Impact
Today I recorded a podcast with Darren Beale for his show Knuckling Down. It’s the first time I’ve appeared on a podcast. As the red light started blinking, the nerves hit. I fumbled my words…
Today I recorded a podcast with Darren Beale for his show Knuckling Down. It’s the first time I’ve appeared on a podcast. As the red light started blinking, the nerves hit. I fumbled my words…
The majority of the tools I use to do my work didn’t exist 10 years. The code editor I use, Visual Studio Code, was only released a year ago. Responsive web design was coined by…
I recently picked up a copy of Gary Vaynerchuk’s latest book, #AskGaryVee. It’s a fun read, with the self-confidence and raw energy you’d expect from Gary. It’s what I call a loo book: the Q&A…
As April draws to a close, I’m starting to reflect on the 30 Day Writing Challenge. I’ve found the challenge to be hugely beneficial to my own writing practice, even though the original intent was to help…
I try to spend time with my wife, Ju, in the evenings. Over the past month or so, I’ve not been doing that as much as I should. A busy work schedule and some unproductive…
When I write, I talk about what’s on my mind. You might agree with me, or you might not. My ideas might work for you, or they might not. I’m not trying to change your mind…
There’s a saying, “you’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” Our closest relationships affect our thinking, decisions, and self-esteem. This is one of the reasons I started a Mastermind…
I’ve got to the point in the 30 day writing challenge where I’m publishing stuff I wouldn’t normally share. This is a prime example. It’s not that I’m limited by ideas. Coming up with ideas…
In Robert Cialdini’s classic book Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion, he introduces the concept of Fixed Action Patterns by giving the example of wild Turkeys. Turkeys are smart animals. They solve problems and recognise friends…
The other day, I talked about trying to unplug more often. This is a continuation in that journey. My phone is the biggest distraction device I own. It’s always at arm’s length and it’s full of…
While on our weekend break in Chester, we walked from our hotel to the city centre. The area was completely unknown to us. We were taking in everything as we went, marking the journey by the…
I’ve spent the past few days in Chester with Ju. The first few months of the year have been hectic; Ju with her new job and me with a busy work schedule. So we decided to…
10 opportunities you could take today: Write a thank you note Surprise your partner, friends, or colleagues Say no to something that doesn’t align with your goals and values Share a solution to a problem…
Several of us taking the writing challenge are regular listeners of The Tim Ferriss Show. We thought it would be fun to answer questions that Tim Ferriss regularly asks on his podcast. Here goes: When…
I’ve been working my way through The Checklist Manifesto, which, as you can probably guess, makes the argument that we should all be using checklists. The author tells lots of stories to demonstrate the importance of…
We’re now 13 days into The 30 Day Writing Challenge. The biggest hurdle that I’m hearing over and over again is: I don’t know what to write about. I don’t have ideas. Here are my…
“Next time you come to visit you must come and see the daffodils before they are over”, Carolyn said. “I will come next Tuesday”, she promised her daughter. Tuesday arrived and it was cold and…
Words change meaning over time. Soon, for example, originally meant now. In The Etymologicon, Mark Forsyth explains: Soon was the Anglo-Saxon word for now. It’s just that after a thousand years of people saying ‘I’ll…
As part of 30DWC, I’ve been sharing everything I’ve learnt about writing and there’s one obvious topic I’ve avoided: the tools I use to write. Seth Godin tells a good story about Stephen King that…
I recently wrote a post about how our pursuit of perfection can prevent us from sharing what we create with the world: Perfectionism is our brain trying to protect us—from creating something that is embarrassing…