Loneliness
We will spend most of our adult lives working. Yet, study after study tells us that most of us are just turning up for work. The work that we do to generate our livelihoods does not fully engage us. That…
Tag Jim Collins
To Trust or Not To Trust
“You must trust and believe in people or life becomes impossible.” Chekhov’s words have always resonated with me. And yet, I often encounter leaders whose mantra is that trust must be earned. In the cut-and-thrust of corporate life my turning…
A Strategy, Soul, & Self Toolbox
Hello friends Today’s letter is coming to you from Schuilhoek Cottage. Thank you to Defijn founder, Eckardt Kasselman, for introducing me to this place of quiet beauty. I am staying mostly offline, so will share some pictures with you next…
Innovation, burnout, and bravery
You’ll remember that a few months ago I told you that South African artist and sculptor Atang Tshikare was rocking the world of Dior. Now he’s in New York’s Metropolitan Museum with this amazing piece that he describes as paying…
Lessons from Jim Collins
Good morning everyone I wrote today’s letter from bed. Generally, my week is made up of a trilogy of foundational habits – yoga, meditation, journaling – overlain with regular dips into great fiction. In the last 10 days, I have…
How toxic leaders destroy people and organisations
Good morning friends In Good to Great, leading business thinker Jim Collins developed the concept of the flywheel. In an accompanying monograph he writes, “No matter how dramatic the end result, good-to-great transformations never happen in one fell swoop. In…
Leadership Basics: Are you a creator or a reactor?
Happy February Everyone Thank you to everyone who has reached out in the past week to send me suggestions for this letter. I have been moved by the generosity with which you have taken time to share your knowledge with…