Cuba is a remarkably hot country. The sun is strong and the humidity is high. In summer, a visitor from Europe could walk down the road and break into a sweat…in the middle of the night. The Cubans also suffer, although more between 12-4pm. Suffer they do though, and this led to the expression ‘pasé …
The further you are from home…
…the better you get on with people you know* When I was 17 I went on my first foreign family holiday. It was 2,000 miles from the UK to a Greek island. A that age I was mostly concerned with what I was wearing, if I’d be able to drink alcohol, if I’d meet any …
What advice would you give your future self?
I don't have many regrets. I used to carry them around with me by the bucket load. I would ruminate on stupid things I did, things I wished I'd said, go over old battles with people who'd slighted me. I was really good at it. But at some time in my twenties, I let go …
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Time travel
I'm on holiday this week. Time seems to work differently here than when I'm at home. I can carve out time for myself more easily when I'm in my daily routine even if, seemingly, I have less of it to spread around. This site tells me why. I've read this before, but this time it …
What’s your win?
My favourite TV programme in the last few years, by a long way, is Drive to Survive, Netflix's behind the scenes look at Formula. It's the height of creativity and shows what you can do to a documentary series with a big production budget. If you haven't seen it, I love it because: You see …
What don’t you see?
Yesterday was my son's birthday. He was excited for weeks about it and ecstatic on the day. It was lovely to see and join in with. But it was also a special day for me and my wife. It's the anniversary of when we became parents. In many ways that's a bigger deal than us …
Leaders are made, not born
Leadership. One of those things our ancestors probably didn't worry too much about. 'How are great leaders splitting their time between farming for the livelihoods and supporting the causes they care about?' Not a question at the time, I'm sure. But since theories of leadership took flight in recent times we've fascinated over the question …
You can create magic
Some of the greatest moments of my life involved watching live sport. I love the battle between two sides. There’s no ‘good’ and ‘evil’ and you can’t tell who will win from the very beginning, like in the movies. Underdogs win when you least expect them to. