Reflection & Insights
Welcome to where personal reflection meets practical insight. Here, we delve into how things show up in the world, examining the subtle forces and overt challenges that mould and shape the impression we leave in people’s minds. I also share my more general musings on strategic thinking and, occasionally, life.
My writing aims to marry critical thinking with a dose of observational English wit. My goal is to bring you value in the form of new perspectives that might inspire, clarify, or motivate change so that we all become that little bit better every day.
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Managing feedback
It has been more than a little while since I have had such a substantial piece of work reviewed, critiqued and analysed. I can honestly say I went in optimistically nervous. I was invested in the idea of having an outside perspective to make my work as strong as possible, but if I am completely honest, I really wasn’t looking forward to it.
Judgement kills possibility
Have you ever created a piece of work and agonised for days, weeks, even months after, while you collate, curate and further create – only then to begin to question whether it is correct, good enough, worth sharing, complete or ready for the world?
It’s the game, not the goal.
We have all become fixated on goals, both personally and professionally.
But here’s the bad news: The goal doesn’t actually matter. I mean, it does of course – no one’s denying that goals don’t win games. But it’s certainly not the most important part.
First book edit complete
The journey I’ve taken from having that very first acorn of an idea to holding a finished manuscript still feels more than a little surreal. And when I say finished manuscript, by that I mean I’ve now done most of my bit. After my editor, Michael, completed the first major edit, I then reviewed all the changes, made adjustments to improve readability and finished off the last few outstanding sections.
Complexity is a killer
Without sounding dramatic, there are some systems, such as nuclear power plants, with highly complex operations. That complexity can be hard to stay on top of over decades of operation, and simple human error can lead to catastrophic consequences.
Why is it still so hard to land a compelling vision?
I’ve recently been in numerous conversations regarding vision, mission, purpose, values, and behaviours. There’s been confusion, complexity – and even outright rejection.
When having more to sell becomes the nemesis of selling.
Does the drive for expansion now diminish your value?
The book editing has begun.
I was never great with submitting homework and waiting for the teacher to hand it back, crossed through with red ink. In fact, it became a hate – hate relationship. So you can just imagine how I felt sending off 55,000 words in the form of the manuscript for my first book, Winning Presentations.
