There are many aspects to thinking bigger. Step outside of your culture to see the shackles it has placed on your thinking.  I am specifically referring to cultures of geography, and not the culture between like disciplines (e.g., engineers globally have a common culture etc.). Off course reading is an important element of broadening your…

The simple answer is to stop digging.  Why can’t people stop digging when they are in a hole? Mostly the answer is because of an EGO of self.  Ego is like fog in the air; you struggle to see rationality. I am careful to qualify EGO in terms of ego of self, which translates into…

I love this picture, a rare moment and privileged encounter with a mountain goat, and then still an opportunity for a photo.  My inspiration to take 5 and think about the laws of nature and synergy, and how this relates to our own effectiveness, and leadership. Once we discover real synergy with nature, we are…

A defining moment in my life, a leadership workshop in 1997, attended by leadership and high potential associates from Goodyear SA, Trentyre, and key customers of each enterprise.  It was a week program covering “THE SEVEN HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE” BY Stephen R. Covey. Some history.  Goodyear SA, a manufacturing entity had acquired Africa’s…

I was known to have strong opinions and to have said, “my opinions your opinions, I win. Your facts my opinion, you win”. Therefore, I encouraged people to always speak with data, that eliminated opinions. Although most people want certainty, my advice is to consider a probability that you may not be correct, even if only a…

My learning and mistakes as an expatriate. I left South Africa as a competent executive, with self-confidence, courage, and empathy as a leader, BUT I had a limited view of the world.  I thought the way I saw the world was the way the world was, and even worse, should be. I believed that I…

Companies engage me to help them develop measures to grow, AND KEEP, their high potential associates, those associates that they have identified as their A players.  Mostly I find an environment where the thought process focuses on remuneration, flexitime and generally a cozy environment.  Yes, star associates want an environment of TRUST, but equally they…

Every venture has its own rewarding experiences.  My current role in leadership mentoring gives me the opportunity to experience life changing appreciation from those that I interact with.  Let me share 1 such outcome that will help illustrate.  One area of my work is an in-depth understanding of PROACTIVENESS. When people truly understand and practice…

I guess the gentleman was around 40 years and 100 kilos.  We were at the gym.  In a rare moment that he was off his phone I asked “why are you exercising”? To lose weight he said.  I said he should start by leaving his phone in the locker.  2 days later a personal trainer…

I was born, educated and worked many years in a country with limited social benefits, and in particular no State pension fund.  Growing up in such an environment meant that I was hard wired to take responsibility for myself, not to rely on the State for my old age.  Pension was never a milestone that…