Design, Discipline and Delight: The D’s that Drive Difference
You’ve probably heard that discipline is one of the most accurate predictors of long term success. And it is – especially if it is the resilient kind of discipline that accepts that life has its disappointments and lows, and that not everything runs to plan. Having the resilience and discipline to persevere during those times is crucial, and without them people give up too easily, and then wonder why their longed for dream does not materialise. How do we get this kind of discipline? Opinions vary. Many of them are of the “grit your teeth and stick it out” variety....
Read MoreBecause in the end we are all just walking each other home…
It’s often a throw away line that catches my attention – be it from a podcast, movie, lecture or whatever. Sometimes it doesn’t have that much to do with the overall theme or focus, but I quickly haul my phone out, jot down the key words and return to reflect on them later. They often find their way into this blog. This is one of those times, and truth to tell, I can’t remember the context or broader frame in which these words were spoken – but I thought they were striking, so here they are for us to reflect on today: “because in the end we are all just...
Read MoreBecause life’s negatives are singular and its positives are plural
If you are a regular reader of this blog you’d know that I like to seize on throw away comments from podcasts I listen to at the gym – most often when I am on the cross trainer, and struggling to control my breathing. You really need something to keep you going through those moments, and as I have a tendency to sing along with music I’m listening to – definitely a breech of gym etiquette – I default back to podcasts. The person being interviewed was speaking about gratitude, and reinforced it with the line – Why be grateful? “Because life’s...
Read MoreOn Turning 68: A bit of an Update…
If you are reading this on the date of its first appearance, 13 July 2025, it’s my birthday. Happy birthday me – all 68 years of me! While 68 is in many ways an annoying age, marking no special milestone (it’s not a zero birthday nor even a “last year in your 60’s” birthday) it feels a little bit special if only because of some recent changes in my life. “What are they?” you ask, while perhaps assuming I will announce the big ‘R’ word. No, it’s not retire, but here are some of the changes… After finishing my 17 year...
Read MoreBecause No is just an invitation to a different conversation…
I think it’s Brené Brown who said that “no” is just an invitation to a different conversation. That’s a helpful reminder to dive into opportunity thinking, rather than to assume all is lost when faced with a rejection. But how might this look in practice? There is an intriguing Latin phrase, “numinibus vota exaudita malignis,” which roughly translated means “enormous prayers which heaven in vengeance answered”. Attributed to the Roman poet Juvenal, the idea appears in CS Lewis’ writing on prayer, where he notes that some prayers which on...
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