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
The hospitality industry has always fascinated me.
I guess it has to do with my curious mind, love for discovery and travel, and passion for making a difference in people’s lives.
When you work in hospitality, you need to have a feel for the fact that your customers are looking for a good experience while being away from their zone of comfort.… Read the rest
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
We all have a superpower.
That’s my belief.
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
Last Friday, I started the day with a slight concern that it was going to be one of those days when you ask yourself at the end of the day:
“What did I actually accomplish today?”
I woke up a bit restless.
I knew I had set pretty aggressive goals for the day.… Read the rest
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
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
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 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.
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
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
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
I had a great lunch with a good friend the other week.
What made the lunch great was the conversation, the food, the atmosphere, and the fact I didn’t see him for a while.
He’s an opinionated person.
He’s a successful entrepreneur who works for fun.
That’s how I see him.… Read the rest
When was your last tough love conversation?
What was tough about it?
When and how did the love part show its face?
Before I continue, I assume you’re familiar with the principle of tough Love.
Tough Love is the ability to be direct, constructive, specific, and to the point about someone’s behavior while balancing this with a general feeling of empathy, understanding, connection, and compassion.… Read the rest
Recently the world population reached 8 billion people.
That’s 8 billion people that are part of a worldwide community of human beings that need each other to grow, flourish, be happy, and create fulfillment in their lives.
Roughly (very roughly) 20% of those 8 billion are children. That leaves about 6 billion adults.… 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
Sometimes you must create deliberate pain to get something you want to do in motion.
I remember vividly a conversation with my mentor Joyce who often talked about CEOs having to create organizational pain once in a while to shake things up.
When things are becoming complacent, and they often do, you need to create pain.… Read the rest
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
