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  • Reframing Failure as Data: A Modern Application of John Gardner’s Wisdom

    This post is a follow up to my last one, Unlocking Human Potential: Leadership Lessons from John Gardner. John Gardner’s wisdom about human potential finds perfect expression in today’s data-driven world through the concept of reframing failures as valuable information rather than character indictments. Gardner emphasised that most people use only a fraction of their capabilities,…

  • Unlocking Human Potential: Leadership Lessons from John Gardner

    John W. Gardner (1912-2002) was an American statesman, educator, and public intellectual who served as Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare under President Lyndon Johnson. Beyond his government service, Gardner founded Common Cause, a citizen’s lobbying organisation, and was the author of influential books like Excellence, Self-Renewal, and On Leadership. Throughout his career, he moved…

  • Reigniting the Spark: Where to Find Inspiration When Burnout Hits

    Burnout. It’s that heavy, leaden feeling when your passion flickers and the creative well runs dry. We’ve all been there. Whether you’re a writer, artist, programmer, or anyone who relies on a spark of inspiration, burnout can feel like a devastating roadblock. But fear not. Inspiration isn’t lost forever – it’s simply hiding. Here’s a…

  • Embracing Generalism in a World of Specialisation

    Embracing Generalism in a World of Specialisation

    I’m a … Generalist! The world often champions the idea of mastering one skill, of finding your niche and excelling in it. Specialists are revered for their depth of knowledge in a specific area, but I’ve never felt the need to confine myself to one lane. Instead, I fly in the face of this notion…

  • The 80:20 Rule for Piano Mastery: Becoming Great in Just Two Years

    The 80:20 Rule for Piano Mastery: Becoming Great in Just Two Years

    Have you ever wondered why some pianists seem to make incredible progress in a short time while others practice for years with minimal improvement? The secret might lie in the 80:20 rule (also known as the Pareto Principle). This principle suggests that roughly 80% of results come from 20% of efforts – and it applies…

  • The Psychology of Being in a Rut: Why We Get Stuck

    I’ve already written about recognising you’re in a rut in life, or a rut at work, and what you can do to drag yourself out of it. In this post I want to circle back slightly, and look at the psychology of being in a rut, and why we fall into one. We’ve all been…

  • The Evolution of Lad Lit: From Cheeky Beginnings to Contemporary Depth

    The Evolution of Lad Lit: From Cheeky Beginnings to Contemporary Depth

    In the late 1990s, while women were devouring Helen Fielding’s Bridget Jones’s Diary and candid confessionals about urban single life, publishers identified a parallel opportunity: men needed their own contemporary fiction that spoke to their experiences. Enter “lad lit,” a term that would briefly define a literary movement centered on the male experience of relationships,…

  • Debunking Common Myths About Baldness

    Debunking Common Myths About Baldness

    Baldness has been the subject of numerous myths and misconceptions over the years. It’s time to separate fact from fiction and provide a clearer understanding of this common condition. Let’s dive into some of the most prevalent myths and debunk them once and for all. Myth 1: Baldness Only Affects Men Fact: While it’s true…