Most small business owners think they have an execution problem. They don’t. They have a vocabulary problem. And because they have a vocabulary problem, they have a thinking problem. I know that sounds harsh until you understand what vocabulary actually is. Vocabulary is not about posturing to sound intelligent at networking events or using corporate […]
Archive for the '1% Improvement' Category
This ad is 16 years old… I’m surprised it has never come up on my social feeds… First, enjoy it for the experience that it is… A lot of people would love to have this level of creativity and struggle to “get started” on that journey. A quick and easy way is to Mirror The […]
The controversy surrounding forced and unforced errors in tennis centers on the subjective, inconsistent, and often arbitrary way these statistics are recorded, as they are determined by human scorers rather than objective data. Unforced errors are typically defined as mistakes made when a player has time to prepare and position themselves, while forced errors occur […]
Whether your learning TYPE is visual, auditory or kinesthetic, visual diagrams like this one are essential to assemble the wealth of data and information you need to process to make sense of any topic, like this synthesis of Agentic AI. Visuals like this trigger your Reticular Activation System (RAS) and enable you to parse, sort […]
We all know the adage: It’s Not WHAT You Say; It’s HOW You Say It. But what does that actually mean in dayto day business activities? Here is an example of DATA presented in 3 different ways and I’m sure you’ll agree each illsutration is more EFFECTIVE than the previous. This challenge is amplified when […]
Every business owner, entrepreneur or manager wants to achieve their goals… These great graphics visually synthesise a core philosophy of peak productivity: Discipline. Simply put, it’s about practicing the DISCIPLINE to align your time and energy (resources) towards the goals you’ve set for yourself and the business. This means avoiding distractions and indulgences that do […]
I see this pattern over and over again when I sit across from founders, CEOs, and senior leaders. They’ll say something like:“I feel pulled in opposite directions.”Or: “I don’t know why this feels so hard—I know what I should do.”Or my personal favourite: “Am I just being inconsistent?” Most of the time, they’re not inconsistent […]
If you’re a small business owner–operator, let me start by putting you at ease. There is nothing “wrong” with you. In fact, if anything, you’re probably highly capable, driven, conscientious, and far more resilient than the average person. The very traits that allowed you to build a business from nothing are also the traits that […]
If you want to THINK better, this 11-minute video explains the most effective and efficient way to do that. As the video title reveals, it’s all about “old school” paper. Yes, get your pens or pencils and paper out of your desk drawer, it’s time to put your thinking hat on… Video Summary This video […]
Antimimeticisomorphism is the opposite of the common organisational tendency (mimetic isomorphism) where companies copy successful peers, instead suggesting that organisations actively differentiate or resist copying to stand out, innovate, or avoid the pitfalls of over-imitation, especially when uncertainty is high or success is tied to unique strategies rather than standard practices. While mimetic isomorphism (copying) […]
As a business growth strategist, working with the most ambitious entrepreneurs and experienced business managers, I hear it all the time… “I don’t have time for personal/professional development!” I get it. With the kids’ pick up and drop offs, running errands, maintaining a household, caring for elderly family members, attending community and social commitments while […]
In extreme sports, the putative central governor is a proposed regulatory process within the brain that limits physical exertion and causes the sensation of fatigue to protect the body’s internal stability (homeostasis) and prevent catastrophic organ damage. Proposed Mechanism: The model suggests that the subconscious brain controls how many muscle fibers are recruited during exercise. […]
What is THOUGHTING? THOUGHTING is a word I made up to describe the intellectual equivalent of speed dating: Quick, shallow, and often leaving everyone involved feeling unsatisfied. THOUGHTING is superficial thinking disguised as deep analysis. It’s when Bob from accounting confidently declares, “The marketing budget should obviously be cut by 30%,” after glancing at a […]
Below is a table with 10 examples of verbose verbal statements, their concise alternatives, and explanations for why the extra words are superfluous. This resource is designed to help you recognise and remove common forms of redundancy, hedging, and meta-communication in everyday speech. Why This MattersSuperfluous language—such as fillers, hedges, and meta-comments—can make you sound […]
If you’ve ever walked into your office and felt like you’d stumbled onto the set of “The Office”—but without the laugh track—you’re not alone. Many small business owners find themselves surrounded by staff who are physically present, dutifully checking boxes, but mentally checked out. The coffee is strong, the Wi-Fi is (mostly) reliable, but the […]
This is your go-to reference for keeping email from draining your time and energy. 1. Use the Eisenhower Matrix to Prioritise 👉 Sort emails into 4 categories: Urgent & Important: Respond or action immediately. Important, Not Urgent: Schedule time to handle it. Urgent, Not Important: Delegate if possible. Neither: Archive or delete. 📍 Helps focus […]
Today’s topic is the example of a good idea that could have been great. First, have a look at this IT workshop Money Back Guarantee proposition… Don’t get me wrong, it’s different and will probably resonate quite well with the target audience, but can you pick up the sub-optimal presupposition? It’s not obvious… Re-read it […]
Here are my picks for my top 10 blog posts of 2014. There is nothing more powerful than 20/20 Foresight to know what’s coming in 2015… This is my favourite YouTube video of the year – brilliant – Word Crimes are committed by too many people’s. Antimimeticisomorphism is easier said than done – this example […]
What were they (not) thinking?!? Unfortunately most of the marketing mistakes people make are not this blatantly obvious. I say unfortunately because if they are not obvious, then they are not recognised for the true blunders they are. These are silent killers that erode a company’s profits often to the complete ignorance of the business […]
I just came back from a trip to North America where I met some very smart and ambitious business people. In contrast, upon my return to Australia, I came across a 19-year old squash player who wants to make it on to the professional tour who said “I don’t have a coach, I prefer to […]
