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Courage Experimentation Growth Learning Life

Why life is an Unforgiving Laboratory

“Life is an unforgiving laboratory.”

Interesting quote from the book “Be Exceptional” by Joe Navarro.

He mentions it tongue and cheek as he talks passionately about self-mastery. No further elaboration on why he thinks so, but I picked up on the term, and I love it.

My ‘curious and observational me’ did its job (again).
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Discipline Execution Growth Learning Writing

Learn from the best!

Consistency is key.

When you want to progress in life, you need to show up and deliver what you set out to deliver.

That’s what I’ve shown with my writing in 2022. 

52 weeks. Two stories per week, every Tuesday and Friday morning. One hundred four accomplished. 

Not a single week was missed. 
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Leading Self Learning Mindset Reflection Self awareness Uncategorized

No easy way out

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

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Courage Growth Learning Mindset Psychological Safety

You become what you pay attention to

You need a breather.

Seriously, when was the last time you consciously paid attention to your breathing?

When was the last time you sat with your breathing and paid full attention to you filling your lungs with air and then releasing the air from your lungs?

Most people get through their day without even once being aware of the fact that they’re breathing.
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Growth Learning Mindset Reflection Self awareness

Maximizer or Satisficer?

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

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Asking Questions Change Coaching Dialogue Learning

Change starts with a conversation

I’m a certified facilitator in Fierce Conversations.

That’s not a joke.

If you thought it was, you’re probably wondering why something like training in conversations exists in the first place.

Well …

Because many of us do not know how to have a skillful conversation.

We don’t listen well.

We don’t articulate well.… Read the rest

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Change Learning Mindset Self awareness

Why change always comes from within

Steve Jobs ended his famous Stanford Commencement speech with this tip for the graduating students:

“Stay hungry. Stay foolish.”

Steve Jobs

My interpretation:

Always look for opportunities to make ‘things’ better, starting with yourself. Always be curious about yourself and the world around you.

Curiosity and change are the fun parts of being alive and growing as a human being and leader.… Read the rest

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Coaching Learning Self awareness Strategy

How to be a good coach. Also for leaders

I follow quite a few business coaches for a number of reasons.

My primary purpose is to learn.

Some coaches create great content.

Some are excellent at marketing themselves and their services.

Some know how to leverage data and technology to the maximum.

Some are not good, and these also provide learning.… Read the rest

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Experimentation Learning Self awareness

Five lessons I learned from my webinar

Last week Thursday, I hosted a webinar on personal growth. My ambition is to do more online, so this was an intentional experiment.

Without experiments, life would be boring.

The only way to find out whether something works is by doing it. You can’t make a difference and change the world on paper.… Read the rest

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Courage Growth Learning Mindset

Are you living up to your potential?

Yesterday I hosted a webinar on personal growth.

It was a fun learning experience talking about personal growth, and I also took the opportunity to introduce a brand-new training I’m planning to record soon.

Personal growth matters to me a lot, so much you know by now. But perhaps you never knew exactly why.… Read the rest

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Courage Disruption Experimentation Learning Mindset

How to start 2022 well?

22 (BIG) little experiments to consider

My last post for 2021. On this last day of 2021.

What a year it has been. 

Over the past weeks, I’ve reflected enough, so it’s time to look forward now.

Tomorrow we’ll start 2022 together, and as always, there is a lot to look forward to, and there are also lots of reasons to be optimistic.… Read the rest

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Goals Learning Self awareness

What the bleep was that?

What the bleep was that?

That’s the question I asked myself when I drove home after I resigned from my two and half month’s corporate outing.

Ok, I’ll admit. I used a different word than bleep.

When I reflect on my year 2021, the decision to join and then leave are probably my most significant lessons for this year.… Read the rest

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Courage Growth Learning Purpose

You’re not as courageous as others think you are

You’re just better prepared.

Let me explain.

First, for context purposes, ‘dare’ is the third cue in my playbook. Dare follows ‘pause’ and ‘be.’ I know, a bit of a soft opening, but it matters to the story.

You may recall that my recent departure from a corporate role was considered courageous by some.… Read the rest

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Leadership Learning Purpose Retail Team effectiveness

How I thought through my next move

Did you ever wake up after you had a bit too much to drink and promised yourself that you would never drink a drop of alcohol again?

Only to find yourself zipping from a glass of wine ten hours later.

Or you promised yourself never to be speeding again after a hefty speeding ticket, only to find yourself doing it again the next time you were in a rush.… Read the rest

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Learning Mental health Productivity Reflection

How I learned to enjoy being in the moment

I like to meditate in the morning.

It’s a relaxing and calm way to start my day.

Over time, I noticed that I’m more focused on what I aim to do that day when I meditate in the morning.

It’s hard to explain, but it feels like I’m more in control of my actions.… Read the rest

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Connected Disruption Learning Social Media

Discover the new meaning of “get a room!”

Have you discovered Clubhouse yet?

If not, I believe you soon will. Unless you have not yet woken up from winter hibernation. Which is totally understandable given the context we live in these days.

Clubhouse is a new social media application that combines community and podcasting (voice only).

The threshold to join and start your own ‘room’ is very low, and within seconds you can be talking to like-minded people about a subject you’re passionate about.… Read the rest

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Change Experimentation Learning Self awareness

That’s JUST the way we do things around here

When was the last time you got out of your comfort zone?

I’m aware I may have asked this question before, but I got reminded last week while participating in a webinar.

One of the speakers shared with the audience that when he woke up every morning, he planned one activity for that day to get out of his comfort zone.… Read the rest

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Experimentation Learning Writing

What I learned from writing to my audience daily

There are days I can’t wait to get up. Today is such a day. The dots are connecting in my brain. The framework of my offering is becoming visible, and I’m excited about it. 

Lessons learned

I learned a lot this week from different angles, and a big part of that was your participation in my brief survey.… Read the rest

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Impact Leading Self Learning Self awareness

The merciless difference between intention and impact? Your social context.

Last week, the Netherlands’ royal family decided to spend the autumn vacation in their summer house in Greece. They departed on Friday with the governmental plane.

Only the prime minister was aware of their plans as he bears the governmental responsibility for the royal family.

While they were in the air on their way to Greece, hell broke loose at home.… Read the rest

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Change Human Resources Learning Transformation

How to make change work for you

If you believe the pace of change will slow down at some point, you’re dreaming. We live in a world where change is constant, and the only person who can make the pace slow down is you. By making change work for you and not vice versa.

Stay ahead

If you would have been ahead of change and ensure change works for you, a full-blown transformation is not needed.… Read the rest