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
Are you a procrastinator?
Do you have days that go by without accomplishing anything? Days that you just looked at the work you needed to do, but in the end, you didn’t do anything?
You’re not alone.
All of us are dealing with upsets in our lives.
Moments when our values, beliefs, norms, or safety are in danger. These can be real threats that might cause any harm or perceived threats that won’t physically harm us. Unfortunately, the amygdala, part of our brain, can not distinguish between real and perceived threats.… Read the rest
Did you play as a kid in a sandbox?
Was it your sandbox, the sandbox of a neighborhood kid, or perhaps a public sandbox?
What do you remember about your sandbox adventures?
Was there ever a territorial fight about the best part of the sandbox? Or perhaps some kid entered your sandbox, and you were not pleased with the uninvited intruder.… Read the rest
You’re number one responsibility as a leader is to make people around you better.
Much of your time at work should be dedicated to dialogue with people who will benefit and grow from your leadership.
There are companies where this is the case. One of the largest beer brewers in the world swears by the principle that leaders need to help their people develop.… Read the rest
If you have been driving through the Netherlands recently, you had time to look around you.
For sure.
Perhaps you’ve never driven through the Netherlands, but the story still matters to you.
For a few years now, you can’t drive faster than 100 kilometers per hour on Dutch highways.
At what speed do you listen to audiobooks or podcasts?
If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you’re one of my kind. You’re unaware you can playback your favorite media at a different speed.
Frankly, until recently, I didn’t know either.
Until a client of mine, who I had given a tip for an audiobook in the morning, came back to me the next day stating:
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
