Holiday reading – we’ve got you covered

Christmas is fast approaching, and if you’re anything like me, you leave the majority of your shopping until the last minute…

As in Christmas Eve….which subsequently results in over-spending as you find yourself buying tickets, gift vouchers, or absolutely anything that can be printed out at home and hastily put in a $1 Christmas card from the local newsagent.

So, in what’s likely to be the last post of 2018, I thought I’d lend you all a hand, and post a list of recommended books for the aspiring leaders in your life. Continue reading Holiday reading – we’ve got you covered

3 unlikely Professors

I recently had a productive six week gap between projects, the first time I’ve had that kind of length break since Uni holidays back in the daaaaaay.  While the weather wasn’t always particularly summery, it gave me a great chance to spend time with the family, smashed through a mountain of jobs around the house, and as is my want, listen to the Beastie Boys.

Loud.
On repeat.

For those who are interested, it was the Solid Gold Hits (2004) album that earned the solid gold workout.  Do yourself a favour, and go buy it.  Chock full of gems.

It was half way through mowing the back lawn that I realised that in spite of some of their lyrics being absurd, bordering on demented, these 3 dudes from Brooklyn really do know what it’s all about.

Those of you who have followed the blog for a while now will know, I’m a fan of Top Lists.  So here’s 7 lessons I learned from the Beastie Boys in the Spring of 2018, presented to you via song. Continue reading 3 unlikely Professors

Can you dig it?

It’s school holidays here in Sydney, and I’ve been lucky enough to take some time off in between projects to enjoy them with the family.  While the weather hasn’t exactly screamed “Let’s go to the beach!“, it’s certainly been great for some of the drought-stricken state.  It was on a rare gap between squalls that we snuck in a trip to Balmoral, and it was knee-deep in the moat of a glorious sand castle, when it struck me…. Continue reading Can you dig it?

Is it time for a good cry?

Have you ever cried at work?

I have – and it was the best thing that ever happened to me.

It was back sometime in the very early 2000’s and I was at the end of an 81-day straight cycle.  I don’t just mean 81 days with weekends off……I mean.

81.
Consecutive.
12+ hour days. Continue reading Is it time for a good cry?

Brett’s off sick today

I see a fellow digging holes.  An earnest looking chap, he’s beavering away, dirt flying everywhere, his shovel moving at a tremendous pace.

I see a fellow following him, filling the holes in.  Again, earnest chap, shovelling in the dirt his mate flung about, patting it down neatly and moving on to the next hole.

So I ask the two what they’re doing, interested in what’s motivating them to carry on this seemingly meaningless pursuit. Continue reading Brett’s off sick today

“Queen’s pawn to D-4”

Over these weeks and months, I’ve mentioned strategy, or strategic thinking, thinking 5 steps ahead, business being like chess, and not letting your ego cloud decisions at least a dozen times or more, but as I look back over the last 96 hours, I wonder if any of it is sinking in at all.

It’s too long and boring a story to explain the exact circumstances, but needless to say, had I spent more time thinking and planning, then I wouldn’t have been kicking myself the way I have been this morning.

Continue reading “Queen’s pawn to D-4”

“They said what??”

“It’s the bearings.  Definitely the bearings.  They didn’t do the maintenance checks on the bearings”

“Concrete cancer.  Definitely concrete cancer.  Probably not enough cover to the reo”

“It was the Mafia-supplied concrete.  Had too much sand in it”

I’m talking about the recent partial bridge collapse (well, part of it collapsed entirely) in Genoa, Italy.  I daren’t speculate as to the reason, or reasons, it collapsed, as I’m sure there’s a bunch of people, much smarter than I, who are busy trying to figure that out.

Continue reading “They said what??”