A client of mine is reassessing his priorities. He’s wondering what’s wrong with 'just' having a job, versus having a career.On the face of it? Nothing.But there’s something wrong with not realising your potential. What you’re capable of. He’s one of the smartest people I’ve worked with. His apparent wondering is because he knows he hasn’t made the most of his gifts yet.If you forget the yet, it’s a recipe for depression.Yes, there’s a lot to be said for luck.And there’s … [Read more...]
Everybody knows when you love what you do
It's true. Emotions are contagious. This was abundantly clear last weekend at the Lost Trades Fair.There, I had the pleasure of meeting the sweet 78-year-old lady who makes umbrellas by hand. She said each one takes her around 40-minutes, when she’s on a roll. I found a couple of sewing machine fanatics. My heart rose when I discovered they can repair the hand cranked, red mini Singer my great Aunt gave me when I was a child. Not all currency is financialAll the stall holders are … [Read more...]
Where do you do your thinking?
“I never came upon any of my discoveries through the process of rational thinking.” — Albert Einstein It seems that thinking time is at a premium these days. Kind of weird considering how many of us are knowledge workers. Isn’t that what we’re paid for?My Mum got me thinking about this last weekend. She’s a very busy 85-year old. She’s so busy being social, playing tennis twice a week and bridge three times, that her only time to really think is in the shower. At least that’s what she said. … [Read more...]
Even when you look like a success you know when you’re failing yourself
Photo by rawpixel on unsplash My first job at the university newspaper was to write the back page of the next edition. What? I’d signed up for layout.Still, I felt obligated. I remembered seeing this mini-poster showing all the grammatical uses of the ‘F’ word. You know, noun, verb, adjective, adverb etc. with examples. I was still a teenager. I took the risk. Next week it was all over campus.It was confusing. I was proud because the risk paid off. I was even told it was the best page … [Read more...]
I don’t know. Seriously!
That’s me, pretending to be a chef at a cooking class in Hoi An. Don’t be fooled by how confidently I wield that knife. Nor by the snappy chef’s hat. Just because I look like I can cut a carrot into tiny batons, each one exactly the same size and shape, doesn’t mean that I can. And if you think I can successfully translate the recipe onto the plate, think again! Face your limitationsIt’s a brave move to face your limitations. And it’s why, when someone asks you something you don't know, … [Read more...]
You’re Younger than Your Direct Reports
Last week we learned that gladiolus do it differently. In their budding hierarchy, the Gen Z buds are at the top and the older Traditionalists blooms are at the bottom. Fine for a flower. What about when it's your workplace? To learn more about working cross-generationally in organisations today, I spoke with cross-generation expert, Jocelyn Greenky. Here she shares her top tips... including what to do when you're more like a gladiolus and younger than your direct reports.Hope you … [Read more...]
Impostor Syndrome – Affliction of the Successful
“I still think people will find out that I’m really not very talented. I’m really not very good. It’s all been a big sham.” – Michelle Pfeiffer“I have written eleven books, but each time I think, ‘uh oh, they’re going to find out now. I’ve run a game on everybody, and they’re going to find me out.’” – Maya Angelou“There are an awful lot of people out there who think I’m an expert.How do these people believe all this about me? I’m so much aware of all the things I don’t know.” - Dr. … [Read more...]
3 Surprising Leadership Lessons from Kung Fu Panda
My brother hated the household rule, “No cartoons after school.” It was fine by me; I didn’t like them.For years I’d say: “animation isn’t my thing.” But now, having just seen the movie Kung Fu Panda, I’m wondering what else I may have missed. And I’m reminded to be careful of closing my mind to something I may think “isn’t my thing.”It’s fun. It’s funny. It’s a fun way to learn about leadership, too.Here are 3 surprising leadership lessons from Kung Fu Panda: We … [Read more...]
Crack the Leadership Code for the Career You Love
You know how they say “some things change and some things stay the same”? Leadership is no different.Back in the day, you’d find me trekking the Annapurna circuit, training for a marathon, and playing volleyball or tennis.That was before I joined a group of advanced skiers on the steepest slope I ever attempted. We were skiing down to go to a cafe but I missed the final turn and went over a ledge and hyperextended, tearing my ACL.Things had to change, even though my love of … [Read more...]
Leaders who have Cracked the Leadership Code
We’ve all heard the stories of bad bosses, good bosses, productive bosses, and bosses who run the business into the ground. For many employees the workplace is a place of silent suffering. Especially employees who find themselves in a leadership position.Leadership can be lonely.All leaders need a space to reflect and learn impactful strategies to improve. When given that space teams, bosses, and the bottom lines improve as the individual grows in their career.The past few years I … [Read more...]
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