strange loop of self-reflection is at the heart of human consciousness.
We are both the speaker and the listener, creating an internal dialogue that defines our identity. This process is not just idle chatter; it’s a psychological mechanism that shapes our perception of reality, influences our decisions, and determines our sense of self.
To better understand this, it is useful to examine Carl Jung’s analytical psychology, Friedrich Nietzsche’s philosophy, and some of the broader mysteries of the human psyche.
Wisdom from Winnie the Pooh
Winnie the Pooh, a beloved bear created by author A.A. Milne, maybe a children’s character, but his simple yet profound wisdom also has much to offer adults.
The stories about Pooh and his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood are filled with timeless truths about friendship, love, and the nature of happiness.
In this essay, we will reflect on some of Winnie the Pooh’s most insightful quotes and explore their relevance to adult life.