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Everyone talks about work-life balance as if it’s a magic formula. Prioritise it, and everything will fall into place. Scott Carpet wrote an excellent Linkedin post challenging this traditional mindset, and it really struck a chord with me. I’ve been thinking about his points, and I want to expand on them and bring in my own experience—particularly […]
Is necessity really the mother of invention? Do difficult situations inspire ingenious solutions? Can constraints foster creativity? The below is one of my favourite stories for highlighting creative responses to challenging situations. It’s an oldie, but a goodie. An old Italian lived alone in New Jersey. He wanted to plant his annual tomato garden, but it […]
Navigating difficult conversations without causing conflict is an essential skill, but it’s easier said than done. I read a piece from Team Sterka – a business that supercharges client interactions through their People Skills As A Service® programme – that struck a chord. They said: be assertive, but don’t be aggressive. This simple yet powerful distinction is especially important in situations […]
Emotions can sometimes feel like an unwelcome intrusion. We’ve been conditioned to believe that only positive emotions are valid, while negative ones should be suppressed or ignored. But what if we viewed emotions not as something to be feared, but as vital sources of information? The idea that ‘you are not your emotions; you are […]
Children returning to school, work demands escalating, and *whispers* the very faint sound of jingle bells. It’s easy to find ourselves overextended—emotionally, mentally, and physically. But how often do we consider the cost of saying “yes” too often – especially at this time of year? An emotional overdraft refers to the toll on leaders when […]
As leaders, ensuring that our projects progress as expected hinges on setting clear, measurable milestones. Without these markers, we risk relying on hope rather than strategy, which is far from ideal. Milestones offer us the assurance that we’re on the right track and allow us to manage projects with confidence. It’s like building a house […]
September 16th marks 100 days until Christmas. But instead of worrying about how quickly the year has flown by, let’s reframe this milestone. Consider it three months of potential—a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact on your business and alleviate the emotional overdraft within your team. This year, I challenge you and your team […]
Powerful Lessons on Health & Happiness – a great little share from Lewis Howes on Instagram:
“Perfection is impossible. Throughout my career, I played 1,526 singles matches and won nearly 80% of them. But do you know how many points I actually won? Just 54%. That’s right, even at the highest level of tennis, players win just over half the points they play. This teaches you an important lesson: you can’t […]
When you’re feeling stressed, anxious or somewhat overwhelmed, it can be hard to know where to start. This list of ’13 things you should give up’ is as good a starting place as any. Choose one, practice it, make it a habit. Then choose another, and repeat. Small, simple (not easy) incremental changes that have […]
Chris Williamson shared an insightful concept on The Diary of a CEO podcast that speaks directly to the challenges many leaders face today. He introduced the idea of a “stress cost” that arises when we defer tasks. According to Williamson, when we postpone an activity, it doesn’t simply vanish; it lingers in our minds, becoming a constant […]
I’ve spent years helping leaders navigate the complexities of organisational resilience. I even write a book that is, at its core, about helping leaders to become more resilient – or avoid demising their resilience. When I came across this article by Dana Maor, Michael Park, and Brooke Weddle from McKinsey & Company titled “Raising the […]
I know it’s often difficult to fit extra reads, watches or listens to an already packed day, but these 15 TEDTalks on YouTube are great if you’re after a little dose of self-development each week. Thanks to David McLean who shared the list on LinkedIn, and thank you to positive psychology blogger, Kelly Miller for […]
Imagine a world where every job, from teacher to tech mogul, offers the same salary. What career would you choose? I don’t have the answer to this one, but it’s a scenario that invites us to reflect on our true passions and motivations. Follow your passion Without financial pressure, many would likely pursue their true […]
Reframe your challenges and find solutions. You’ve hit a wall. Maybe you had an idea, but it won’t work. You asked for something but were rejected. You tried something, and it failed. The problem is, that often when we imagine how we’ll get something, we start to think it’s the only way to get something. I was inspired by […]
Incredible wisdom in just four sentences. Worth a read… Read them again. Incredible wisdom in just four sentences. Worth a read…
Imagine a workplace where everyone did what you needed them to do, without the need for micro-management and prodding. Even better, picture employees doing these things because they genuinely want to, not because they have to! As leaders, our goal is to create an environment where motivation thrives naturally. And it’s achievable reality through understanding […]
Leaders often hear about the importance of being visionary, charismatic, and inspiring. While these traits are valuable, they must be built on a solid foundation of tactical and technical proficiency. Before anything else, you need to be mentally, tactically, and technically proficient. Without this core foundation, everything else is pointless. The idea of being “fit […]
Gabor is always a source of great inspiration. This short over on Instagram is a great reminder as to what’s going on when you feel ‘triggered’. WATCH THE VIDEO, HERE.
