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2026
A dial, not a switch Oct 11, 2026 Some dilemmas keep coming back no matter how many times you solve them.
2021
A carbon frame for the bicycle for your mind Mar 16, 2021 We can measure how efficiently every living thing moves.
Power outages shine a light on the power of timing Mar 15, 2021 We’ve had tons of Loadshedding recently.
Give me a break Mar 10, 2021 I’ve recently started feeling very odd during the workday.
3 ways to transform your interview from a quiz to a conversation Mar 9, 2021 This is the third and final article in my three-part series aimed at giving you practical advice on how to ace your next interview.
How to show up for an interview Mar 8, 2021 This is the second article in a three-part series.
Have you prepared for that job interview? Mar 4, 2021 One of the reasons people are nervous for interviews is because they don’t know what questions they are going to be asked.
How to write an article that ranks on the first page of Google Mar 3, 2021 This week I noticed something interesting when I looked at the traffic logs for my personal website.
Are you conservative or progressive? Mar 2, 2021 Are you conservative or progressive?
Sometimes luck - and what you don't do - can save your life Mar 1, 2021 On Saturday afternoon I almost died.
The current traditional schooling system cannot be the end game Feb 26, 2021 The pandemic – and our subsequent zig-zagging between on campus and online school – has made education a big part of our family conversations recently.
2020 was like lifting a car off your kids Feb 25, 2021 Imagine your teenage son is working underneath his car.
Innovation without execution is hallucination Feb 24, 2021 Innovation without execution is not vision.
Raising small children is a terrible and wonderful experience Feb 23, 2021 My daughters are transforming from little girls into little woman before my eyes.
How to share disappointing news with people that report to you Feb 22, 2021 Sharing disappointing work-related news with someone that reports to you is probably one of the least satisfying parts of any business leader’s job.
Amazon and the Coronavirus remind us that failure should be an option Feb 19, 2021 SARS-CoV-2 is a relatively slow learner.
My new contact lenses allowed me to see how fast technology is moving Feb 18, 2021 I recently got new contact lenses.
Corporate e-mail is like a mine dump Feb 17, 2021 When I was in grade 3 my dad got a promotion that came with a transfer.
A promotion should cause you to change Feb 16, 2021 “They’ve really changed since they got that promotion”.
Your colleagues often face personal challenges you are unaware of Feb 15, 2021 I’ll never forget the day one of my direct reports walked into the office and apologized for being late.
A lesson about candor and kindness from David Greybeard the chimpanzee Feb 12, 2021 My family and I enjoy watching a couple of MasterClass lessons after dinner on weekday evenings.
The last few minutes of an interview are critical Feb 11, 2021 Almost every job interview ends in the same way.
Why leaders should hack their familiarity loop Feb 10, 2021 I’m currently reading a book that explores the science behind habit creation and reformation.
What you know and isn't true can hurt you Feb 9, 2021 It has been said that what you don’t know can’t hurt you.
Back in the habit Feb 8, 2021 Habit stacking is so freaking powerful.
2020
Your todo list might be hurting more than helping Sep 11, 2020 I used to put about 10 items on my todo list every morning.
It’s not flattery if you mean it Sep 10, 2020 This week I reached out to someone I respect and rate highly.
High performers beware: You are likely to run out of virtue before time Sep 9, 2020 Diligence is a powerful word.
Travel back in time using Eskom and these 6 easy steps Sep 8, 2020 Imagine waking up in the middle of the night because someone just switched on all the lights in your house.
“I was there” and remain proudly African. Forever. Sep 7, 2020 A particular type of goosebump covers your body when you and 94,736 people experience history unfold in front of your eyes.
Does your mind salivate for headlines in the morning? Sep 4, 2020 I’ve overcome a few addictions in my life.
Donate your unique self to your family and colleagues Sep 3, 2020 I’ve donated blood many times.
BS makes good manure but unhealthy work relationships Sep 2, 2020 A service provider built a team to deliver a key project for us.
The best teams know that much of next year’s story is written today Sep 1, 2020 I grabbed a virtual coffee with a colleague yesterday.
Akrasia: When we know what to do but don’t act on it Aug 31, 2020 I love the dad in My Big Fat Greek Wedding.
Eating too many cookies taught me an important lesson about leading and lagging indicators Aug 28, 2020 I’m fascinated by indicators.
The habits I built are more important than the masters degree I’ll complete in 2020 Aug 27, 2020 I’m on track to finish my masters degree in 18 months.
You don’t need permission to make yourself useful Aug 26, 2020 Make yourself useful.
Leadership lessons from Beethoven and Bolt Aug 25, 2020 During lockdown our family invested in a MasterClass subscription.
Becoming be more aware and less critical of your own thoughts Aug 24, 2020 Many of the people in my life have bravely faced up to everything from depression and anxiety to insomnia and ADHD.
A clear picture of the future is the foundation for flourishing Aug 21, 2020 What is more important: Complexity or clarity?
Two books about courage that changed my life Aug 20, 2020 What image does the word COURAGE conjure in your mind?
Cut the Gordian Knot of productivity by declining meetings and ignoring email Aug 19, 2020 I had some critical things to do this week.
