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:
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.
A matter of experience.… 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
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
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 do with milk that has expired?
What do you do with clothes that are no longer in fashion?
Recently I heard the term ‘old school’ again from two different sources within two days.
It had been a while since I heard the term, so it triggered a reaction. … Read the rest
Last week I received a Whatsapp message from a good friend in the Netherlands.
He and I both meditate and call each other occasionally to discuss our experiences.
We’re both educated in economics.
He is, in my words, a hard-core finance guy who did well for himself. I’ve chosen the leadership side of business because I believe that’s where it all starts.… Read the rest
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
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
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
Most likely, when you, or the person or team you’re in conversation with, do not demonstrate a sense of urgency.
I’ve heard the term many times in my life.
In non-urgent situations, when I was confronted that my conversation partner(s) thought that I was not showing a sense of urgency.… Read the rest
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
By now, you must be familiar with the term The Great Resignation.
The Covid pandemic has caused people en masse to leave their jobs looking for a different career. It was the crisis people needed to open their eyes and seek new opportunities.… Read the rest
You probably did not miss THE slap of Will Smith earlier this week.
It’s the best thing that possibly could have happened to the Oscars.
Yes, I mean it. It’s the crisis the Oscars needed to finally implement the change required. The real question here is not what will happen to Will Smith but what will happen to the Oscars.… Read the rest
I start every day with the same ritual, getting up before the rest of the family wakes up making the time to exercise and meditate.
I follow this routine seven days per week because mind and body do not distinguish between weekdays and weekends.
Weekends are a made-up concept anyway, just like the belief that work needs to be done in an office from Monday to Friday at fixed times.… Read the rest
We have a little coffee place in the next village over that we like to go to. It’s small, authentic, has excellent coffee, the best cakes, and started selling fresh bread last year as well.
There’s only one of it. It serves its unique purpose to people in the village and those who like to walk or bike in the forest nearby.… Read the rest
When was the last time you truly enjoyed yourself?
If you have to think about this question, please skip the following question.
There’s a saying in the Netherlands that a day without joy is a day not lived.… Read the rest