I was recently asked by a client, “How can I tell when working hard turns into overworking? What are the signs?”. I’ve seen countless leaders struggle with this challenge – myself included – attempting to balance the fine line between healthy ambition and overwork. And time and again I’ve seen the scales tip into the […]
I loved this article from boosst on the pursuit of fulfilment rather than happiness. Such a lovely idea that can really help to manage emotional overdraft too. It inspired me to give the two a little more thought. Happiness is often a fleeting state of pleasure, sparked by moments like enjoying a meal or laughing […]
I saw this image on pm.leadership on Instagram and it got me thinking about another great article on what leadership really means by Otti Vogt on Medium: “The leader who points the finger is not a hero, because you’re not looking at him or her, and neither at their finger, you’re not trying to be […]
“There’s no point in me having the bit between my teeth for the other person, I need to be passed to them.” This quote, from Derek Clark, a well-known swimming coach, got me thinking. The more I thought about it, the more I realised this statement carries an important lesson for leaders (me included!). How […]
As a child, I was profoundly influenced by Carl Sagan. His book Cosmos was a constant companion, full of incredible ideas. Sagan, more than just an astronomer, was a philosopher who understood the importance of wonder and curiosity, especially in children. This short video – and the extra excerpt from Carl below it is an incredibly valuable […]
The power of focus cannot be overstated. The idea that “what you choose to focus on will grow” is much more than just a motivational, cheesy slogan; it’s rooted in the very fabric of how our brains operate. Our brains are incredibly adept at supporting and amplifying whatever we pay attention to, be it love, […]
I hungrily demolish articles (often written by those much more clever than myself) on the impact living in an emotional overdraft has on business leaders. I loved this article on LinkedIn from Chen Hascalovitz, a PhD candidate in Population Health, who is brilliant at addressing the complex challenges at the intersection of economic policy and mental […]
Who knew that the CIA—or rather, its predecessor, the OSS—could dish out meeting advice that remains hilariously spot-on today? Shared with me by Jesse Morgan (thanks Jesse!), this 1944 guide, intended to help Axis sympathisers disrupt enemy operations, could just as easily apply to modern corporate life. Think of it as the OG playbook for office sabotage.
I recently took on a PA (Hello brilliant JJ!). Over the last few weeks I’ve spoken about her involvement going forward with my clients and other people in my life. The reaction has been interesting.
Functional freeze is particularly prevalent among those with high-functioning anxiety. These individuals often seem calm and efficient but are battling significant internal stress. Here are five signs that you, or someone you know, might be experiencing functional freeze
Women face mansplaining 312 times a year at work. We can all take note from the cringeworthy viral video where a female PGA Professional was given some unwanted advice at a driving range. For context, this is Georgia Bell, an elite PGA golfer, and the man giving advice has “played for 20 years.” It encapsulates […]
A simple reminder on resilience. Two things can be true: When leaders constantly operate in an emotionally overdrawn state, the cost is their resilience, risk of burnout, and diminished effectiveness. Changing the systems that require resilience Rather than focusing solely on building resilience, there’s a need to change the systems that demand it. Leaders often find […]
Transformational Leadership: A Path to Balanced Success Leaders often find themselves running on empty, caught in a cycle of stress, long hours, and personal sacrifice. Living this way – deep in their emotional overdraft – is all too common among business owners and leaders who have become accustomed to overcoming challenges at the expense of their […]
This animation from Thames Valley Police is a whole lot of genius. Slightly different from my usual content but so worthy of a watch and a share 👇
There’s a difference between occasionally feeling stressed and being addicted to stress. Growing up in a chaotic environment, where stress and instability are the norm, or spending a significant amount of time in highly stressful work/home environments can condition your body to crave the chemicals released during stress. As adults, we may not even realise we’re addicted to this survival mode. Here are ten signs that you’re addicted to stress:
Burnout is the result of being in a constantly emotionally overdrawn state, but how can you spot the signs before things get too far gone?
Psychologists Herbert Freudenberger and Gail North outlined the 12 stages of burnout, which can give you an idea of where you stand. Take a look, how many apply to you?:
May you have the grace and wisdomTo act kindly, learningTo distinguish between what isPersonal and what is notMay you be hospitable to criticismMay you never put yourself at the center of thingsMay you act not from arrogance but out of serviceMay you work on yourselfBuilding up and refining the ways of your mindMay those who […]
Managing your emotional overdraft has a lot to do with making sure you are prioritising the things that matter paying attention to tasks that feel like they’re moving you closer to important work/life goals. When it comes to productivity, one of the most essential skills to master is prioritisation. It’s not just about managing time, […]
Energy acts as the driving force that moves us forward, yet it varies significantly throughout the day. These ebbs and flows in energy significantly impact how efficiently we use our time.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by Drive to Abundance (@drivetoabundance) What is you woke up one day and you were the only person left on Earth? What would you change? It’s amazing how much we acquire and want only to impress other people. A fantastic thought from Derren Brown, and one that […]
Take a look at your own business. Could there be a hidden cost line in your P&L? One that represents the personal price you paid when you took on the client work yourself? When you knew you needed that new hire but decided to put extra pressure on existing teams instead?
Over the past few months, I’ve spent about 30 hours recording The Emotional Overdraft audiobook. Needless to say, I’ve never recorded a book before, and as part of the process, my audiobook editor provided me with a simple handheld clicker. Every time I made a mistake, wanted to rerecord a sentence, or was rudely interrupted, […]
The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money … or the most awards. They simply are the ones who care the most.
The Concept of a ‘red team’ is essentially a group tasked with a singular, intriguing mission: to design a hypothetical competitor capable of outperforming or even obliterating the current organisation.
There’s a ‘touch’ of football chat here but stick with me. As stories go, CEO of Brighton & Hove Albion FC Paul Barber’s is a compelling one. As a leadership coach and author, (and a lifelong Brighton fan) I find Paul’s journey inspiring but also rich with lessons for leaders and founders. His career underscores […]
“An extra special type of tragedy, a tragedy that unfolds while everyone cheers.”
As leaders, founders, and entrepreneurs, most of us recognise that we are conditioned to fear insufficiency, driven by societal accolades for success.
