How can I help?
When someone shares their idea with you, a great way to respond is by asking “How can I help?” Doing so will determine if their idea comes with a clear ask, which demonstrates if the person is simply soundboarding their thoughts or whether they’ve approached you for tangible action. This question will also prevent you […]
Go to the source
I used to work at the Reserve Bank of Australia. The RBA does a fantastic job writing about complex matters as simply as it can for the general public. So whenever the media references a release from the RBA (which is usually about interest rates), I go straight to the RBA website and read the […]
If things don’t change
When you want to make a change in your life, it’s important to bridge the gap between intent and action. An exercise that really helps with this is considering what happens if you carry on with your life and things don’t change. I use this technique a lot during coaching as it really makes people […]
Is it your decision to make?
Our good intentions can sometimes lead to making a decision on behalf of another person which they would rather have made. A good example of this is withholding information from someone because we’ve made certain assumptions. For Bec, she’s found that people will sometimes not reach out with an opportunity because they assume her schedule […]
A compliment is someone’s opinion
It’s amazing how much weight we can place on compliments we receive (or don’t receive). Compliments have the power to offend and the power to delight. We can crave compliments from some people, while compliments from others completely miss the mark. Indeed, you can receive the same compliment from two people and apply completely opposite […]
Get an accountant
Many of us only engage an accountant at tax time. But forming a relationship with an accountant is one of the best things you can do for your future. You may not think you need an accountant because you’re happy with your current job and don’t see yourself having more than one income. But an […]
Has a break become your norm?
Have you ever been in a good routine but then fell out of that routine and wondered when it happened? It’s eerie thinking back to why you stopped because usually you realise it wasn’t a conscious decision. You were simply taking a break because something else conflicted and you had every intention to continue your […]
Feeling you must have all the answers
Nobody has all the answers. Unfortunately, there are some situations where you’ll feel like you should, like when you’re promoted, or you’re referred to as an expert in your field, or you become a parent. Barack Obama reflected on this after his Presidency: “I think one of the problems with people who are in big […]
Decision and action
One of the keys to making significant progress is reducing the time between when a decision is made and when action is taken. We hold off on taking action for so many reasons – societal pressure, routine, caution, general procrastination. But the cost of this delay can be weeks, months, even years. Not to mention […]
Stock tips
If you find yourself at a barbecue and someone recommends a stock/share to buy, it’s best not to take action. If you buy the stock and its price goes down, your personal relationship with that person will be negatively impacted (not to mention your bank account). If you buy the stock and its price goes […]