There is no normal
April 16th 2020 by
I must have seen 50 posts in the last few days saying that we won’t ‘go back to normal’. They’re usually followed by comments such as, ‘Thank goodness, the old way was awful’ but… Eventually, any new normal would be the normal. Now that’s something to think about! If you agree that you create your own normal, could you create a new normal? Now? 5 New Normals: Whatever time […]
in Innovation and Thinking | (15) comments
Flip It, Kelly Hoppen and Love
April 9th 2020 by
In 2009 I wrote a book called Flip It, with the subtitle of how to get the best out of everything. I had no idea when I wrote it that now would be the perfect time for Flip It and the tools and techniques within it. And yet, over the last few weeks, more people than ever have contacted me to talk about Flip It since Chris Evans raved about it on Radio 2. They […]
in Personal Development | (6) comments
I’ve Had A Wobble
April 2nd 2020 by
Yesterday, at around about 5:30pm, I drifted into our kitchen. I felt dazed and tearful. My shoulders ached. My mind was racing, but without clear thought. I had nothing left. For the last 10 days I’ve been coaching, supporting, broadcasting and sharing, trying to do my bit to help and encourage people during this difficult time We’ve all heard the story of the importance of ‘fitting your own oxygen mask […]
in Personal Development | (11) comments
Hope IS A Strategy
March 26th 2020 by
I used to argue that ‘hope was not a strategy’; this was a classic piece of most business training, encouraging participants to be strategic. But in these days, HOPE is a strategy. In fact, without hope and faith, it’s easy to become very low. I’ve spent the last 10 days mainly on Zoom and Teams, coaching; helping people and organisations (of […]
in Personal Development | (0) comments
People are amazing
March 19th 2020 by
I’m forever amazed by how extraordinary people are. And right now, 90% of the world seem to be proving my theory. Almost all of our speaking events have been postponed. Not cancelled, postponed. The majority are looking for new dates and can’t wait for us train their staff, speak at their events and create exciting programmes. […]
in Inspiration | (0) comments
Protecting your honour
March 11th 2020 by
‘Right you, let’s sort this outside.’ It’s not the coolest way to settle an argument; it’s also a bit old fashioned and personally, I’d run. The modern day duel is usually a battle of words; rap battles, comedy roasts, Twitter spats. Not really guns at dawn. The history of the duel goes back well before the image of two toffs taking three paces; in fact it dates back to […]
in Personal Development | (0) comments
What you need and what you want
March 4th 2020 by
I need an ice cream I need a long dress I need a faster car I need a new house Need or want? The difference between what we need and what we want is subtle. But vital. Being able to differentiate between these two verbs can make the difference between being happy or sad. The child doesn’t need the ice cream, the teenager doesn’t […]
in Personal Development | (1) comment
Why we lie
February 27th 2020 by
From an early age, we’re encouraged to tell the truth. The problem with telling the truth is sometimes it can get us into trouble, or can make us feel inadequate. Whereas a lie can be a shortcut to joy, safety and a timely ego stroke. So why do we lie? We lie to: Escape being punished Avoid embarrassment Win admiration Obtain something that’s not otherwise available […]
in Personal Development | (5) comments
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 […]
in Innovation and Thinking | (0) comments
Can you have cheap, fast and good?
February 12th 2020 by
An old sales manager friend of mine used to use this antiquated method in a desperate attempt to close a sale in his favour. The idea was simple enough. At the end of his pitch, he would assume the client wanted a discount. When they asked if there was anything he could do with the price, he’d draw three circles and write one […]
in Business | (2) comments