The most important part of your setup is between your ears Aug 18, 2020 I grabbed a virtual coffee with a young developer recently.
Meetings are both useful and incredibly dangerous Aug 17, 2020 Meetings boil down to talking about some work to be done.
Believing is seeing Aug 14, 2020 We often wish we could do the things that someone else is able to do.
Lessons on perspective from The Little Mermaid and a hit punk song Aug 13, 2020 We’ve been educating our pre-teen daughters on what constituted popular songs back when mom and dad were young.
Music can affect your productivity and performance Aug 12, 2020 There’s a scene in The Internship where Nick and Billy are on their way to meet a client for dinner.
A maker of good decisions or a good decision maker? Aug 11, 2020 I don’t want to make good decisions.
The biggest room in your house is always the one for improvement Aug 10, 2020 “It’s so easy to think that we were in the dark yesterday but we’re in the light today...
Working with who you want on what you want is really just play Aug 7, 2020 There’s a word that perfectly describes working with who you want to work with, on what you want to work on.
Staying and quitting is worse than quitting and leaving Aug 6, 2020 It’s not great for a team when someone quits and leaves.
Use batching to claw back valuable time and attention Aug 5, 2020 People are worried that robots or AI are going to attack us someday.
When your ducks refuse to get in line it’s time to satisfice Aug 4, 2020 I’ve typed and retyped this paragraph 10 times.
Company size matters but one size doesn’t fit all Aug 3, 2020 Is it better to work at a small company or a large corporate?
Adapting your defenses to protect your own weaknesses Jul 31, 2020 My own weakness and lack of self control never ceases to amaze.
Radical idea: Get stuff done without yet another meeting Jul 30, 2020 My teams are trying something new in August.
You should give a rat’s ass about your team’s growth Jul 29, 2020 This week I learned that we’ve managed to teach rats to sniff out land mines.
The underrated super power of writing things out and drawing pictures Jul 28, 2020 I spent less than 60 minutes preparing my detailed technology pack for a big quarterly board meeting yesterday.
What can you do today that you couldn’t do a year ago? Jul 27, 2020 I ask every interviewee: “What’s something you couldn’t do a year ago that you can do today?” It’s the most revealing answer of the entire conversation.
Push your leaders over the edge of their comfort zone Jul 24, 2020 I remember when my daughters couldn’t swim properly without water wings yet.
Micro management fuels the “revenge to stay up late” Jul 23, 2020 I’m sure you’ve engaged in a bit of 報復性熬夜.
Failing to adapt makes us complicit in our own stress Jul 22, 2020 I love the song Stressed Out by Twenty One Pilots.
You shouldn’t need permission from your boss to take care of yourself Jul 21, 2020 Can you take a day off when you worked on a Saturday?
A change is like a holiday Jul 20, 2020 I wrote last week about taking Friday off to clear my head and get some good rest.
When you can’t see the ball anymore it’s time to bench yourself Jul 17, 2020 Its been a tough week.
Herd immunity, herd mentality and how to beat the odds Jul 16, 2020 We‘re starting to see more and more of our friends, family and colleagues affected by COVID-19 infections.
Use forcing functions to craft a more productive work environment Jul 15, 2020 I’m not a very disciplined person.
Split focus wrecks projects and careers Jul 14, 2020 I once hit a car that suddenly changed lanes.
How to write your first book in 273 easy steps Jul 13, 2020 I posted something to LinkedIn for the first time one year ago today.
What is more important: Strategy or hard work? Jul 10, 2020 What is more important?
The two things outstanding candidates do in interviews Jul 9, 2020 My tech leads and I reviewed over 100 CVs and interviewed dozens of developers recently.
The best way to find something valuable to do: Do something! Jul 8, 2020 There was a time when people were genuinely worried that Google and Facebook wouldn’t figure out how to make money.
Focusing on people’s triumphs while ignoring their hidden challenges is dangerous Jul 7, 2020 We watched Titanic with our daughters this weekend.
The vast majority of bad things are not due to conspiracies but emergence Jul 6, 2020 Conspiracy theories upset me.
System setting is better than goal setting Jul 3, 2020 We used to buy cookies and other sweets as part of our groceries.
Invest in a good BS-meter: Media literacy and critical thinking Jul 2, 2020 What do you get when you put a powerful computer in the pocket of billions of people?
Home is where the heart and great leadership is Jul 1, 2020 Has working from home affected the way you approach your work?
You can only solve problems that you can articulate Jun 30, 2020 Colleagues with strong comprehension and good communication skills are worth their weight in gold.
If you have time to consume then you have time to produce Jun 29, 2020 Perfectionism has two children: One named “never finishing” and the other “not starting”.
If you're on the wrong train, every stop is the wrong stop Jun 26, 2020 I’ve been on the wrong train twice.
Your QWERTY keyboard won’t slow you down, but believing a myth might Jun 25, 2020 I just read Guns, Germs & Steel.
Ignoring a billion people reminded me to be mindful of gradual changes Jun 24, 2020 I recently had a “frog in boiling water” moment.
Willpower is not enough, you need leverage Jun 23, 2020 What do scissors, seesaws and the oars on a boat have in common?
Your heroes are imperfect, now go live your dream Jun 22, 2020 Gandhi was a father to India but disowned his son.
