As a lover of literature and collector of words. I would like to draw your attention to the word Apricity, which means the warmth of the sun in the winter. With 5 days of the winter left in the UK we get more of these warm(ish) days now. This term comes from the Latin meaningContinue reading “Apricity”
Tag Archives: carpe diem
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”
A colleagues 10 year cube reflection
I attended a colleagues 10 year cube call last Friday. A very dear friend of ours, Jason Gilet had been at Veeva for a decade. It was lovely to celebrate with him. It made me happy to spend an hour in the company of friends. I started at Veeva when there was hardly any EuropeansContinue reading “A colleagues 10 year cube reflection”
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”
No grit
We had some snow this weekend and local news outlets were complaining about why didn’t they grit/salt the roads. Not that many cars need to be on roads at the moment. Years ago my daughter asked me the question. “Dad, what happens to the homeless on weekends like these when it snows and is veryContinue reading “No grit”
Employees or crew (how many souls are aboard your boat?)
I had the worst migraine in ages last night. Health really is wealth and you never appreciate how wealthy you are until you are in pain. I think it’s sinus related as I can’t breathe well at all. I hope it will not effect the quality of the post today. I trained as a dayContinue reading “Employees or crew (how many souls are aboard your boat?)”
Make the right decisions, or make your decisions right
We make decisions everyday. Most are easy to call decisions which require very little energy. Some are key decisions that required your focus, energy and time to reflect. You know there is a BUT coming…. But those people that wait too long to make a decision don’t get far. A friend of mine from theContinue reading “Make the right decisions, or make your decisions right”
Team of rivals
I am reading several books on the history of the USA at the moment and I just realised that George Washington’s cabinet makes every other cabinet look pathetic! His cabinet had Knox, Hamilton and Jefferson! If you have not read ‘team of rivals’ I would recommend it. To fill a team of smart challenging individualsContinue reading “Team of rivals”
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”
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”
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”
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”
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”
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?”
Sea's The Day 