Twenty years since his death, Steve Irwin remains a genuine source of inspiration for young leaders. His fearless energy, rather than the years he lost, defined his legacy. It closes with an original poem, proof that his inspiration is still recruiting new believers today. […]
Read More… from Twenty Years On: Steve Irwin’s Lesson in Enthusiasm
In the aftermath of the Boxing Day tsunami, Peter Baines could not improve his exhausted team’s conditions, so he found another way to lift them. By learning to sing the Thai national anthem alongside the soldiers he led, he offered solidarity instead of incentives. This is a reminder that solidarity, shown rather than spoken, is the most lasting form of leadership. […]
Read More… from Solidarity in Action: The Story of Peter Baines
A note to young leaders. Last weekend, a young entrepreneur sought my advice on how best to preserve harmony in business partnership. This is what I told him: “The hardest test for a partnership to survive is sudden and spectacular success. The second hardest is sudden and spectacular failure. The most stable outcome, by far, […]
Read More… from The Hidden Test Every Business Partnership Must Survive
I turned over my doormat last weekend and found a label that simply called it “certainly adequate”, a welcome relief from the inflated mission statements I encounter everywhere else. It reminded me how important it is to laugh at yourself, especially in an age where even paperclip manufacturers claim to be transforming human potential. I’m aiming for “perfectly fine, if not certainly adequate”, and I’d recommend the same to anyone taking themselves a little too seriously. […]
In 1992, a young Keith Ferrazzi turned down a career at McKinsey for something rarer: a direct line to a mentor. This tells the story of the dinner that sealed the deal, and the simple, recurring ritual he asked for in return. It’s a reminder that a good mentor is worth more than any prestigious job title. […]
A piece of advice from a former Macquarie Group deputy MD reveals why business relationships are often decided by people you’ll never meet. This explores the invisible court that shapes every important relationship: the kitchen table at home. It’s a timely reminder that the relationships around your key relationships matter just as much as the relationships themselves. […]
When asked to point to ourselves, we point to the chest, not the skull, a habit more honest than most reasoning. Minds can be trained and even simulated, but hearts cannot, which is why true leadership is followed rather than simply admired. This note argues that people may respect your mind, but they follow your heart. […]
We all know someone who is quick to judge, the kind of person who seems entirely sure of themselves. Yet the harshest critics are often the ones with the least self-awareness about their own flaws, using judgement of others as a shield. The lesson is simple: notice this pattern in others, then look for it in yourself. […]
Read More… from Why the Harshest Critics Fear Judgement Most
Slim Dusty began by copying the American cowboy songs he heard on the radio, until an old bushman told him to sing about his own country instead. That shift, choosing authenticity over imitation, built one of Australia’s greatest recording careers. His story reminds young leaders that their own material, such as the creek, the pub or the flood, is the one thing nobody else can compete with. […]