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Feedback Leadership Learning Qualities Reflection Self awareness

Why should anyone be led by you?

I recently got reminded of this book again.

I was part of an inspiring conversation with a group of senior leaders discussing talent growth inside their organization.

We talked about the mindset to disrupt yourself, ask yourself and others the hard questions, leaving your comfort zone frequently to learn and expect the same from others.… Read the rest

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Discipline Growth Habits Reflection Self awareness

Are your habits working for you?

Last year in December, my headspace meditation streak that lasted for over 250 days got interrupted because I did not meditate for a day.

I’ll admit that I had set a goal of reaching 365 days of uninterrupted meditation, so when I skipped a day and saw the counter going back to zero, I had a slight moment of sadness.… Read the rest

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Growth Humanity Life Reflection Self awareness

Are you an exceptional human being?

Let’s start with a disclaimer about the word exceptional.

It’s connected to the two words human and being.

I’m not discussing in this insight whether you are an exceptional manager or leader.

No, I mean here how you live your life, interact with others, and make a difference daily.

For yourself and others.… Read the rest

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Authenticity Humanity Learning Life Self awareness

What you can learn from snowflakes

It’s March.

The Maldives are long gone and a distant but unforgettable memory.

Spring seems to be in the air. The weather is not precisely spring-like.

I’m traveling to Belgium for a meeting, and our plane needs to be de-iced. 

Wind and snow circle the plane as I deliberate what I will write about on my way to Brussels.… Read the rest

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Authenticity Change Humanity Life Purpose

Discover the method to my madness

We’re all a bit mad.

Acting as if the things we’re engaged in in our lives are all cleverly thought through.

Acting as if we know exactly what we’re doing. 

We’re not. 

Most of our lives is made up. 

Money is made up. Democracy is made up. The recipe for your dinner is made up.… Read the rest

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Asking Questions Curiosity Learning Qualities Self awareness

Curiosity is a superpower. 18 qualities of curious leaders.

Should I ask this as a question or make a statement out of it?

That’s the question I’m asking myself, pondering the title for this insight. 

If I’m true to my point about curiosity, I should write it as a question. 

Why is curiosity a superpower?

But today, I prefer a statement.… Read the rest

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Choices Coaching Life Purpose Self awareness

Why you need a coach!

You need a coach!

You may disagree, but I invite you to read on.

Next Tuesday, I’ll share the opening rate of my insight today, claiming that you need a coach.

I wouldn’t be surprised if the rate is lower than usual because many of my readers do not think they need a coach.… Read the rest

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Curiosity Feedback Learning Reflection Self awareness

What are you pretending not to know?

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. 

I was proud of my Dutch ‘directness.’
Read the rest
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Diversity of Thought Execution Leadership Self awareness Trust

Are you paid to think?

“I don’t pay you to think; I pay you to execute.” — Old School CEO.

Earlier in my career, I spent four years in a company where that was the culture early on. 

I was on an expat assignment abroad, and part of my responsibilities was helping design en deliver interventions that would change the culture. … Read the rest

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Courage Life Mindset Qualities Self awareness

What’s your superpower?

We all have a superpower.

That’s my belief. 

Every human being on this planet excels at something. 

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

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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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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

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Choices Discipline Mindset Productivity Self awareness

20/20/20

You’re the most important person in your life.

Erikjan Lantink

When you agree with this statement, great! Read on and be inspired.

When you disagree, here’s why I’d like you to reconsider.

You may consider family, partner, friends, cats, or dogs more important in your life, but if you weren’t there, they would still continue living.… Read the rest

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Freedom Gratitude Mindset Purpose Self awareness

A perfect day

Today was a perfect day.

[Today was Monday this week]

Not everything I did was perfect, but there were enough moments I truly got inspired by what I was doing.

Perfect days don’t need to be 100% perfect.

I’ve never believed in perfectionism, I’ve never tried to accomplish perfectionism, and I’ve never been upset if something was not perfect.… Read the rest

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Change Communication Culture Leadership Self awareness

Fishy smell

“A fish stinks from the head.”

Rumi

Rumi, a Turkish poet who lived towards the end of the 13th century, wrote “The Third Book of Masnavi,” where the phrase appears as follows: “Fish begins to stink at the head, not the tail.”

We often hear this quote in a business environment.

I’m sure you’ve heard it before, and it basically means that when problems arise in a business, it makes sense to look at the top of the company first.… Read the rest

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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

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Learning Presence Purpose Reflection Self awareness

Are you a myth?

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

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Belonging Impact Kindness Purpose Vision

Walk of Life

The Queen of England has died.

I wrote this piece the morning after her death was announced.

Seventy years she devoted her life to serving her country.

Suddenly I’m reminded of a song by Dire Straits called ‘Walk of Life.’

The tune enters my head. 

“Dedication. Devotion.”

A ninety-six years’ Walk of Life’ of which seventy years were dedicated and devoted to being the Queen of England.… Read the rest

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Growth Leading Self Mindset Self awareness Vision

You can be more

Start by leaving your past behind you

Recently I shared an insight about my love for writing and how it helps me to grow myself and others.

I’m 54 years old and still with a life ahead of me. Growing is part of me every single day. A day without learning is a day not lived.… Read the rest

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Asking Questions Authenticity Diversity of Thought Self awareness

“You can’t handle the truth.”

Remember this legendary line from the movie a Few Good Men?

Jack Nicholson’s character is questioned by a young and inexperienced lawyer (Tom Cruise) trying to uncover unethical practices within the US Marine Corps.

The truth is that besides the regular code of conduct, an alternative set of rules exists to facilitate hierarchy to execute ‘what’s needed to protect the country.’… Read the rest