I’ll let you go
Hamish and Andy have a segment on their podcast called Power Moves. This is where listeners share tactics that give people the upper hand in social situations. I have what I believe is a Power Move that’s used on me a lot, and I’m sure others have experienced it too (my apologies to those reading […]
Michael Hill
I want to share a story about the Michael Hill jewellers you see across New Zealand and Australia. During his 20s and 30s, Michael Hill worked in his uncle’s jewellery shop in a small New Zealand town. He had no major ambitions with this job, and his ultimate passion was building a dream home with […]
Know and share your strengths
What do you do really well? If you haven’t considered this question before, you may think the answer should be rather straightforward. But you may surprise yourself with the thought it requires. And even if you’ve considered this question and you’re clear on your strengths, how forthcoming are you to others about them? This is […]
A message from yourself
When someone tells me they want to achieve a goal, we work together to understand their underlying motivations and determine the best course of action. I then help them appreciate that while coaching will increase their social accountability, there’s only so much I can say to someone to sustain their motivation. But there is a […]
Dating not marriage
Whenever you want to take a big step in your career or your business, you should approach it like dating rather than marriage. You wouldn’t propose to someone after the first date. Your professional and business relationships should be the same. You should never feel obligated to make a long-term commitment you’re unsure about, and […]
Off the grid
As you’re reading this post I’m likely flying over the Atlantic Ocean. I wrote this post before I flew out, as I reflected on how air travel is one of the last real vestiges of being off-the-grid. I love the idea of hopping on a plane and for a brief time being truly disconnected from […]
Permanent isn’t permanent
If you’re currently in a permanent position at work, consider how things would be different if you were on a rolling fixed-term contract instead. Would your performance change if you had to keep justifying your position when it came up for renewal? Would you stay more aware of other opportunities and be more inclined to […]
Reason, season or lifetime
When people reach out to me for coaching, I’m often asked “How long do clients usually have coaching for?” There is an expression that friends come together for a reason, season or a lifetime. I find coaching to be the same. Some people want coaching for a reason, like finding a new job, or getting […]
Sell out
A common reason that people give for staying in their job or in their business is they don’t want to be seen as a sell out. They feel that moving on from the connections they’ve developed means compromising their principles in some way. They may say any replacement won’t know the industry as well, or […]
Don’t cheat the decline
Here are some tips that helped me complete the Sally Push Up Challenge. Don’t cheat the decline. With pushups, it’s easy to let gravity do the work on the way down. And when you do, you’re missing out on half the workout. Maintain resistance across every rep. Pause at the bottom. It feels good to […]