How prepared are you for your next interview or important meeting? Jun 19, 2020 Two of my friends absolutely nailed important interviews recently.
Lessons learned should include principles not just tactics Jun 18, 2020 We recently had a major production incident which took 48 hours to fully resolve.
Responding well to misbehaving technology Jun 17, 2020 For centuries all we could be sure of was Death and Taxes.
Do you spend your work days hunting mice? Jun 16, 2020 Lions are fully capable of capturing, killing, and eating field mice.
Finding more “me time” in the midst of modern mayhem Jun 15, 2020 Who doesn’t appreciate a little “me time” every now and then.
How habits and science helped me finally lose 10kg of fat Jun 12, 2020 I was overweight from the age of 12 all the way to my mid-thirties.
Being a sports fan is a dangerous game Jun 11, 2020 It was 30 years ago but feels like yesterday.
The problem with stakeholder management Jun 10, 2020 I’m not a fan of the term stakeholder management.
Tomorrow’s jobs would sound made up today Jun 9, 2020 Imagine filling out a form at Home Affairs and them rejecting it because you’ve put down a made up profession.
Managers of one are key to high performing teams Jun 8, 2020 I’ve noticed something about the top performing people at work.
What I wish I knew about books 20 years ago Jun 5, 2020 I love books.
Knowing how to think is better than a lifetime supply of fish Jun 4, 2020 Give someone a fish and they’ll eat for a day.
At home, during a crisis, trying to work Jun 3, 2020 Every manager needs to understand and acknowledge that we are living through a massive crisis.
Why it’s better to be overconfident Jun 2, 2020 Who would you rather work with: Someone who is overconfident or someone who is too cautious?
From mall rat to human being in just 70 days Jun 1, 2020 I went to the mall yesterday for the first time in 70 days.
How slow days can become quick weeks May 29, 2020 Have you noticed how individual days have slowed down but weeks have sped up during The Lockdown™️?
Don’t bring a knife to the fight for talent May 27, 2020 It’s amazing what you can learn if you are willing to really listen to people.
Do things that don’t scale, then scale them May 26, 2020 If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard a leader say “that doesn’t scale”...
Love is the general - Discipline and will are just troops May 25, 2020 Love.
The basics are beautiful and effective May 22, 2020 How many times have you overheard a conversation between two of your favorite authors?
Focus is the new talent May 21, 2020 Ask any classic villain.
Pontificating is for the pope - Learning to be succinct May 20, 2020 A few weeks ago my good friend Frank told me he’s noticed that I sometimes belabor a point.
An MBA teaches you more than just coursework May 19, 2020 So it’s finally happened.
May you live in boring times May 18, 2020 We live in unprecedented times.
How to play follow the leader May 15, 2020 The pandemic has brought the performance of government leaders around the world into sharp focus.
Live in a way that makes time your friend May 14, 2020 One of my personal values is to live deliberately.
Be more catty - Go to the right place and wait there May 13, 2020 Everyone knows cats have nine lives and always land on their feet.
Get smart - Avoid standard stupidities May 12, 2020 I tried too hard to be clever when I was young.
Are you prepared to win? May 11, 2020 I can be a bit obsessive.
It’s like riding a bike May 8, 2020 You never forget your first time.
Men - Can we talk about depression and anxiety? May 7, 2020 Suicide is the biggest cause of death for men under 35.
History doesn’t repeat itself but it does rhyme May 6, 2020 When your youngest daughter asks over dinner why we should study history, you know you’re about to have a wonderful family conversation.
What if your worst enemy was actually a wonderful person? May 5, 2020 Picture a public figure you hate.
The Law of Two Feet - Setting people free since the 1980s May 4, 2020 The 80s gave us big hair but also big ideas like The Law of Two Feet: If you're not learning or contributing, use your two feet, go someplace else.
Roam is the first note taking tool I might use forever Apr 30, 2020 Confession time.
The Tour de Garage - A lockdown half marathon Apr 29, 2020 The pandemic and lockdown has posed many serious questions to society.
The freedom to disagree Apr 28, 2020 One of our most precious freedoms is the right to disagree and debate.
Steve Jobs was a wonderful and a terrible leader Apr 24, 2020 If you’ve seen the movies and read the exposés you’ve probably made your mind up about Steve Jobs.
Words are not just the pieces of speaking but of thinking Apr 23, 2020 I received a package from my old friend Serendipity yesterday.
Leadership seen as a process instead of a person Apr 22, 2020 Are leaders born or made?
Lessons from opening the cupboard that could not be opened Apr 21, 2020 We’ve all been stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Meetings - Why less is more Apr 20, 2020 We’re all tempted to fill up our team’s diary with meetings.
Playing devil’s advocate is critical to success Apr 17, 2020 Why should we do fire drills and pre-mortems?
Date the model but marry the vision Apr 16, 2020 Strategic leaders are able to look at the big picture and think long term.
Lockdown: A tale of challenge and blessing in disguise Apr 15, 2020 The lockdown has brought us significant challenges.
I met some friends for a virtual dinner... and I liked it Apr 14, 2020 Last night we had virtual dinner with another couple.
