Taken be me, during a much-needed in between moment. Before I go onto today’s post, I want to thank those of you who took the time to go and watch the video from last week. I got some amazing feedback from people, thank you! If you haven't seen it, you're not too late. It’s still up. Simply click here to watch it.So, are you spread too thin?One thing I’ve learned about myself is that I don’t like it when I’m too busy. I simply can’t be my best. At anything. I become scatterbrained and … [Read more...]

It's party time down under. This 30-year certificate arrived via snail mail this week (I'm a bit confused by the 1 February 2019 date too). Still, I had no idea I'd been a registered psychologist for that long. Three decades!Now, I'm normally a pretty cool cat but this triggered me. That's a lot of years. Yes, there's many more to go, but more like 15, not 30.Thanks to world-renowned business educator and coach, Marshall Goldsmith, I had an action plan. I spoke to Marshall about what to … [Read more...]

LinkedIn suggested a connection for me recently. One of my first direct reports. I remember her fondly, but we'd lost touch years ago. It felt a little risky, sending that invite to connect.What kind of reception would I get? Ice cold, or warm and toasty? I was pleasantly surprised - a super speedy YES!Now, the oldies are goodies. But you can never have too many friends, especially when it comes to work and career. They're the fastest and most enjoyable way to open doors for … [Read more...]

Photo by Kevin Ku on Unsplash She was every employer’s dream. Working long hours, had for years and way more than she was paid for.She’d leave work on time so that she could take the kids to their various activities. But after dinner, out came the laptop until the wee hours when she’d crawl into bed. Only to do it all again tomorrow.No wonder, she’d muse, that she’d stacked on the weight, didn’t know when she’d last read a novel and had no idea what her friends were doing.Until one … [Read more...]

Proud Peacock by Tj Holowaychuk on Unsplash You hear it all the time. Ship it. Get it out the door. Done is better than perfect.I‘ve been thinking about that mindset a lot recently. And I’m not sure it’s correct. That’s because for just over a year, I’ve been working on something. I can see the finish line and I’m super-excited! But it feels like it’s taken forever.If you told me at the beginning that it would take this long, I wouldn’t have believed you. Only after the team started on … [Read more...]

Photo by Noah Buscher on Unsplash In business today, where contracts are normal and ‘jobs for life’ are just quaint memories, I wonder whether we’re all feeling a little bit more on our own?But what do we do with our fundamental need for security? The inner knowing that we’ll be ok. That someone will be there to catch us when we fall.It doesn’t go away because work has changed.If you don’t have that inner knowing, I bet you’re feeling super anxious right now.Either that or … [Read more...]

It happens and it’s never at a good time. The rocky personal relationship.I remember one client having couples counselling in an attempt to save his marriage. It was anything but smooth sailing at home and he found it hard to get enough sleep.He came in one week and said, “I’ve been up since 3:30 am, be gentle with me today”. This was almost normal at the time, the lack of sleep.And it’s true. I would challenge him when his leadership standards slipped.When he was avoiding the … [Read more...]

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...]

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...]

“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...]