I hate micro-management and one of the ways I avoid this is to ask the team “is there anything I need to worry about or should be aware of”. I’m not poking them, not checking up on them. I don’t run through lists to routinely double-check – they know their role better than I do. But neither am I absolving myself of responsibility or asking … Continue reading Trust in the team
Improvement is invariably incremental. An apparent big bang, or overnight success, is built on smaller steps that might seem imperceptible at the time. If you’re not feeling that you’re getting there, remember that you’re putting in another of those steps towards success. Focus on that, one step at a time. Kindly, keep going. Continue reading Getting better at something
It’s a valid question to ask, but not one to linger on too long. “Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best.” – Henry Van Dyke Jr Keep going. Continue reading What do I know?
I’ve heard a few folks who’ve complained about litter in areas that have a predominantly ethnic minority background. “It’s their culture”, they’ve said, “such a shame for the area”. Taking a run through a deprived local estate that is predominantly white, I’ve seen far worse littering and fly tipping. It’s not the ethnic minority background that’s behind the littering, it’s more related to the socio-economic … Continue reading Litter and socio-economic groups
This time I won’t be going for a run at precisely the time that symptoms from the Covid vaccine are most likely to occur! Again, the process of being invited, briefed, jabbed, and sent home was painless and while I’m really pleased with that, it highlights the difference between complex and complicated problems. Co-ordinating a national vaccination program is complicated. There are a lot of … Continue reading The second jab
It wasn’t wanting to lose weight that helped me changed my eating habits. Being concerned about my health didn’t make much difference either, despite watching my Dad’s health deteriorate with a poor diet and contribute to his early death. Wanting to give blood made the difference. My iron levels were too low and that highlighted changes to make for the better, if I wanted to … Continue reading Eating healthier – the why
So you didn’t get quite the help you wanted, but you did get some help. It wasn’t quite what you needed, but it got you some of the way there. They didn’t see clearly enough to set you straight, but did offer a partial view that you can examine. Nothing’s perfect. No-one’s perfect. Work with what you have. Be grateful for what you’re given. Set … Continue reading Flawed assistance
When struggling to be motivated, things can seem a real challenge. If there’s opportunity, indulge your curiosity for a while. When you free of responsibility and can enjoy open-ended learning, however briefly, your spirits lift. The deadlock breaks. Motivation returns. You can keep going. Continue reading Following curiosity
Of course, Nike used an extra word and made it a better slogan, but the message is the same. Are there any tricks to getting out for the run when you’re not enthused? Well, some. My top tip is to make sure that the runs are a) almost always enjoyable, and/or b) tied in to a goal that you care deeply about. If all else … Continue reading Just go, and do it
I joined the Army because I was bored at University. I didn’t join as an officer because my Dad hadn’t either and I didn’t appreciate the difference. He wasn’t pleased with either decision and had told me many times what I should do instead. I never asked his reasons and he never explained his thinking. He had a view I didn’t examine and he never … Continue reading My Dad’s hopes and context
Sometimes You Learn 