The flexible shall not be broken Apr 9, 2020 I might be crazy, but I’m trying to do 2.5 years of masters coursework in 9 months.
Numerical fluency helps leaders kick ass Apr 6, 2020 Leaders that understand how exponential growth works responded much faster to the coronavirus outbreak.
This is not a normal work from home situation Apr 3, 2020 James Clear explains in Atomic Habits that your environment is the invisible hand that shapes your behavior.
How to compete with Usain Bolt when you’re a bit slow Apr 2, 2020 Is it possible to keep pace with the Usain Bolts of this world if you’re a bit slow?
Your leadership always has a legacy Mar 31, 2020 The decisions leaders make today can make or break tomorrow.
Why you should wear a mask in public Mar 30, 2020 I’ll be wearing this home made mask in public spaces until the pandemic is over.
Is your decision reversible? Mar 27, 2020 When faced with uncertainty and multiple options, leaders should consider how reversible each decision is.
A problem to solve or a tension to manage? Mar 26, 2020 Sometimes we struggle to solve a leadership problem because it’s not a problem to be solved.
Beating the virus: We only need one crazy idea to work Mar 25, 2020 Now more than ever we have to cultivate loonshots.
Don’t underestimate unity, humanity and science Mar 24, 2020 I wouldn’t bet against the power of unity, humanity and science.
A critique of three global leaders Mar 23, 2020 There are three observations that stood out for me this weekend.
Nobody cares about your R2 million banana during a crisis Mar 20, 2020 Nobody cares about your R2 million banana during a prolonged global financial and health crisis.
Words mean things and they matter Mar 19, 2020 History will record that Donald Trump chose the exact day on which US cases leaped past that of China to call it the “CHINESE Virus”.
There’s a difference between panic and extreme but strategic actions Mar 18, 2020 Are our governments and citizens panicking in the face of the Coronavirus threat?
Give the elderly the first hour at grocery stores every morning Mar 17, 2020 80% of COVID-19 fatalities are people over 60.
Celebrating a national state of emergency Mar 16, 2020 Why would my primary school daughters celebrate our country entering a national state of emergency?
Reading books together as a team is criminally underrated Mar 13, 2020 After starting a new job I got a cryptically named meeting invite.
An introduction to risk for leaders Mar 13, 2020 Leaders should make an effort to understand key risks.
What a 12 year old girl can teach us about failure and regret Mar 12, 2020 This is the inspiring story of how my daughter overcame fear to try something daunting.
Hollywood can help you build above average teams Mar 11, 2020 Price’s Law predicts that in an average team of 9 people, the top 3 performers will add about half of all the value.
Why market bubbles are unavoidable Mar 10, 2020 Are market bubbles the result of greed and incompetence?
Don’t pass on things you’ve heard and your opinions as facts Mar 9, 2020 Jürgen Klopp is one of the best football managers in the world, but he is also generally just a really wise person.
English is a language... not a measure of intelligence Mar 6, 2020 Have you ever pre-judged someone’s intelligence or competence based purely on how well they speak English?
Leaders determine if time is an enemy or a friend Mar 5, 2020 Even great teams will eventually drift towards insignificance without good leadership.
KPIs are a terrible substitute for good leadership Mar 4, 2020 When a measurement becomes a target, it ceases to be a good measure.
Thoughtful opinions held loosely Mar 3, 2020 The story behind the Semmelweis Reflex teaches us that just like washing hands can save lives, being an open minded leader can save your company.
The best leaders keep one eye on informal processes Mar 2, 2020 There’s nothing better than a business process that is simple to understand.
Why do teams become less effective the bigger they get? Feb 28, 2020 Carrying a 400 kg pool table can help us understand the Ringelmann Effect and why teams become lazier as they grow.
When a bad decision is better than no decision Feb 27, 2020 Waiting to be 100% sure you’re decision is right can easily lead to never starting.
Three men make a tiger Feb 26, 2020 Lots of tigers roam the business landscape.
Online information is abundant but not always accurate Feb 25, 2020 Leaders can’t afford to stop learning or be closed minded.
All the good ideas have not been taken Feb 24, 2020 “I’m sure in 30–40 years, no one would believe that we invented the smartphone before we invented the __________ (to be completed later).“ - Brian Weisberg
Leaders should promote signal and eliminate noise Feb 21, 2020 Focus in the workplace is both a precious commodity and an endangered animal.
Done and dusted - Why projects need constraints Feb 20, 2020 Large projects often fail because they turn into shapeless monsters.
Two keys to delivering large projects Feb 19, 2020 Delivering a massive project is not for the feint of heart.
Mission Improbable: Getting buy in with a big cross-team meeting Feb 18, 2020 We’ve all been in those meetings with 10 people from 7 different teams.
The man in the arena Feb 17, 2020 It’s easy to criticize when you haven’t walked a mile in someone else’s shoes.
It’s a marathon, not a sprint Feb 14, 2020 We have too many burnout related resignations.
How about changing the things you can’t accept? Feb 13, 2020 There’s merit in accepting the things you cannot change.
What family friendly and flexible working means to parents and children Feb 11, 2020 To many big companies their individual employees are no one.
Understand something before you try to fix it Feb 10, 2020 The reason a company process or team structure exists might not be obvious to you.
