Mentors can point the way, books can inspire, podcasts can fascinate – but ultimately, we all rise and fall to the level of our habits. Until we resolve to consciously author our daily and weekly habits, nothing significant can be achieved – no lasting change is possible. […]
Leaders never say: “I can’t change”, or “It’s too late for me to change.” For this reason, leaders never feel trapped. If they feel frustrated or unfulfilled, they try something new. They prize impact and challenge over security and comfort. Angela Merkel started her career as a research scientist, having earned a doctorate in quantum […]
Read More… from Leaders Embrace Change – Just Like Merkel Did
Leonardo Da Vinci is arguably the greatest polymath the world has ever known. Da Vinci kept extensive journal notes, of which 28,000 pages have survived to this day. His areas of interest ranged from science and invention, drawing, painting, sculpture, architecture, music, mathematics, engineering, literature, anatomy, geology, astronomy, botany, paleontology, and cartography. And what advice […]
Read More… from Leonardo da Vinci’s Secret: Awaken Your Senses to Spark Curiosity
There’s no shame in changing your mind, especially when the circumstances change. The British economist, John Maynard Keynes, was the most influential and celebrated economist of the 20th century – but his detractors complained that his opinions tended to change over the years. So much so, that it was said in jest: “If Parliament asked […]
Read More… from When Facts Change, Smart Minds Change Too – A Lesson from Keynes
Given the impact of US-China trade relations on Australia’s short term economic fortunes, I asked a number of people in Hong Kong last week what they thought about Trump’s re-election as US President. In light of Trump’s bellicose rhetoric on all things China, I expected a negative response. Instead, here’s an amalgam of what I […]
Read More… from Why Some in Hong Kong Prefer Trump Over Biden in US-China Trade Talks
In a world hypnotised by the short-term, great leaders persist in playing the long game. In the course of my travels last week, I met with Saravanan Sugumaran, an urban development specialist who advises governments on how to overhaul the urban planning of some of the world’s largest cities. “If you want to create amazing […]
Read More… from Great Leaders Play the Long Game – Lessons from Visionary Urban Planning
Run as fast as you can, but never at the expense of extinguishing your inner light. In Ancient Greece, they had a competition called the torch race. It was called the Lampadedromia or Lampas. It is what it sounds like – a race, with a torch. Coming in first was important, of course, but you […]
Read More… from Run Fast, But Keep Your Inner Torch Burning Bright
I talk to myself. And so do you. What you silently say to yourself and how you say it, will in time determine how patient you are and how persistent – in other words, it will fashion your character. It’s quite literally that important. Most people’s inner voice is far too critical and judgemental – […]
Read More… from Talk to Yourself Like a Coach – The Secret to Building Resilience
If you find your mind wandering while your colleague is speaking in a business meeting, it’s likely that your colleague is using too many words to convey too little content. If that person is on your team, coach them. This is a learnable skill. Good communicators don’t talk quickly. They just get to the point, […]
Read More… from Speak Less, Say More – Master the Art of Clear Communication