When we travel as a family to different places and we can visit a bookstore, we make it happen.
My daughter has inherited her love for books, bookstores, and libraries from my mother. Wherever we go, one of her first things to find out is the location of the bookstores.
Recently I had to say goodbye to a family member.
Relatively sudden.
I won’t write about the circumstances, no worries. I’ll just write about a sudden shift in priorities when something like this happens to you.
From one moment to the other, things change dramatically. What mattered yesterday is suddenly not that important anymore. … 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
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
Let’s talk busyness.
I spent some time traveling the last weeks, visiting hotels with conference facilities.
I love hotels with conference facilities. They’re a source of inspiration for stories.
Not only are the hotels happy Covid is under control, but so am I.
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.
It’s your turn from the moment you’re born.… 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
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.
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
I’ve said ‘Yes’ way too many times in my life.
For the record, I’m not talking here about getting married multiple times.
I mean saying Yes to projects, jobs, activities, fun suggestions, and things others thought I should be doing.
Initiatives that sounded good, were proposed by well-intended people and would undoubtedly create some good experiences and learning.… Read the rest
“Listen carefully!”
“Just like in communism, I can only talk to you and give you commands and information. You can’t reply or talk back. The good old times.”
Berlin tour guide
I think it still works in many companies precisely that way (remember Elon Musk), which is another sad story in itself.… 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
Why are you doing what you’re doing currently in your life?
It’s a tiny seed I try to plant for some reflection and awareness.
To quote Andy from Headspace:
“Awareness is clarity, and clarity is life.”
Andy from Headspace
Isn’t that what it’s all about in life? To create clarity for ourselves, what matters most to us and in what direction we’re going?… Read the rest
You got to love those good old interview questions.
Last week I had a conversation about interview questions. The person I talked to shared her annoyance with questions like, “where do you want to be in five years from now.”
She shared with me that she didn’t see how that was relevant to someone landing a job right now.… Read the rest
“Challenge the status quo with innovative and beautiful designed products.”
Apple
Which company do I refer to here?
Big chance you have one of their products, be it a smartphone, a tablet, or a laptop, and use one of their services.
I’m not planning to have a love fest about Apple here and its products or services.… Read the rest