Clear communication is better than correct communication Feb 7, 2020 It doesn’t matter if you’re right if people don’t understand what you are saying.
When something is not your problem but still matters Feb 6, 2020 In business and life there are many things that are neither your responsibility nor your problem, but they make the world better.
Company culture starts with who you put in charge and who you hire Feb 5, 2020 To understand a company’s culture you have to keep an eye on the Whos of Whoville.
A formula you can’t afford to ignore: 1 + 1 = 10 Feb 4, 2020 Why should we invest in partnerships, form teams, join a network, make friends, value family, collaborate and be part of a community?
Death by distraction in a world of message overload Feb 3, 2020 I often feel overwhelmed by the number of concurrent “threads” or “topics” in chat and e-mail.
Christmas tree prices can teach us to think strategically Jan 31, 2020 What happens when you cut back on producing a product that takes a decade to make?
Planes are made for flying, what about you? Jan 30, 2020 The winds of life can be a clue to understanding yourself better.
When top performers get uncomfortably comfortable Jan 29, 2020 Rewarding your high capacity staff with fresh challenges and a steep learning curve is one of the best gifts you can give your company.
It’s Always Your Fault Jan 28, 2020 Unfortunately we often talk about bad luck when there was a great chance of it going wrong and it goes wrong.
Your reputation proceeds you Jan 27, 2020 We continually underestimate the power of personal relationships and reputation over formal qualifications and slick CV’s.
Recruitment lessons from a legendary teenage poker champion Jan 24, 2020 There’s an important lesson to learn from an 18 year old girl won £1 million at one Europe’s largest ever poker tournaments.
Shape your environment because it shapes you Jan 23, 2020 What is easier, changing human nature or changing your environment?
When the entirety of human information is in your pocket Jan 22, 2020 If someone from the 1950’s appeared today, what‘s the most difficult thing to explain to them about life today?
The difference between a real team and a pseudo-team Jan 21, 2020 Some teams underperform because they are not really teams.
Beyond the latest best seller Jan 20, 2020 It’s a mistake to ignore classic literature and focus too much on the bleeding edge of human knowledge.
Sometimes a nudge is all that’s needed Jan 17, 2020 If we can help men aim better in public toilets, then surely we can nudge our teams at work towards higher performance and greater job satisfaction.
Unspoken or unclear expectations are silent killers Jan 16, 2020 Unspoken or unclear expectations might be silently sabotaging your performance management.
Blissful productivity: Where work meets play Jan 15, 2020 Some are lucky enough to let others decide whether they are working or playing because to themselves they always doing both.
How to be smart without being an ass Jan 14, 2020 (noun) Smart ass: A person who is irritating because they behave as if they know everything.
Performance management is no laughing matter Jan 13, 2020 Some leaders don't have a solid understanding of what performance excellence actually is.
An understanding of human nature is vital Jan 10, 2020 Retailers can teach leaders a lot about the importance of understanding the power of human nature.
Are you being busy or productive? Jan 9, 2020 Did you recently renew your annual subscription to the 12-hour workday club without even thinking?
Recipes are a key ingredient of consistent success Jan 8, 2020 Whether you call them recipes, habits or frameworks, we all need them if we want to achieve consistently.
We need both goals and systems Jan 7, 2020 Some people are drawn more naturally to goal setting.
The nonsensical idea of more than one priority Jan 6, 2020 For 500 years English speaking humans used the word priority correctly.
The last mile is the least crowded Jan 3, 2020 When you face a difficult but worthwhile challenge, remember that the last mile is usually the least crowded.
Great leaders inspire and motivate Jan 2, 2020 You better believe there are leadership insights to be gained when a 37 year old rookie takes over as head coach at Arsenal Football Club.
2019
What’s the deal with mediation? Dec 31, 2019 Many people misunderstand meditation because they think it has to be spiritual.
How to leave work at 5pm every day Dec 27, 2019 If the key to leaving work at 5pm is not being better at what you do, then how on earth does one do it?
Great leaders make the most of time and timing Dec 24, 2019 Time and timing are both critically important concepts for leaders to grasp.
Plans are useless, planning is not Dec 23, 2019 One of life’s great paradoxes is that although plans are often useless, planning is essential.
Even successful people get tired and discontented Dec 22, 2019 “Good runners still get tired; they just get tired at higher speeds.” - Paul Graham
Rewatch Twins to see how important staying up to date is Dec 21, 2019 Rewatching a 30 year old movie reminds us of the importance of keeping up in any industry.
The power of conditioned responses Dec 20, 2019 Learn how nineteenth century research experiments with dogs & bells can help us lead better and build healthy long term relationships.
The power of strategic unorthodox interview techniques Dec 19, 2019 Can taking candidates to breakfast and arriving early to ask the restaurant to mess up the order be a winning strategy?
No news is good news Dec 18, 2019 Knowing everything about the last twenty-four hours but little of the last 240 years is dangerous.
Time away helps leaders gain fresh perspective Nov 27, 2019 Leaders need proper breaks to make good decisions.
The Curse of Knowledge Nov 26, 2019 If you think individual knowledge and skills can’t hurt team performance then its time to learn about The Curse of Knowledge.
