When I reflect on things, I try to bear in mind a key learning from Kahneman’s ‘Thinking Fast and Slow’: what you see is all there is. I also try (and struggle) to remember: you’re more likely to find what you’re looking for. Think with an inquisitive, clear, open mind, or you’re not really thinking – you’re merely reinforcing. Continue reading What you see, what you look for
There are always going to be problems. Long term satisfaction isn’t found in the absence of problems. It’s in tackling the problems you care about solving. Continue reading Problems, everywhere
I really enjoyed Beau Miles’ new film: Junk Films. One line made really stood out for me – “being present, which I think is code for being content and curious”. Beau’s films give such beautiful lessons in perspective and expectations. Continue reading Junk on content
The key to tackling new challenges is learning. To learn, it pays to be open-minded and willing to admit how much we don’t know. Bluster might carry the day, but curiosity will carry us further. Kindly, keep going. Continue reading Excel at questioning
Reading an account of the difficulty of moving ideas forward, I was struck by this sentence: ”It is a very false radical politics that thinks progress comes without loss.” It reminded me of the this more widely quoted sentiment: “You can have everything you want, but you can’t have it all at once.” Work out what you want and consider carefully what the cost of … Continue reading Progress and loss
I’ve started reading some of George Soros’ lectures given in Budapest after the 2008 financial crisis. A billionaire philanthropist with remarkable influence notes: “I hope that my ideas will be received in the same spirit of critical thinking in which they are offered” His first lecture is an open acknowledgement of how much is uncertain when people are involved. While we aim to provide the … Continue reading Critical uncertainty
What’s the most impactful, helpful, or powerful question you’ve ever been asked or asked yourself? Do please share with me – privately if you prefer. For me, it’s been “is this a useful response”. It’s not an answered and done question. It’s a recurring nudge towards better behaviour. It reminds me of the difference between reaction and response, and to choose the latter. It reminds … Continue reading Most useful question
I’m getting a lot from reading The Happiness Trap by Russ Harris. Yesterday I read two variations on the same thing, each of which resonated so strongly. “We feel our thinking, not our circumstances.” It’s just thinking – it’s not necessarily how it is. “What we think, we feel.” So if you want to feel better, you can work on your thinking – easier than … Continue reading Thank you mind!
I related my meandering career path to a mentor I’ve just started working with yesterday. I say ‘career path’, but it doesn’t feel it’s had enough direction to call it a path. Their advice – own it. Whatever we’ve been through has given us some benefit or insight, if we looked closely enough and with curiosity. We might prefer to live without it, but there’s … Continue reading It happened, so own it
In some ‘effective communication’ training today, we were encouraged to examine people’s status on two different scales of 1 to 10. black: external, positional, formal red: internal, emotional, personal For example, black status might be afforded by a person’s job title and red status by their confidence in that role. The combination of these scores determines their effectiveness. No matter their position, someone scoring low … Continue reading Status and contribution
Sometimes You Learn 