Categories
Choices Curiosity Habits Life Purpose

Maktub

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.

Reykjavik, Iceland was no different.
Read the rest
Categories
Culture Discipline Purpose Reflection Strategy

It’s in your DNA

Have you ever heard of the term ‘it’s in our DNA?’

Of course, you did.

Whatever language you master and speak, I’m sure there’s also a version in your culture.

It’s the translation of the scientific meaning of DNA as your genetic code into a real-life application, such as running a business.… Read the rest

Categories
Choices Leading Self Life Productivity Purpose

The illusion of busyness

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

Categories
Alignment Execution Leadership Purpose Trust

Three reasons why ‘Sense of Urgency’ is the wrong solution

I’m not a big believer in a sense of urgency as a driver of culture.

Every time I hear that sentence, the hairs on my neck raise, and a shiver runs through my spine.

Don’t get me wrong, I do believe in speed. Just not in urgency.

Almost always, when managers (not leaders) utter these words, there’s more to it than just urgency. … Read the rest

Categories
Choices Life Mindset Purpose

Are you happy?

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

Categories
Choices Courage Life Mindset Purpose

What do you NOT want?

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 always, always, and always have a choice. 
Read the rest
Categories
Choices Growth Life Mindset Purpose

Mind. Set. Grow. Every day!

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.

Read the rest
Categories
Choices Leading Self Mindset Ownership Purpose

Ownership

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

Categories
Clarity Courage Leading Self Purpose Self awareness

How to find your sweet spot

Everything you do in your life seems to be clicking.

You love the work that you do. You’re learning and growing while contributing to the success of your business. You enjoy your life outside work. You have a great group of friends you love to spend time with. You’re able to get some regular exercise in.… Read the rest

Categories
Change Choices Courage Dreams Purpose

Your turn

It’s your turn.

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.

This time it’s about the game of life.

It’s your turn from the moment you’re born.… Read the rest

Categories
COVID-19 Freedom Habits Human Resources Purpose

Quiet Quitting

Work looks dramatically different in 2022.

The real question is whether it will ever change back again to where it has been.

Change back.

I don’t believe in things changing back to where they were.

With every change, progress was made, opportunities emerged, lessons were learned, and people moved on.

So in my head, by definition, when things change, the status quo is left behind and will not return.… Read the rest

Categories
Execution Goals Mindset Purpose Vision

Dot on the horizon

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

Categories
Discipline Habits Mindset Purpose Reflection

The power of every day

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

Categories
Change Communication Kindness Leadership Purpose

The world deserves better leaders

The world deserves better leaders.

That’s why I do what I do.

I help leaders and teams grow and be the best they can be for themselves and the people they work with.

Doing what I do will help improve our collective human experience, one leader, one conversation at a time.

Ambitious.… Read the rest

Categories
Choices Courage Dreams Mindset Purpose

Half a second

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.

What would you do in that half a second?

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

Categories
Courage Growth Mindset Performance Purpose

Roger

Have you found your talent yet?

If I learned one thing (there were more lessons) from my fellow TED talk speaker Luk de Wulf, it would be that we all have a talent for something.

Luk’s point is that you can’t start early enough in life finding, building, and enjoying your talents.… Read the rest

Categories
Asking Questions Mindset Presence Purpose Reflection

Smelling the roses

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

Categories
Change Choices Helping others Purpose Self awareness

Climbing down the ladder

The only way is up.

Until it’s not.

From the moment we’re born, our eyes are focused upwards unless we’re lying on our belly.

Our age goes up. Our length goes up. Our weight goes up. At school, grades our counting upward (in most countries).

With our first job, our income goes up.… Read the rest

Categories
Choices Courage Dreams Purpose Self awareness

How do you know if you’re winning?

I love winning, and I hate losing.

Big words. Love and hate.

As usual, it triggers a memory. 

In this case of a great song by Michael Kiwanuka that I listen to frequently.

Worth taking a short break and listening to the song.

Great voice.

“You can’t take me down.”

Michael Kiwanuka

Winning, to me, is related to sports and only sports. … Read the rest

Categories
Belonging Execution Performance Purpose

Everyone is an alien somewhere

Everyone is an alien somewhere.

And sometimes those aliens come together in a football stadium to be entertained for two + hours by a rock band.

That happened to my wife and me a few weeks ago in Frankfurt, Germany. A Santa gift that still needed to be redeemed.

The band is Coldplay, and the tour name is “Music of the Spheres.”… Read the rest