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”
Category Archives: Life Lessons
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”
10 years at Veeva today
In the company I work for we have a tradition. Every five years of service you get a cube, a heavy orange cube which depicts the service milestone. The cube also has etched on it some kind words from a manager or colleague. The 5 or 10 year cube represents a significant milestone in ourContinue reading “10 years at Veeva today”
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”
Avoid 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 “Avoid stupid”
Your name is your currency
Think about your favourite brands, Apple, Range Rover, Patek Philippe. What words or phrases spring to mind? “Luxury” “quality” and “premium?” Those positive associations are called branding. Branding isn’t just for companies, you have a brand too. When people see or hear your name, they make associations also. Building your name is important it deservesContinue reading “Your name is your currency”
The glide; Monday morning
The first part of a swim is the glide. One of the most important things to do in swimming is to learn ‘the glide’. This is the commitment on the wall of the pool as you start your swim training. One moment, you’re standing still, at the side able to breathe freely, and the nextContinue reading “The glide; Monday morning”
Take your time
The industry of consulting has all sorts of ways to make a client think they know everything. My favourite is when they ask a question with a question. The expectation is that they have paid for consultant and so they should know almost everything and I guess people don’t like to disappoint. Every now andContinue reading “Take your time”
Are you a thermometer or a thermostat leader
I was sitting in the living room earlier this year watching reviews of ‘Home Tech’ and it described the evolution of governing the home temperature as technology progressed. I really think there are parallels of how a modern house is now environmentally managed and how we need to manage our organisations. A thermometer; reflects theContinue reading “Are you a thermometer or a thermostat leader”
My Grandad’s life advice
My grandad started as machinery worker at 16 in a Med device company. After WWII he returned and then made steady progress all the way to General Manager. The factory workers loved him for his honesty, fairness and the genuine love he showed for his people. He used to take me to the factory whenContinue reading “My Grandad’s life advice”
Parenting; with no instructions
My son Xander was born 25 years ago. I was 20 years old when he was born. My wife Melanie and I arrived home after the most careful drive ever. I put the baby down in his crib and I saw the new computer I had purchased a few days earlier. That computer build wasContinue reading “Parenting; with no instructions”
Marshmallow anyone?
Every so often there is a study, article or report which feels so correct when we read it we trust it without challening the data. It states a truth we believe in and now we have validation. Case in point: The marshmallow test at Stanford University. Small kids sit in a room and offered aContinue reading “Marshmallow anyone?”
Learning from rain
Staying at the beach this weekend and it rained in biblical proportions last night. It caught me by surprise and I was left stranded at the beach hut with a short walk to go to get to our holiday home. Determined to get home as dry as possible I began to run along the seasideContinue reading “Learning from rain”
Got to do, get to do
I had some great questions on my blog this week. Someone asked if posting every day is hard to do or a burden. I considered it for a while and then replied “reflecting on a subject of interest. Writing a thoughtful post that is easy enough to be read and understood in 2 minutes orContinue reading “Got to do, get to do”
Sea's The Day 