I came down to lock up my beach hut for the winter. The Hut is full of books. I love to read when I am next to the sea but it’s far too cold for them now. So we drove down Friday night to stay and then I can walk to the beach hut inContinue reading “Orange coloured sky”
Author Archives: NCS
New ideas and old darlings
Everyone loves… no wait, not everyone but most people enjoy talking about new ideas. There are thousands of books and websites all dedicated to ‘Ideation’ and the art of coming up with a new idea. I understand the appeal of ‘new things’ but it is knocking on a door already open to most. I guessContinue reading “New ideas and old darlings”
Are you good timber?
I look out on this oak tree to write most of my posts when I am not at the beach. This is my dressing room view. I have a small simple desk to write at and look out at its majesty. I sit here sometimes just watching the tree for ages in awe of thisContinue reading “Are you good timber?”
Listen, learn, grow
Thank you for the messages wishing me a speedy recovery. I am feeling a lot better than I did on Sunday. As a consequence of being ill I lost my voice so a perfect recipe to read and rest. Rested and ready to return to work, I want to write about the importance of listening.Continue reading “Listen, learn, grow”
Best Health Tip ever!
Street food, I believe is the saviour of the human race Anthony Bourdain Anthony Bourdain wrote this many years ago. Mr Bourdain is sadly no longer with us, and thanks to his advice I might be soon catching up with him! Let’s go back 24 hours to Saturday night. I went with some friends toContinue reading “Best Health Tip ever!”
Certainty is absurd
It was Voltaire that wrote “Cherish those who seek the truth but beware of those who find it” Did you ever own a Blackberry? Most people did and if you owned one you could not have imagined losing it or replacing it with anything else. In the summer of 2009, BlackBerry occupied half of theContinue reading “Certainty is absurd”
My old notes found in a book margin
I found scribbles in a book this weekend. It seemed to not be related to the book so I can only think it was written while listening to a podcast. I can often write odd post it notes as I wait to board a plane or wait to deplane. The above picture is not thatContinue reading “My old notes found in a book margin”
There are four things we all need
Something to do Someone to love Something to believe in and lastly something to hope for Can you answer the list above? If so the you are well set and should be very happy. It doesn’t matter how good or bad you are, but it matters how good you want to be. Enjoy your weekendContinue reading “There are four things we all need”
We’re all alone in this together
That is the way it has been since the beginning. We have never had more or less than each other, that’s it. We need to realise that we are a social species and that is why we a have survived. We might well want to be on our own and work on our own andContinue reading “We’re all alone in this together”
Confirmation bias
There is a joke that goes something like: A few days ago I learnt what confirmation bias meant. Now I see it everywhere OK maybe I stick to writing. Where was I? Oh yes, I have always felt people are more comfortable to feel a person was born with certain talents. They are comforted thatContinue reading “Confirmation bias”
Desirable ends with available means
I have been in strategy for nearly three years now and it is the most interesting business area I have worked in. It has tested me more than any other role and still three years on I am learning things daily. ‘STRATEGY’ is however the most misused word I can recall, except maybe the wordContinue reading “Desirable ends with available means”
Freedom or meaning
A book recommendation and a profound passage in the book is my subject for today to consider and reflect on. Swing Time by Zadie Smith is a story about friendship and music and stubborn roots, it is about how we are shaped by these things and how we can survive them. I enjoyed White TeethContinue reading “Freedom or meaning”
A rising tide lifts all boats
It seems some days there is not even enough time to manage your own workload without the idea of helping another but that is what I am suggesting you do this week. Reach out to someone and ask them how you can help them, helping can be as little as listening and offering advice. HowContinue reading “A rising tide lifts all boats”
When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen
My grandad Dennis use to say to me’ Nathan, God gave you two ears and one tongue so that you may listen twice as much as you talk. I later learned that he was repeating the words of Diogenes, first written in the lives of eminent philosophers. In a way though my grandad was myContinue reading “When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen”
Variation in nature; vs modern life’s repetition
I had a week off at the end of the summer. I spent the time at home walking, reading, laughing and relaxing. I spent more time with nature than I had in a long time. Walking and sitting and observing nature. No day was the same that week. I felt great that week. I returnedContinue reading “Variation in nature; vs modern life’s repetition”
Three types of people
Xander (my 25 year old son) and I are at finals day. Or more accurately we are in a Hilton about to head off to Edgbaston to watch the cricket. All week I have been talking to folks about finals day and many will wish you luck or good wishes. So while I wait forContinue reading “Three types of people”
Don’t be stupid, Stupid!
Warren Buffett and Charlie Munger are are my investor heroes. They are also close to my heart as they read all the time. They are super smart sage old dudes that happen to run a behemoth of a hedge fund. So naturally you would think that they have some smart advice to share. When IContinue reading “Don’t be stupid, Stupid!”
Getting ones house in order
Melanie and I got the house cleaned this weekend. We payed for a ‘cherry picker’ truck to block off our house and clean our house exterior. It was a beautiful UK September day and the company we contracted blocked off the corner and jet washed the whole house. Taking off years of water and dirtContinue reading “Getting ones house in order”
September; Honing an essential skill
There is a skill not taught in regular business courses that is crucial to success. There is a skill your company highly values you for but won’t always know how to recognise it. This skill is going to be more and more important as we gravitate to higher value adding roles in the era ofContinue reading “September; Honing an essential skill”
Railway stations & loved ones
Melanie and I were already at the beach for the weekend when Natty our daughter decided to come down and stay with us. She was going to be on the 10:36 Sunday morning train from Victoria to Brighton, and we could not have been more happy to see her. We waited for her at theContinue reading “Railway stations & loved ones”