I failed several times at writing a blog over the last 10 years. I struggled searching for regular writing motivation. This year that changed, I realised that motivation is an excuse. I no longer wait for motivation to arrive, I just sit down in a space and write. Most of what I write is awful,Continue reading “Looking for motivation”
Category Archives: Work
Asking for feedback
You don’t need to be Sherlock Holmes or the most emotionally aware person to know who your fans are, those people who will give you positive feedback, that think you are great – Your colleagues, family and friends are hardwired to say nice things about you. Are you as good as they might say youContinue reading “Asking for feedback”
Lead like a conductor
There is a quote: “if you want to lead the orchestra you must turn your back on the crowd”. It is often used by people as a justification for ignoring the criticisms of the many to focus on a task or mission. The quote is about leadership and the lone figure of a conductor standingContinue reading “Lead like a conductor”
Who cares?
I was enjoying a zoom lunch with a colleague the other day and they asked. “What do you get out of posting a two minute read everyday? Is it worth it?” I like this colleague, I consider them a friend so I gave this question some serious thought. I told them I would write itContinue reading “Who cares?”
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”
Learn by doing
There was once a pottery teacher called Brian. One month, he decided to split his class into two groups. Group A had to make a pot every day for 30 days (so 30 pots in total). Group B had to work on a single pot for the whole 30 days. At the end of theContinue reading “Learn by doing”
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”
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”
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”
Juxtapositions
I hate social media but I love attentionI love being smart but I hate show offsI hate social status but love airport lounges I love driving safely, but hate when others doI hate to be judged, but love literary criticismI love fancy cars but hate ostentation None of the above make any sense. It isContinue reading “Juxtapositions”
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”
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”
Validation is for Parking only
Life can serve up a ton of rejections and criticism if you put yourself out there. Every now and then a blog post of mine strikes a chord and gets shared a bit. For a week or so it is flattering to read lovely comments and to see new people find your work. Those daysContinue reading “Validation is for Parking only”
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”
School is not for everyone
I was terrible at school, I did ok at college, I excelled at university. School was not for me, college allowed for self expression and university expected self expression. The more the academic establishment allowed me to be creative and move outside the lines the better I did. Those at school were not more intelligentContinue reading “School is not for everyone”
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 next big thing is your current thing
People talk about their next role they hope to get, the next company they plan to work for the next project they want to be assigned to. Those aspirations are worthy but it can be an often an excuse to not send in your best today. You have a project or role you are assignedContinue reading “Your next big thing is your current thing”
