Dear friends Strategy, Soul & Self weaves together three threads, I believe are essential to leadership and life. First, the ability to hold a compelling vision — and translate it into social and organisational reality. Second, the awareness that no…
Dear friends First, I must apologise. A few weeks ago, one of my favourite young winemakers, Banele Vakele released his most recent vintage and I didn’t tell you. My fussy wine-drinking friends gush about his Chenin. I checked on Friday…
Good morning friends A few of you emailed to say that last week’s letter hadn’t made through your firewalls. If you are one of the unlucky ones, here is edition 251: Stephen King and Strategy. Choose what you worship. Celebrating…
Happy Sunday! If this is the first time you’re reading strategy, soul & self, I hope you enjoy it. You can subscribe here. If you work in an organisation where your culture and processes are disconnected, please share today’s letter…
Dear friends It’s good to be back. I hope you’re well. The Pulitzer Prize winners were announced this week. As always, I am reaching for my credit card whilst dreaming of a trust fund which would allow me to spend…
Dear friends Thank you for last week’s birthday wishes. I appreciated them. It was a wonderful weekend with all my favourite things – kayaking, good wine (2017 shiraz from Mullineux and Saronsberg, because I know you want to know), good…
Good morning good people If you’re growing a business (or even a division in a large corporation) you must read Verne Harnish’s Scaling Up. His genius is distilling the world’s best business thinking into clear, actionable frameworks. One day, when…
Dear friends If my current client conversations are anything to go by, you’re probably drowning in meetings and processes, bouncing from one thing to the next, feeling overwhelmed and powerless – two deadly drivers of burnout – to change it.…
Good morning friends A few years ago, a client said, “I wish I didn’t need others’ approval”. I smiled and replied, “We all do. Practically, it helps us know we’re doing something useful. Emotionally, we’re social creatures, we like feedback, especially…
Dear Friends I struggled to write this week’s letter. There is no shortage of material. I have been my diligent self. A dozen books are stacked next to my desk. l have read them, completed my annotations and they’re waiting to…
Good morning good people The Cape’s summer swelter has arrived. In recent days the mercury has nudged 40c, but I remain a red wine lover, so I asked one of my favourite wine shops, Wine Concepts, to give me some lighter…
Dear friends If you’re looking for some December reading, this is the pile I’ve built myself and these are some I have finished over the last two months. /strategyIn my coaching work, I often hear the protest, ‘I don’t…