Don’t be a slave to the date on your calendar Nov 25, 2019 You are not Cinderella, so you don't have to be a magical slave to a clock that strikes midnight or the date on your calendar.
Good leaders help people take good breaks Nov 24, 2019 Leaders play a huge role in how people feel about taking time off.
A simple way to review your year Nov 23, 2019 It’s easy to forget.
Trusted, personal recommendations are better than algorithms Nov 22, 2019 To achieve great things we can’t rely on best seller lists and algorithms to provide us with recommendations.
Sometimes it pays to be a strange cat Nov 21, 2019 There are advantages to not just always doing what everyone else is doing.
In praise of praise Nov 19, 2019 Compliments and kindness stand in stark contrast with the negativity that often fills our lives.
Software is eating the world Nov 18, 2019 During the Renaissance you would've encouraged your kids to learn to read and write.
The Decade of Information Overload (Video) Nov 17, 2019
How to regain control of your phone and your life in less than 10 minutes Nov 17, 2019 What can we learn from a former smoker about wrestling back control over our phones?
Podcasts should be the 25th hour of every leader’s day Nov 16, 2019 What would happen if you got to meet and learn from 365 extraordinary new people over the next 12 months?
A written culture is an investment worth making Nov 15, 2019 A written culture is a strategic advantage that is scarce, valuable, and hard to imitate
Other people can often see valuable things that you can’t Nov 14, 2019 Kings and queens know that additional perspective creates invaluable insight and understanding.
How you treat people at work matters Nov 13, 2019 How we treat the people at work is way more important than we realize.
The difference between earned and owed respect Nov 12, 2019 Earned Respect is a valid concept, but so is Owed Respect.
A Growth Mindset (Video) Nov 11, 2019 Our first ever video where Black Swan founder David Reinecke talks about what it means to have a growth mindset.
Braess' paradox proves that sometimes less is more Nov 10, 2019 Traffic around Seoul sped up when a major highway was removed.
Learn to admit when you don’t have the answer Nov 9, 2019 One of the keys to true professional integrity is the ability to admit when you either don’t know or are unsure.
How to write 1,000 articles a year Nov 8, 2019 How does one write 1,000 work related articles in a year?
Dreams take time and that’s okay Nov 7, 2019 Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it.
Be a boat, not a rock Nov 6, 2019 Let’s think, how is a boat different from a rock?
Stress + Rest = Growth Nov 5, 2019 This year I’m telling all my engineers they’re not allowed to come to work for 5 weeks.
Why conversations are better than messages Nov 4, 2019 We‘re all busy and surely at least getting the message across is better than waiting forever for a conversation?
The pen is mightier than the brain Nov 3, 2019 Teams who rely on oral tradition instead of writing things down are asking for trouble.
Three keys to delivering large projects Nov 2, 2019 Postmortems when things go wrong are helpful, but we should also reflect on why something went well.
Less is more in talks and presentations Nov 1, 2019 Creating a presentation that is clear and concise takes time and effort but makes a big difference.
Should managers make all the decisions? Oct 31, 2019 What happens in a company or team when the manager makes all the decisions?
Should you fire someone who made a big mess? Oct 30, 2019 Making a big mess can help great people to know what they don’t know.
Why skill beats talent Oct 29, 2019 Skill doesn’t ask who you were years ago, it simply asks how capable your are right now.
Future proofing by pushing the boundaries Oct 28, 2019 Do you want to future proof your team or organization?
Inbox Zero Oct 27, 2019 Inbox five doesn’t quite have the same ring to it as inbox zero.
Have your cake without eating it Oct 27, 2019 Can I have this slice of cake?
Working with instead of against human nature Oct 26, 2019 What happens when leaders underestimate or don’t understand the power of human nature?
Never make a thousand decisions when one will do Oct 25, 2019 Can making less decisions instead of more actually be better, or will it lead to inferior performance?
The company you already started without knowing it Oct 24, 2019 What if you owned a company and your current employer was your first and biggest client.
One life to live but many lives to learn from Oct 23, 2019 This week Seth Godin is mentoring me in marketing.
The courage to be open minded about open offices Oct 22, 2019 Great leaders have the courage to question conventional wisdom and the humility to do the work required to have an opinion.
Beyond the limits of the possible Oct 21, 2019 “The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.” - Arthur C.
The dangers of copying successful leaders and companies Oct 20, 2019 World War II and Melanesian islanders can teach us important lessons about the dangers of blindly copying successful leaders and companies.
The dangers of imaginary communication Oct 18, 2019 How do we overcome what is arguably the most dangerous of all leadership and interpersonal failures?
The legacy of your leadership Oct 17, 2019 What kind of leader would you be if you knew everyone you influenced would eventually lead in that same way?
Leadership lessons from the African Bullfrog Oct 16, 2019 Find out what the biggest and baddest frog on the continent can teach leaders about balancing professional and family life.
Gen X can help Millennials avoid burnout Oct 15, 2019 Gen Xers might be getting "old" but could be key to helping younger colleagues achieve work-rest balance.
Over-trust vs Micro-management Oct 14, 2019 What can we learn from Charlie Munger and Jack Welch about over-trust and micro-management?
