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Authenticity Humanity Learning Life Self awareness

What you can learn from snowflakes

It’s March.

The Maldives are long gone and a distant but unforgettable memory.

Spring seems to be in the air. The weather is not precisely spring-like.

I’m traveling to Belgium for a meeting, and our plane needs to be de-iced. 

Wind and snow circle the plane as I deliberate what I will write about on my way to Brussels.… Read the rest

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Beliefs Change Curiosity Fear Mindset

Beware of sharks.

What thoughts, images, or feelings pop into your head when I say the word shark to you?

Likely, the connotation you have with sharks is not that positive.

For some of you, the movie Jaws may come to mind. A movie about a shark causing death and destruction. 

We also know stories about human beings being attacked by sharks close to beaches resulting in death or body parts lost in the attacks.… Read the rest

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Gratitude Life Reflection Time Vision

Blue Sky

No matter what, the blue sky is always there.

It’s a great metaphor for seeing through difficult situations and times. 

No matter how heavy the storm, how thick the layer of clouds, or how heavy the precipitation is, the blue sky is always there.

How do I know?

A matter of experience.… Read the rest

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Beliefs Differentiation Discipline Getting better Mindset

Black Belt Psychology

I love what I do.

Part of that love is the time I get to spend with clients.

I was privileged to spend time with a client in Madrid a few weeks ago.

Some clients include you in their entire program. Other clients are more reserved, which means dinner on your own.… Read the rest

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Decision Making Disruption Life Thinking Time

Stop. Sit down. Think.

“To take time to think is to gain time to live.”

Nancy Kline

The above sentence is a quote from the book “Time to Think” by Nancy Kline.

Brilliant book. 

My goal is to finish at least 26 books this year, i.e., at least two per month, and the three I have read so far have increased my expectations and excitement for the remainder of the year.… Read the rest

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Alignment Execution Leadership Purpose Trust

Three reasons why ‘Sense of Urgency’ is the wrong solution

I’m not a big believer in a sense of urgency as a driver of culture.

Every time I hear that sentence, the hairs on my neck raise, and a shiver runs through my spine.

Don’t get me wrong, I do believe in speed. Just not in urgency.

Almost always, when managers (not leaders) utter these words, there’s more to it than just urgency. … Read the rest

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Authenticity Change Humanity Life Purpose

Discover the method to my madness

We’re all a bit mad.

Acting as if the things we’re engaged in in our lives are all cleverly thought through.

Acting as if we know exactly what we’re doing. 

We’re not. 

Most of our lives is made up. 

Money is made up. Democracy is made up. The recipe for your dinner is made up.… Read the rest

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Courage Experimentation Growth Learning Life

Why life is an Unforgiving Laboratory

“Life is an unforgiving laboratory.”

Interesting quote from the book “Be Exceptional” by Joe Navarro.

He mentions it tongue and cheek as he talks passionately about self-mastery. No further elaboration on why he thinks so, but I picked up on the term, and I love it.

My ‘curious and observational me’ did its job (again).
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Asking Questions Curiosity Learning Qualities Self awareness

Curiosity is a superpower. 18 qualities of curious leaders.

Should I ask this as a question or make a statement out of it?

That’s the question I’m asking myself, pondering the title for this insight. 

If I’m true to my point about curiosity, I should write it as a question. 

Why is curiosity a superpower?

But today, I prefer a statement.… Read the rest

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Choices Coaching Life Purpose Self awareness

Why you need a coach!

You need a coach!

You may disagree, but I invite you to read on.

Next Tuesday, I’ll share the opening rate of my insight today, claiming that you need a coach.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the rate is lower than usual because many of my readers do not think they need a coach.… Read the rest

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Curiosity Feedback Learning Reflection Self awareness

What are you pretending not to know?

We all have blind spots.

Blind spots are gaps in awareness we have about ourselves that other people are aware of.

Let me give you an example.

When I was younger and had just started my career, I thought it was cool, appropriate, and necessary to voice my opinion regularly. 

I was proud of my Dutch ‘directness.’
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Curiosity Learning Life Reflection Trust

No title! Here’s why.

It’s a Thursday, shortly after noon.

I planned to write for one hour before I headed out for a massage.

I’m now thirty-six minutes into my hour of writing, and these are the first sentences I’m writing.

The words are not coming to me.

I scanned through my list of open topics, I have about twenty available at any time, but none inspires me.… Read the rest

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Courage Life Mindset Qualities Self awareness

What’s your superpower?

We all have a superpower.

That’s my belief. 

Every human being on this planet excels at something. 

Something that makes this person stand out around the people around them.

Having a superpower is not exclusively for people with a high IQ. That’s an assumption some people have that could not be further from the truth. … Read the rest

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Choices Life Mindset Purpose

Are you happy?

Are you happy? 

Not just right now, while you’re reading this insight, but in general?

It doesn’t mean you’re always happy, but is there a sense of contentment inside of you with the way you’re living your life?

Before you start thinking about whether my state of happiness is this insight’s purpose, I want to let you know that I’m happy.… Read the rest

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Life Mental health Mindset Productivity

Blue Monday? Now I know.

Good news!

The most depressing day of the year is behind us.

Last Monday was Blue Monday, the third Monday of the year. And apparently also the most depressing day of the year.

I was not aware. 

Until I met with a client at 5 pm that day during a video call.… Read the rest

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Discipline Execution Growth Learning Writing

Learn from the best!

Consistency is key.

When you want to progress in life, you need to show up and deliver what you set out to deliver.

That’s what I’ve shown with my writing in 2022. 

52 weeks. Two stories per week, every Tuesday and Friday morning. One hundred four accomplished. 

Not a single week was missed. 
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Choices Courage Life Mindset Purpose

What do you NOT want?

You have one life!

That was, in essence, the core message of my last insight.

How you spend your life is totally up to you and nobody else. Please don’t come to me with the nonsense that how you live your life depends on others.

It doesn’t.

You decide.

You always, always, and always have a choice. 
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Choices Growth Life Mindset Purpose

Mind. Set. Grow. Every day!

You want to make the best of your life, right?

Right!

Does that also mean you want to make the best of every day?

Or do you occasionally skip a day because, in the grand scheme of things, what difference can one day make?

I understand that’s not your intention.

Nobody wakes up in the morning thinking they will suck that day or mess up what they’re going to do.

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Choices Leading Self Mindset Ownership Purpose

Ownership

My god, it’s getting worse every year. 

And writing this email to you is adding to the problem, I’m fully aware. 

The start of a new year is THE natural moment to bring closure to what has been and start working on what will be.

Let’s face it; when you use a paper journal that leverages a calendar, you probably enjoy a fresh new bundle of paper. … Read the rest

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Change Discipline Growth Habits Mindset

It’s Fitness Tourist time! Again.

Happy New Year!

Twenty Twenty Three.

I wouldn’t say I like it.

I don’t like odd years. I don’t know why, but even years are more compelling.

Twenty-Twenty-Two sounded so much better. That’s water under the bridge now.

This is day three of the next five years. 

Two days are done, 1824 days to go.… Read the rest