Be in the arena
No passage captures the summoning of courage quite like “The man in the arena” by Theodore Roosevelt. However, since the passage is framed in masculine terms, it may not carry the same significance for different audiences. I believe that it’s important for passages to be reframed from the perspective of the reader for its message […]
Think benefit first
Most people think strictly in terms of cost when they make a purchase. They look at the price to assess a purchase, and this is usually done in relation to getting the same thing elsewhere for a different price. Cost is important, but it must be considered alongside the benefit. In simple terms, if the […]
Name clearly, not creatively
When naming a new business or initiative, go for clarity over creativity. Your initiative will be much more valuable if people can grasp what you do easily. A clear name makes it easier for the right people to find you, and requires less energy to promote its value. Creative names are usually vague and make […]
Monthly adventures
When you’re in a relationship, it’s important to spend time together in sustainable ways that break up your usual routine. I’ve written before about the mid-week date nights that Bec and I share. This works well as a consistent space in our week which is dedicated just to us. But what do we do when […]
Cancelling subscriptions
It’s a good habit to cancel paid subscriptions as soon as you activate them. First, the subscription will remain active for the full cycle, which is usually a month. This means you’ll have enough time to use the subscription fully to then decide whether you need to keep using it. Second, it breaks our default […]
Here’s an excuse I prepared earlier
Going to the gym sometimes feels like it’s a workout for the mind rather than the body. It’s fascinating the excuses I will think of before the session starts to discourage me from going or giving 100%. Yet time and again, when I push through the mental resistance, the excuses fall away and the session […]
Starting a business to leave it
When you go into business, you will likely start with certain measures of success in mind, like the number of clients, level of income or the size of your team. But one measure that is often overlooked is your business running without you in it. This is usually because the prospect of not being in […]
Reactions signal change
When we react to a situation or an opinion, it’s usually because change is being asked of us or required of us. And the intensity of our reaction grows with the level of change. This is helpful to appreciate if someone’s reaction surprises us (or if we surprise ourselves). The reason we react is because […]
Make it fun
A big part of success is taking consistent action, which means setting up habits that will work for you rather than against you. Some people are motivated by pushing through resistances, which is represented through a mentality like “embracing the grind”. Personally, I’m more likely to keep to a routine that is easy to maintain […]
Doing your time
When you are seeking greater opportunities within the company you’re working for, it’s important to share your ambitions with your manager or key decision-makers. And when you do, pay very close attention to their response. Alarm bells should go off in your head if they respond with any variation of: “Once you do your time […]