Do you feel lucky, punk? Oct 13, 2019 Which would you say had more overall good luck, normal companies or those that outperformed the normal ones by a factor of 10+?
No bonus points for difficulty Oct 12, 2019 In life and business we don’t need to be the hero.
Why work overload is overrated Oct 11, 2019 What happens when people have large blocks of uninterrupted time and an environment that encourages focus?
Where to buy cheap turpentine Oct 10, 2019 You can tell when someone's leadership and work has moved beyond theory when they know where to buy cheap turpentine.
Making your words count Oct 9, 2019 Appreciation, acknowledgment and encouragement “completes” our work and gives us a boost for the next day or the next project.
"I Interpret Everything You Say On Who I Know You To Be" Oct 7, 2019 This week a colleague said something about my division in a Slack message.
I packed your parachute Oct 7, 2019 Grant Kirby is VP for Sales at Iress Canada.
“I’m not sure” is a perfectly valid answer Oct 6, 2019 Here is some advice for people going for interviews: “I’m not sure” is a perfectly valid answer.
The Best Non-Fiction Book You've Ever Read Oct 5, 2019 How much would you pay to read the best non-fiction book you’ve ever read?
South Africans making a global impact Oct 5, 2019 I love seeing South Africans make a global impact.
The Biggest Room In Any House Oct 3, 2019 I had such a good town hall with all the teams in my division yesterday.
Just Do IT Oct 2, 2019 I recently built & launched a search engine for my favorite card game.
Winning Steps Oct 1, 2019 I reviewed my division’s performance for 2019 yesterday.
Principles Are Better Than Policies Sep 30, 2019 Someone nukes a big Tupperware full of extra spicy leftover curry.
Salaries And Bonuses Sep 29, 2019 I’ve spent a lot of time reading about, talking about and thinking about salaries and bonuses this year.
Seeing The World Not Just As You Are Sep 28, 2019 I want to hammer an awesome insight home today.
Stress + Rest = Growth Sep 27, 2019 My new addiction is studying Charlie Munger.
Play Until The Final Whistle Sep 25, 2019 Last night proved casual soccer can be fiercely competitive.
The Key Is To Start Sep 24, 2019 I accidentally ran 15km yesterday.
Professionals Practice Until They Can't Get It Wrong Sep 23, 2019 I spent almost 1,000 hours playing my favorite game last year.
Experience Isn't Just Elapsed Time Sep 22, 2019 I’ve been thinking a lot about the concepts of experience, seniority and capability in business and the workplace.
Hitting the ground running is much harder than we think Sep 21, 2019 I once jumped out of a moving car.
Most issues are nuanced Sep 20, 2019 Its everywhere you look.
There will only ever be one Arsène Wenger Sep 19, 2019 I cried when they announced Arsène Wenger was leaving Arsenal.
You've got to care Sep 19, 2019 Yesterday I woke up to some good news.
Competing For Win-Wins Sep 18, 2019 This week I caught up with an old acquaintance who heads up a stockbroking firm.
South Africa today is not a country. It is a miracle. Sep 16, 2019 One of the things about starting your own company is you can do some wacky stuff just because you really want to.
Old kangaroos and new tricks Sep 15, 2019 I’m currently doing an MBA through the University of South Australia and yesterday was the deadline for my final Strategic Management research report on the Qantas Group.
a place for every thing and everything in its place Sep 14, 2019 Confession time.
Here are three ways this principle affects my approach to life at work Sep 13, 2019 Today’s bit of inspiration comes from a guy who doesn’t even have a Wikipedia page.
The most useful form of patience is persistence Sep 12, 2019 A good friend read an article that claimed patience is one of the top 10 things that WON’T make you happy.
I Had No Time to Makeit Shorter Sep 11, 2019 “I have made this longer than usual because I have not had time to make it shorter.” - Blaise Pascal
The Map Is Not The Terrain Sep 10, 2019 The perils of paper shredding...
Valuable Insights Gained Through The Eyes Of Others Sep 9, 2019 Last night my kids and I were at Sandton City to help my wife pack up her Fine Art exhibition.
Overcome Entropy Sep 8, 2019 Housekeeping in Business
Understanding From The Ground Up Sep 6, 2019 What an interesting week.
What If... Sep 5, 2019 What if you showed up at work and suddenly had significantly more discipline and self control?
Sometimes You have To Swim Upstream Sep 4, 2019 I do enjoy Twitter, but am very particular about who I follow.
Scientifically Proven Cognitive Benefits Of Exercise Sep 3, 2019 My first two hours of work yesterday left me feeling like a truck had driven over me.
Google it. Understand it. Start using it Sep 2, 2019 We made a large, complicated and important production change this weekend.
public speaking Sep 1, 2019 I found an old recording of the first time I spoke in public this week.
Don't compare yourself to others. Compare yourself to prior versions of yourself Aug 31, 2019 Comparison is not a new concept.
being open minded Aug 30, 2019 The last few years I’ve become more curious about my own ways of thinking and how open minded I am.
Tim Chilvers Aug 29, 2019 "The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place." - George Bernard Shaw
I should have made a better effort at seeing things from my team’s point of view Aug 28, 2019 I recently shared some good news with my team.
