1,000 way conversation
February 19th 2020 by
We talk about the importance of two-way conversations, but actually there’s so much more. To be truly connected we have to have multiple conversations, with multiple people, in multiple ways. I do enjoy writing these newsletters and sharing my thoughts, but for a some time now I’ve been frustrated. It feels to me like I’m broadcasting (one-way) rather than having a real conversation. So this week I’ve launched the How to Be Brilliant private Facebook […][...]
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Is this the best letter to Santa
December 3rd 2019 by
My wonderful Godson Jack is bang in the middle of a most magical age. Young enough to really believe, old enough to know what he wants. His mum and dad shared his letter to Santa, or as Jack calls him (as it’s a formal letter) St Nicholas. I think it’s brilliant. Here you go: To St Nicholas Please may […][...]
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The problem with good ideas
November 14th 2019 by
Once upon a time I really wanted to be on the telly. I even had an agent and made a couple of pilots. It didn’t happen (I’m delighted). One day I met the head of a major TV production company and arrived prepared with an array of amazing TV show ideas. After 15 minutes of […][...]
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My Billion Dollar Dream
October 16th 2019 by
I always sleep with a notepad and pen close to hand. I’ve remembered important information, have come up with creative ideas and documented some pretty whacky dreams. Last weekend, Christine looked at my pad and asked what I’d been writing. I had no idea. Could it have been a billion-dollar idea I’d had during my sleep? After […][...]
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3/4 of English children spend less time…
September 19th 2019 by
What? Last week, when I read Erling Kagge’s beautiful book ‘Walking – one step at a time’, I was shocked and (strangely) not surprised to discover the answer. 3/4 of English children spend less time outdoors than prison inmates in the same country. Wow! While we’re complaining about the condition of convicts, we’re subjecting our children to […][...]
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Pavlov’s iPhone
August 28th 2019 by
I did it. I actually did it. This summer I achieved a… drum roll… digital detox! And it was like coming off crack. In August, we shared a week of our summer break with friends. We had a great time; mainly lying on beaches, eating amazing food and drinking G&T. One night, the conversation turned […][...]
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Get Your Act Together
June 6th 2019 by
In the 1950’s big budget movies started hitting the silver screen. Singin’ In The Rain, Ben-Hur, The Ten Commandments– they were all epic productions. You can imagine the pressure on the Producers, who promptly passed it on to the Directors and ultimately the Actors. The term ‘Get your act together!’ came from the Director’s chair following their frustration with […][...]
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The Curse of Chaos
April 3rd 2019 by
Early in my career, I was invited to work with a ‘creative agency’. It was a hoot! Painted pigs in reception. Table tennis and space invaders. Pizzas on Thursday. Pub on Friday. ‘You don’t have to be mad to work here – but it helps’ posters. You get the idea. And almost everyone was happy to work late. […][...]
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The smart way to get a double espresso
March 26th 2019 by
Last week I had a few days writing in the sun. The hotel was very nice, the breakfast very average. Two days running, the early morning team managed to make the world’s worst double espresso. Weak, too much liquid, lukewarm. Yuck! I asked how they made them and they said it was just a button on the machine. […][...]
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