The Success Trap
Success is a terrible teacher. It convinces us that what worked before will work again, that our methods are universal, that we’ve cracked the code. But success often happens despite our approach, not because of it. Market timing, luck, team dynamics, and favourable conditions; these get forgotten in our narratives about what made the difference. […]
The Impostor’s Advantage
That voice whispering “you don’t belong here” isn’t your enemy; it’s your growth indicator. Impostor syndrome gets bad press because we treat it like a bug instead of a feature. We try silencing self-doubt with affirmations, missing the signal it’s sending: you’re operating at the edge of your competence, where learning happens. People who never […]
The Collaboration Paradox
Have we been sold a lie about collaboration? More voices don’t always lead to better decisions. Consensus doesn’t guarantee buy-in. It often produces the worst of all worlds. Jeff Bezos encapsulates this with his famous “disagree and commit” principle. For instance, if one strategist argues for a bold, disruptive campaign and another for a safe, […]
The Procrastination Myth
Procrastination isn’t about time management. It’s about priority confusion. We delay starting new work because we’re already overwhelmed with half-finished tasks. The real culprit? Our addiction to multitasking. We convince ourselves that juggling five projects makes us productive, but research shows it actually takes more time overall than proper prioritization would. It creates a cycle […]
The Small Fires We Ignore (Until They Burn Down the House)
We treat stress like background noise; always there, barely noticed, until it isn’t. That constant ping of emails, the client who changes their mind daily. We tell ourselves it’s “just work,” but these small fires have a way of spreading. Burnout doesn’t announce itself with dramatic symptoms; it creeps in through Sunday anxiety, forgetting to […]
The Lost Art of the Follow-Up
Follow-ups are not just reminders. They are opportunities to shape outcomes. Too many people treat them as administrative chores, sending a quick “just checking in” and hoping for a reply. A smart follow-up adds value. It might share a new resource, clarify a point, or present an alternative. Instead of nudging for a decision, it […]