DIRECTION OVER SPEED Aug 27, 2019 So far this week we’ve looked at starting and continuing.
One more step in the right direction Aug 26, 2019 Yesterday I talked about the power of starting before you feel 100% ready.
Three separate births Aug 25, 2019 You can’t wait until you are fully prepared before you begin.
Confront problems, not people Aug 24, 2019 The way people treat each other has become more and more important to me over time and I’ve recently thought a lot about the difference between being aggressive and constructive.
Fine Art Children's Portraits Aug 24, 2019 I am excited to officially launch my Fine Art Children’s portraits.
The power of diversity and teamwork Aug 23, 2019 Most of the elements on the periodic table are metals.
The LEGO of ideas Aug 22, 2019 We visited the world’s largest LEGO store in London in December.
Asking questions can be very helpful Aug 21, 2019 Asking questions can be very helpful.
Imperfect plans are exactly what’s needed Aug 20, 2019 I’ve been involved in a number of important projects so far this year.
Two things are needed Aug 19, 2019 Does your team or company have strategically important initiatives or projects on a list somewhere that you never get to?
“Dream work!” Aug 18, 2019 If you say the following phrase to my daughters aged 9 & 12:
your online sales business Aug 17, 2019 “The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposing ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.” - F.
professionals from amateurs Aug 16, 2019 One critical question I’ve explored in recent years is what separates professionals from amateurs.
self-devouring, navel-centered fantasies and self-delusions" Aug 15, 2019 Imagine if SpaceX never launched anything?
Traf-O-Data Aug 14, 2019 Years before Microsoft was founded, Bill Gates, Paul Allen and Paul Gilbert started a company called Traf-O-Data.
How important sleep is Aug 13, 2019 Oh.
Nervous excitement isn't just for children Aug 12, 2019 The other day my oldest daughter got into the car with a very excited look on her face.
They will never forget how you made them feel Aug 11, 2019 My favorite tweet from last week is by James Clear:
Feeling "ten years behind" Aug 10, 2019 Ever had that feeling that you should have done something 10 years ago?
Distilling it to it's simplest form Aug 9, 2019 A few people have recently told me I have a way of making complex things simple.
My favorite investment Aug 8, 2019 I want to highlight my favorite and most promising investment...
Its human nature Aug 7, 2019 One of my favorite writers is Seth Godin.
Admit when your wrong Aug 6, 2019 Looking for entertainment?
Uncover capabilities rather than just experience Aug 5, 2019 I really think one can be good at hiring.
One of my favorite books of all time is surprisingly not a business book Aug 4, 2019 One of my favorite books of all time is surprisingly not a business book.
Those who stay the course grow as individuals Aug 3, 2019 They say the only constant is change.
The disaster that didn't happen Aug 2, 2019 Our daily lives are so reliant on tools and technologies.
“Don't believe everything you think." Aug 1, 2019 Someone asked me a really cool question earlier this week.
Willing to be wrong along the way Jul 31, 2019 Yesterday my teams and I tried something new.
Some of the hardest things I’d ever done Jul 30, 2019 One of our more sobering discussions at the weekend’s unConference happened over dinner on Saturday evening.
Only good rewriting Jul 29, 2019 I had one of those short but interesting “water cooler” conversations with two colleagues yesterday (Ridwaan Kharva, Bradley King).
Code For Change Jul 28, 2019 On Friday we hosted a group of high schoolers at our office as part of our involvement with the charity organization called Code For Change.
Getting to see the world through other people’s eyes Jul 27, 2019 Everyone who has attended a traditional conference knows that your degree of engagement varies wildly from session to session.
Making a mistake is not failure Jul 26, 2019 I’m attending Unconference 2019 with my friend Wynand Rabe this weekend.
3rd order consequences Jul 25, 2019 This morning I woke up and could barely walk.
The last part of a project is often the hardest part Jul 24, 2019 Why?
The worst thing you can do is nothing Jul 23, 2019 We all know the famous line from Spider Man: With great power comes great responsibility.
How important the way we treat people is Jul 22, 2019 A few things have happened at work over the past week or so that reminded me for the millionth time just how important the way we treat people is.
Avoid the toxic elements of the modern corporate office Jul 21, 2019 It’s 6am and I’m staring at a diary packed full of meetings.
An experience I’ll never forget Jul 20, 2019 Throwback to 2018 when Theuns Prinsloo, Kaloyan Petkov and I represented South Africa at the last ever MTG World Cup in Barcelona.
Take a leaf from the Netflix playbook Jul 19, 2019 In the film industry, producers and movie goers both exert tremendous competitive force on the cinema operators.
The second best time is right now Jul 17, 2019 There are many ways to say that it’s never too late.
Get your hands dirty! Jul 15, 2019 This week our Strategic Thinking lecturer said that “unsubstantiated observations and opinions are for laypersons." (Dr.
Your customers will never be any happier than your employees Jul 13, 2019 As part of my MBA course on Strategy, we’ve taken a deep dive into our organization’s strategy.
Demotivated by the stupidity of the modern workplace Jul 13, 2019 We’ve all felt like we’re sinking at work.
Seth Godin Jul 12, 2019 Highly recommend subscribing to Seth Godin's blog!
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