I recently got reminded of this book again.
I was part of an inspiring conversation with a group of senior leaders discussing talent growth inside their organization.
We talked about the mindset to disrupt yourself, ask yourself and others the hard questions, leaving your comfort zone frequently to learn and expect the same from others.… Read the rest
To light a fire, you need a spark.
To let a fire go out, you need to kill the oxygen. Or just stop feeding the fire with more supplies of wood. It will eventually dim and then die.
Some people are sparks. Some people suck oxygen. Some people are passive and do nothing.… Read the rest
I’m not a finance guy.
But I’ve done enough finance in my life to understand the principles when I put my mind to it. My brain can build many connections fast, but when it comes to finance, I need to think.
That’s why I’ve always admired people who can make complex stuff easy to understand. … Read the rest
Two weeks ago, I ran through the countryside of Belgium.
I am still amazed by the patchwork of houses that do not reveal any vision of creative unity or aesthetic pleasing. What’s worse, I noticed very little progress.
We lived in Belgium from 2005 through 2007, and it felt like nothing had changed.… Read the rest
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
“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.
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.
But today, I prefer a statement.… Read the rest
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.
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.
I scanned through my list of open topics, I have about twenty available at any time, but none inspires me.… Read the rest
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.
A friend of mine asked me recently whether I was happy with my progress over the past five years.
For some weird reason, my mind went to Lenin and his New Economic Policy (NEP) in 1921.
I don’t remember many things from my primary education, but I remember the NEP from Lenin.… Read the rest
There are days you will not soon forget in your life.
Last Friday was a day I rather forget, but that’s probably not going to happen.
You’re reading this post today, the following Friday. A lot has happened in between, so the news is old.
Tonight, Friday the ninth of December, the Netherlands plays Argentina in the World Cup.
You know me.
I sometimes link my insights to sports, yet I keep them relevant to personal, leadership, and team growth.
A lot has been said about this World Cup in Qatar, and I’d like to add my perspective. … Read the rest
The sh#t they never taught us in school.
That’s the title of a nineteen-hour audiobook I completed last week. Nineteen hours I spent while traveling abroad, driving around Prague, or at home when I didn’t feel like reading from a book.
The authors, two passionate Aussies, read through 100+ books, noted the most important lessons, and made an entertaining book out of it.… Read the rest
What do you want to be known for?
That’s how I ended my previous post, which addressed the legacy of the late Queen of England.
I argued that it’s worthwhile to think through how you come across it.
The Queen was known for never elaborating on the conversations she was having with all sorts of influential people around the world.… Read the rest
I’m a piece of work.
People who know me well would agree — opinionated, not afraid to challenge, little patience with stupidity, occasionally moody.
But… I’m also honest, caring, helpful, generous, and a good listener.
Here’s the thing.
We’re a piece of work from the moment we’re born.… Read the rest
You need a breather.
Seriously, when was the last time you consciously paid attention to your breathing?
When was the last time you sat with your breathing and paid full attention to you filling your lungs with air and then releasing the air from your lungs?
There are areas in my life where I want the very best.
Food is such an area. I love going to a good restaurant (I’m not writing expensive) and enjoying a good meal with a great conversation.
Food and conversation go excellently together. Food, to me, is emotional beyond the functional role of providing your body with nutrition and energy.… Read the rest
I’m a certified facilitator in Fierce Conversations.
That’s not a joke.
If you thought it was, you’re probably wondering why something like training in conversations exists in the first place.
Well …
We don’t listen well.
We don’t articulate well.… Read the rest
I made a mistake last weekend.
I didn’t realize it until Monday early morning when I was getting ready to write my insight for that week.
I sat down behind my laptop, ready to start writing, but there was nothing. No idea what to write about. No immediate inspiration. No funny things jumped into my mind.… Read the rest
