My Grandad Dennis used to say to me when I was complaining about a hard work week. “earn your Saturday”. I think I have earned this Saturday, I hope you have earned yours too. My aim for these posts that they are two minutes at most. To explore an idea or concept and share itContinue reading “Earn your Saturday: The 2 minute Rule”
Category Archives: Work
Lessons from the penalty spot
I am looking out on a wet cold Sunday morning, planning the week ahead and I caught myself thinking of the obstacles and blockers of the week and not the goals and objectives I have for that week. This is a trap I fall in on occasion and I say to myself when I doContinue reading “Lessons from the penalty spot”
Reading is not slacking
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”
Putting things away, moving on
This weekend was an important weekend in our home, it is the weekend we put the Christmas decorations away and begin to think of returning to work/school. As much I love putting up the decorations, I have learned to love when it ends. You have to, if you want to achieve anything in life. SoContinue reading “Putting things away, moving on”
2021: Don’t be this person
So you want to lose weight, get fit, see some gain physically in 2021. You have been a member of a gym but its too far away, OR the equipment is too old OR you don’t like the staff. You learn of a gym closer to work, its has new equipment and the people lookContinue reading “2021: Don’t be this person”
2021: Just Ship It
New year resolutions are always so tedious, so self quickly and indulgently shared with the world on some platform or other, or in a facile conversation. If ‘The definition of insanity is repeating the same tasks over and over again expecting different results’ a new years resolution must be insanity on steroids. I don’t meanContinue reading “2021: Just Ship It”
2020 Finish line
Author’s note: I sat at my writing desk this morning with a real uncertainty on what I would write today. I have a ‘Crimbo Limbo’ state of mind at the moment. So I decided the most purposeful post I could write today was about ending things you started, Enjoy. We are nearly there, the endContinue reading “2020 Finish line”
Looking for motivation
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”
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”
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”
