Eat on repeat
We may like to think that we’re spontaneous when it comes to our experiences, but how much of what you eat is on repeat? Take a moment to consider what you eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For me, breakfasts and lunches are pretty much the same each day. And while my dinners are more […]
Document it
Creating email or message trails is an immensely useful habit. Whenever you discuss something offline, immediately capture what was discussed or agreed to in a follow-up message to the other person. The message does not have to be long or extensive – it just needs to convey the significance of the exchange. Our memories are […]
Valuing different values
When you’re in a relationship, it’s important to accept that your partner will have different values to you. While this may seem obvious, the more time that passes, the more the differences will become pronounced. Early in a relationship, you may view your differences with affection. But challenges arise when these differences require either side […]
Attack problems, not people
Great teams are empowered when they attack problems together instead of attacking each other. A culture of attacking problems will ensure everyone focuses on finding better ways to improve performance than finding scapegoats or excuses. It is far more motivating and rewarding for individuals if they are trusted within a team to make missteps in […]
Setting the time
Everyone values punctuality differently. For me, I like to start every engagement I commit to on the dot. I understand that others don’t value punctuality as highly, and that’s perfectly ok. Though something curious keeps happening with ongoing engagements at QLA. At the start of our engagements I don’t tell people I’ll call on the […]
An imperfect post
The world around you isn’t perfect. It’s messy, and complicated, and dynamic, and mystifying. So whenever you find yourself needing something to be “perfect”, ask yourself what you really mean. Can you define what you want as something that’s actually possible? Or will you keep striving for perfection in an imperfect world? .
Go to tender
If you need a job done by someone else, consider seeking more than one quote for the work. This is especially important in your career or business when the work is ongoing in nature. We can be prone to limiting our search to a singular candidate, but encouraging multiple bids is helpful in many ways: […]
Super humans
Superheroes have captured the fascination of our culture for generations. You may think we idolise superheroes because they possess abilities and powers which we mere mortals don’t. But the reason superheroes are idolised is because they possess flaws, just like us. Yes, we love seeing them defeat a villain or save the world. But what […]
Remove the rod in your back
Have you ever imposed a deadline for yourself to do a task, but as you approached the deadline you became increasingly aware it would be impossible to meet? When you find yourself in that position, the first thing you should do is remove the rod you’ve placed in your back. Let it go, and start […]
Exit strategy
Stopping something can be harder than starting something. So before you embark on a new path in life, it’s important to consider how the journey may end. Take for instance, owning a business. It’s relatively straightforward to start a business. But the more your business grows, the more promises you’ll need to make and the […]