2020 we can all agree is best forgotten but I am pleased with one thing. I have removed myself from social media and now since last month have not visited certain online news sites either. I read the guardian in paper form or iPad and if I go online it would be the BBC. IfContinue reading “Social Dilemma”
Author Archives: NCS
Hanlon’s Razor found on the beach
Who would have knew I would find Hanlon’s Razor on the beach this weekend. I am joking of course, Hanlon’s Razor is a mental model but learning this has helped me understand better some of the insensitivities you see around everyday life and for sure you see them at the beach also. Put most simply,Continue reading “Hanlon’s Razor found on the beach”
Two thieves both called regret
Saturday morning down the beach hut is a day of reflection for me, a day I look back and try and see the week just passed at arms length. It is important to learn and try and improve but also not to beat yourself up too much. Regrets for the week past on events andContinue reading “Two thieves both called regret”
Your experience is just that, yours!
How many shops and stores do you have close to you? I was on a zoom call with a colleague the other day and we were talking about a new bit of tech which we both liked. I suggested to my colleague could go buy it at weekend. I then learned that where they liveContinue reading “Your experience is just that, yours!”
[Parenting] The enemy of great is good enough
My kids have grown up now and they are forging their way in the world. It is part of the reasons I am writing this blog to reflect on a life which for 25 years was a whirlwind of life lesson. My kids have always worked and even though they did not need to theyContinue reading “[Parenting] The enemy of great is good enough”
Seeing others perspective
Not sure why I remember this but it just came back to me this morning on hearing someone talking about the problems in our country at the moment with Covid-19. I remember travelling to Scotland over 10 years ago, right up to the Northern most tip of our beautiful island. Where I had driven forContinue reading “Seeing others perspective”
My Podcast Episode; Mentoring
I had the pleasure of appearing on the Grasp.hr Podcast a few weeks ago and the episode just dropped. Click on the link above to listen. I talked about my earliest mentoring experience as a caddy to businessmen at 13, my life at Eli Lilly and my eventual move to Veeva Systems. We discussed theContinue reading “My Podcast Episode; Mentoring”
Knowledge Vs execution
When you push into areas that are totally new for you there is a perfectly natural tendency to to feel like you cannot be effective without the full information or knowledge that you are missing. That something which will help you be effective. Knowledge is great, it is key and you must seek it andContinue reading “Knowledge Vs execution”
Feel, Felt, Found
Today, I had the opportunity to talk with a colleague. The discussion was how to handle the situation when a customer is perhaps reacting to some unwelcome news. I shared with him a ‘tried and tested’ technique. Situation: A customer has heard a piece of disappointing news, how to manage this is adopt the methodContinue reading “Feel, Felt, Found”
Sorry, I could not find time!
I hear this stated on occasion, many subscribe to the fallacy of time as this elusive currency we all struggle with, what we actually mean is; “I did not consider this task important enough over my other things.” It ranked low on their list and they don’t like saying it as they have not trulyContinue reading “Sorry, I could not find time!”
Seen it all before
I think we can all agree age is a very high price to pay for maturity, but what maturity teaches you is the feeling so often that you have seen that before, heard that debate before, experienced that moment before. Being married to a historian just cements this assertion. My wife reminds me that weContinue reading “Seen it all before”
Little disappointments
When I was a teenager studying english literature at College I was fascinated by the short stories of Katherine Mansfield, I loved her writing and a collection of short stories including ‘The dill pickle’ and ‘Miss brill’ those tales will be forever a joy to me. I loved the idea that rather than the bigContinue reading “Little disappointments”
Hop reading
I was sitting in Costa this morning “Hop reading”. Its basically where I hop from one subject to the next in an ADHD, Jazz like riff of reading one article or link or Video and then after the hour I have been all over the place, ending up reading a completely different topic to theContinue reading “Hop reading”
Fish and chips by the sea while reading books about the sea
Some weekends the pleasure of being alive is just within reach and the warmness of the moment is understandable also. It’s a gift to be alive. And each moment, each breathe we take is literally the chance of a lifetime.
No crabby pants allowed only happy clams
As I write this post the bank holiday weekend still has half of Monday left but I can say without a shadow of a doubt that it has been one of my best long weekends for ages. I am at peace with ‘the me’ down at the beach. Whether it be short walks on theContinue reading “No crabby pants allowed only happy clams”
Surprising Sunday
Sunday surprised me with some lovely blue skies, light winds and no rain. I suppose as it is a bank holiday that explains so many people walking up and down the beach paths. I hope you do forgive me for taking yet another photo of my Hut and path outside, I could take a photoContinue reading “Surprising Sunday”
OK Breathe, Orange Coloured Beach Sky;
Arrived at the beach and saw this orange coloured sky as we were unpacking. The sound of the waves, the smell of the salty sea will always be a trigger for me to relax and breathe. The Friday night long drive after a long week is always worth it once we arrive and are metContinue reading “OK Breathe, Orange Coloured Beach Sky;”
Travels with Charley; John Steinback
In Spanish there is a word for which I can’t find a counterword in English. It is the verb vacilar, present participle vacilando. It does not mean vacillating at all. If one is vacilando, he is going somewhere but doesn’t greatly care whether or not he gets there, although he has direction. John Steinbeck (1962)
People… are interested in people
This post is not a typically reflective or cerebral post but just an observation from my experience of living next to the sea. You see the photo that accompanies this post? well you have two options as you walk along the seaside path. You can look at the majestic ocean, waves, clouds, boats, planes allContinue reading “People… are interested in people”
No man is an island
Learning of friends losing loved ones and relatives always leaves me a little sad, even if they were not direct friends it effects us all. More than ever this poem by John Donne says how I feel right now. (excuse the use of noun ‘Man’ it was written in 1624) ((Spot the Hemingway title… ))Continue reading “No man is an island”
Sea's The Day 