Meetings, team calls and 1:1’s are part of our working day culture and no one questions them on a calendar. What if you saw ‘Read a Book for an hour’ on someone’s calendar what would you think? Reading can change your perspective. This in turn can lead to improved productivity or you and your teamContinue reading “Reading is not slacking”
Author Archives: NCS
Stories improve sales
I read a good book recently called ‘Significant Objects’, it is a literary and anthropological experiment devised by Rob Walker and Joshua Glenn, where they demonstrated that the effect of narrative on any given object’s subjective value can be measured objectively. In their book, they recount an experiment on eBay. “Stories are such a powerfulContinue reading “Stories improve sales”
Good, better, best, never let it rest. Until your good is better and your better is best
The search for self improvement is a constant one. It implores you to be uncomfortable being comfortable, discontent feeling content. You can always improve but it will require effort there are many ways I picked eight things I do to try and be better; Read books; No surprise with this first one Listen to podcasts;Continue reading “Good, better, best, never let it rest. Until your good is better and your better is best”
The obstacle is the way
I really enjoyed a book this week by Ryan Holiday, it is called ‘The Obstacle Is the way’ A stoic view of life from an author who believes we give up too easily. He believes with a simple change of attitude, and what seems like insurmountable obstacles become once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. Give it a read youContinue reading “The obstacle is the way”
Life is like a taxi
You are scared I understand why. You are scared to start a 4 year degree course because your are 28 years old and by the time you graduate you will be 32 years old. Here’s the thing, whether you take the degree course or not you will be 32 in 4 years time. So whyContinue reading “Life is like a taxi”
Learning from puzzles
I love a puzzle, it can be a Rubik’s cube, a crossword puzzle, an escape room or just a jigsaw puzzle. When I say ‘just a puzzle’ I don’t mean it like that as my favourite thing to do down by the beach on a rainy afternoon is do a 1000 piece puzzle and listenContinue reading “Learning from puzzles”
Walking to think
I have a theory, that when we walk we are distracting the part of our brains which are easily distracted and leaving the rest to create, to digest, to process. This works for me at least and so I walk for physical and mental health reasons. Different walk locations give me different stimuli which helpsContinue reading “Walking to think”
This place is ‘my water’, where is yours?
I miss the sea more than anything else in the pandemic. I usually go to the beach every Friday and return Sunday night, most of the year round. I have a beach holiday home and a little beach hut by the sea in a town called Lancing. It is not grand, it is certainly nothingContinue reading “This place is ‘my water’, where is yours?”
Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow
Even the most fortunate of us would agree that life can and is difficult. My mum used to say often, “Nathan, no one promised you a rose garden” Everyone of us experiences difficulties that are hard to overcome. It was Buddha that said “Pain is certain, suffering is optional.” No matter what we’re going through itContinue reading “Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow”
I was involved in a a bank robbery and Jesus was my getaway driver
Authors Note: As click bait goes. thats a cracker right? I mean it would be great click bait if it were not true. My last day of a business trip to Pleasanton in 2019 was an eventful one. I managed to lose, cancel and find my passport. Then feature in a bank robbery, yes thatsContinue reading “I was involved in a a bank robbery and Jesus was my getaway driver”
Koi carp on Cialis and the secret fax
It is funny how nostalgia can file off the rough the edges of the good old days. I often think back to when I was I used to work for a pharmaceutical company supporting commercial IT. I supported a bunch of different teams, all of them were nice people and occasionally you would see someContinue reading “Koi carp on Cialis and the secret fax”
Be Storyworthy
I’m reading a book called ‘Storyworthy’ and there’s a daily reflection exercise the author recommends called Homework for Life. The idea he proposes is that at the end of every day, you spend a few minutes thinking “What’s the most story-worthy thing that happened today?” Then you should make a spreadsheet of each of yourContinue reading “Be Storyworthy”
No grit
We had some snow this weekend and local news outlets were complaining about why didn’t they grit/salt the roads. Not that many cars need to be on roads at the moment. Years ago my daughter asked me the question. “Dad, what happens to the homeless on weekends like these when it snows and is veryContinue reading “No grit”
Our Brother Will and a famous sandwich
My youngest brother called Will is the best Barber in Burgess hill. He is highly sought out, with people waiting for ages to get in his chair. He is my youngest brother but a giant of a man well over 6ft. Customers love to talk with him because he is a great listener. He isContinue reading “Our Brother Will and a famous sandwich”
A quick fun way to improve your memory
I had the pleasure over Chrimbo Limbo (if you don’t know what that is click the link), anyway I had the pleasure to read a cracking new novel. A Crime novel by Richard Osman called “The Thursday Murder club”. It is truly a charming and delightful cosy crime debut about four amateur sleuths in aContinue reading “A quick fun way to improve your memory”
When the jerk in first class got his come uppance
Author’s note: This post is an extract of a diary entry from 2009, I have written about a side of A4 a day for 20 years and as I was reading back through them I saw an entry which made me smile. It is a little longer than my normal post. I hope that isContinue reading “When the jerk in first class got his come uppance”
You are your choices, make them good ones
Happy Inauguration Day, is that a salutation? I don’t really think so but for some of you, for most of you it is a very happy day so enjoy it. The swearing in of the most powerful person in the world is a big deal for the world whether you are an American or not.Continue reading “You are your choices, make them good ones”
Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd
We can get caught up in the action, execution mindset and not see the joys of doubt, the moments for thought which we all need. If you’re not having any second thoughts at all, it’s probably because you’re not thinking it through enough. The hallmark of the true believer is that there’s no room forContinue reading “Doubt is not a pleasant condition, but certainty is absurd”
Destination Addiction
The grass is always greener my Mother used to tell me. She was always wary of my ambition. Not because she wanted to stymie me but she wanted to make sure my happiness was sustainable. She was concerned about destination addiction: The idea that happiness is in the next place, the next job, or evenContinue reading “Destination Addiction”
Story
Storytelling is more important than you might think and it effects you more than you might realise. This is my ‘Personal goal for 2021’ learn as much about story telling, how it can improve my life, my relationships, How can it help my business goals. When and why is story more effective in persuasion? IContinue reading “Story”
