“Piss off early, tomorrow’s Saturday.” A phrase I remember fondly from my time in the Armed Forces. Also, Wednesday sports afternoons were a thing, which in hindsight was a real blessing. I recognise now that the Army, at least in my day, invested heavily in developing its people and facilitating their self-development. Not on top of the day job, but as part of it. Time … Continue reading Poet’s days and growth
It’s inevitable in life – some things will happen that you’d really rather hadn’t. It might be loss of a loved one, an accident with lasting consequences, an opportunity missed, theft of a heirloom, or merely a train missed. There are so many things that can go wrong. And so many things that can go right. When you made the train by inches and were … Continue reading When unfortunate things happen
As I thought about short messages to send to each of the folks on the teams I lead, I reflected on what I’m most proud of this year. Lots of thoughts came and went, though what remained was simple. “I didn’t give in.” To unhelpful thoughts and feelings; to petulance and heartache. An accomplishment need not be glamorous. Kindly, keep going. Continue reading What I’m most proud of
I love posting books to friends. The hardest part is fighting the urge to re-read a book before sending it, because I’d only send a book I feel there’s a lot of value in reading. And yet, it’s not that often that I do actually re-read a book – the urge is strongest right when I’m about to send one somewhere. Every time I’ve re-read … Continue reading Posting and re-reading of books
With the New Year approaching and resolutions on the horizon, a reminder to be realistic: “The reality is, changing ‘bad habits’ takes time, and effort and energy, and it’s rarely a smooth process.” – Russ Harris, author of The Reality Slap It’s not 21 days, or 7 steps, or newfound willpower. It’s a commitment and a journey that you can’t fail, only abandon. Kindly, keep … Continue reading 21 days to better habits – nah
Once I got the MacBook I was going to learn video editing. I haven’t yet. Once I got my office space I was going to plan my own business launch. Those plans haven’t materialised yet. Once I… You get the picture. Meanwhile, there are so many things you can do lying untouched. Going nowhere while you think wistfully about what you’ll do when… Kindly, get … Continue reading So much more done, when…
Reading the Tribe of Mentors, I’ve often found my thinking taken in new directions and thereafter see the world a little differently. Other times, I read something and feel it affirms my existing beliefs, so I’m quite pleased with myself. This in contrast to when I read the opposite of what I believe and feel that the contributor, despite their apparent success, must be misguided. … Continue reading Confirmation bias – confirmed
There’s a regular email at work with a list of new starters, and each person has a little bio. Reading the blurb for those that share my job title, I’ve occasionally felt a twinge at not having the same depth of experience or presumed salary. Today though, an important recognition. We’ve not been playing the same game. Why would we have the same results, particularly … Continue reading Every bio speaks of their game
A dear friend was having trouble wrapping their head around complex interactions a while back, which they resolved by building a picture of what was going on. Diagrams and process maps brought clarity and understanding. Another friend is just getting into D&D and had a loose idea for a character, but wasn’t sure how to flesh it out. Hero Forge Custom Miniatures offer a great … Continue reading Visualising when you’re stuck
I was fortunate to listen to a talk by Ranulph Fiennes recently, which was a droll run through some of his life story followed by a little Q&A. I was really excited about this and it was enjoyable, though not motivating in the way I’d expected it to be. In contrast, Jamie Peacock’s inspirational talk back in March left me buzzing. Both lives showcased accomplishment … Continue reading Two lives worth living
Sometimes You Learn 