Author Archives: NCS

My favourite teacher story

As my son is a school teacher now and I am a very proud father I have started to collect or notice teacher stories. This one below is one of my favourites, enjoy: A school teacher ran a test that had several sections, each of which contained three questions. He told the students to chooseContinue reading “My favourite teacher story”

Where the focus goes the energy flows

Today I build on one of my most popular posts ‘Got to do, get to do’ I often hear people say “I’ve got to do this or that” as a complaint. They don’t realize the negative energy that flows from their words. I’ve got to wash the dishes I’ve got to get up this morningContinue reading “Where the focus goes the energy flows”

Mentoring can be magic

Mentorship works, Socrates mentored young Plato, who in turn mentored Aristotle. Aristotle mentored a youth called Alexander, who ‘over achieved’ that young man went on to conquer the known world as Alexander the Great. I heard about this great example: Great Ormand Street Hospital (GOSH) Doctors and nurses needed to model moves of master handoverers,Continue reading “Mentoring can be magic”

Chess lessons for life also

I have always loved Chess since I was a child, it is a game which tests strategic thinking. It requires concentration, and an ability to cope with change. Here are 5 life lessons I draw from Chess: 1. You have to move, thinking for too long is bad To play better you need to playContinue reading “Chess lessons for life also”

Forget the scoreboard

As the coach of football teams I would always tell my players to always play like it’s 0-0. I wanted the players to not let the current state of play impact the game plan and their actions. I would then apply that philosophy to the entire season. If you want to extend your winning streak,Continue reading “Forget the scoreboard”

A story I paid a homeless guy $5 for, enjoy

I was sitting on a bench outside a hotel in Indiana 12 years ago and a homeless guy sat by me and posed me a bet.” If I can tell you a story that makes you think, will you spare me a couple of bucks?” Of course I took his challenge and this is myContinue reading “A story I paid a homeless guy $5 for, enjoy”

10 things that need 0 talent

I have been talking with those I mentor about their careers recently and how talented the people are where I work. However I find that the word talent over used and far too simplistic and if anything an excuse to simplify how we differentiate people. I have for over a decade now had a listContinue reading “10 things that need 0 talent”

A no Zoom day! Now what?

So your manager just called me. He said to inform you today’s zoom calls are all cancelled. All he asks is that you do something today that would be a highly valuable to your business objectives. So what are you going to do? How will you spend the day? Are you on your own orContinue reading “A no Zoom day! Now what?”

Working with the best

People at the top of their industry can be tough. They are not the most patient. They like doing and not talking. They are focussed to the point of tunnel vision. That’s what makes them the best at what they do. They can be intimidating, especially to the inexperienced, but they recognize effort and excellence.Continue reading “Working with the best”

Forget the test, love the lesson

you’d bury yourself alive just to prove you could handle a shovel Jill Stagg That quote above was from my mother just before she passed away. We were talking about how proud she was but how concerned she was that I pushed myself too far. She knew her son. But I started at the endContinue reading “Forget the test, love the lesson”

The dog, the porch and a nail

One morning, a man was walking down a country lane and heard a horrible noise. He looked up and saw a dog on a porch that was just sitting there, whimpering, whining and moaning. The man was curious as to why he was whimpering, so he went and knocked on the door and a guyContinue reading “The dog, the porch and a nail”

True love is giving

I read an interview this week which was incredibly powerful. I captured my notes for today’s post. It started with a question: Young man, why are you eating that fish?” The young man says “Because I love fish.” The man says “Oh, you love the fish. That’s why you took it out of the waterContinue reading “True love is giving”

Worrying is exhausting

Do you recall the worry that took your time and attention? The one you were consumed with, the worry which distracted you from quality family time. And now? My guess is you are no longer worried, was it worth the concern? Was it as bad as you feared? Have you now replaced that with anotherContinue reading “Worrying is exhausting”

Perspective

Not sure why I remember this today but it just came back to me this morning. I remember travelling to Scotland years ago, we went right up to the Northern most tip of our beautiful island. I had driven for over a day, got a boat /ferry to get to Lochinver, Sutherland in western Scotland.Continue reading “Perspective”

Comfortable feeling uncomfortable

If you are thinking about doing something different, don’t let the fear of failure keep you where you are. In order to grow we must be uncomfortable feeling comfortable, discontent being content, if you have been successful in one discipline, role or project its human nature to look to replicate those victories. However ask yourselfContinue reading “Comfortable feeling uncomfortable”

Execution matters most

Discussing ideas, meeting with smart people and bouncing off of each other is engerising. Ideas are the kindling of progress but they are not progress, the most important ingredient is ‘great execution’. It is in doing the work and putting the idea in the world. Making that idea a reality needs industriousness and effort. ExecutionContinue reading “Execution matters most”