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Growth Growth Life Purpose Self awareness

Abraham or Tony?

Who do you know better?

Abraham Maslow or Tony Robbins?

Maslow is known for his hierarchy of needs, going from physiological needs to the need for self-actualization. 

Maslow was one of the most influential psychologists of the twentieth century.

Tony Robbins is known for filling up ballrooms and concert venues with thousands of ‘fans’ looking for personal breakthroughs.… Read the rest

Categories
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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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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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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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. 
Read the rest
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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.

Read the rest
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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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Growth Habits Learning Mindset Purpose

Five Years! Really?

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

Categories
Alignment Clarity Communication Purpose Team effectiveness

Team play

Imagine.

You’re the star of the company or team.

Thanks to your contribution, the company makes significant profits, is recognized as a leading brand, is admired by everyone in the industry, and is a heavily sought-after employer.

You know the results of the company (or team) would dive if you decided to leave or something would happen to you.… Read the rest

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Clarity Courage Leading Self Purpose Self awareness

How to find your sweet spot

Everything you do in your life seems to be clicking.

You love the work that you do. You’re learning and growing while contributing to the success of your business. You enjoy your life outside work. You have a great group of friends you love to spend time with. You’re able to get some regular exercise in.… Read the rest

Categories
Change Choices Courage Dreams Purpose

Your turn

It’s your turn.

This a common phrase when we play games with friends or family.

These words typically come out when we don’t pay attention and are somewhere else in our minds or are doing something else.

This time it’s about the game of life.

It’s your turn from the moment you’re born.… Read the rest

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COVID-19 Freedom Habits Human Resources Purpose

Quiet Quitting

Work looks dramatically different in 2022.

The real question is whether it will ever change back again to where it has been.

Change back.

I don’t believe in things changing back to where they were.

With every change, progress was made, opportunities emerged, lessons were learned, and people moved on.

So in my head, by definition, when things change, the status quo is left behind and will not return.… Read the rest

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Execution Goals Mindset Purpose Vision

Dot on the horizon

Last week we spent a few days in the Netherlands.

I had work to do, we visited family and friends and had a good time in The Hague.

Sunday, we drove back. 

We benefitted from one extra hour because daylight saving time ended, so we left early and returned home before it got dark (again).… Read the rest

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Discipline Habits Mindset Purpose Reflection

The power of 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 skipping a good day is not your intention in the morning.… Read the rest

Categories
Change Communication Kindness Leadership Purpose

The world deserves better leaders

The world deserves better leaders.

That’s why I do what I do.

I help leaders and teams grow and be the best they can be for themselves and the people they work with.

Doing what I do will help improve our collective human experience, one leader, one conversation at a time.

Ambitious.… Read the rest

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Choices Courage Dreams Mindset Purpose

Half a second

Half a second.

When we compare our time on this beautiful earth with the length of existence of earth itself, one year of earth compares to half a second of our lives.

Half a second.

One quick breath and we’re done.

What would you do in that half a second?

Would you try to compress as many activities as you could in that short period of time, or would you instead take it all in and enjoy it?… Read the rest

Categories
Courage Growth Mindset Performance Purpose

Roger

Have you found your talent yet?

If I learned one thing (there were more lessons) from my fellow TED talk speaker Luk de Wulf, it would be that we all have a talent for something.

Luk’s point is that you can’t start early enough in life finding, building, and enjoying your talents.… Read the rest

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Freedom Gratitude Mindset Purpose Self awareness

A perfect day

Today was a perfect day.

[Today was Monday this week]

Not everything I did was perfect, but there were enough moments I truly got inspired by what I was doing.

Perfect days don’t need to be 100% perfect.

I’ve never believed in perfectionism, I’ve never tried to accomplish perfectionism, and I’ve never been upset if something was not perfect.… Read the rest

Categories
Asking Questions Mindset Presence Purpose Reflection

Smelling the roses

I went out of my car to smell the roses.

The sight of those roses and the smell I know I would experience soon were just too tempting to pass by.

I don’t remember the exact date and time, but I do remember I was in a hurry going somewhere when I got struck by this beautiful sight and decided to stop.… Read the rest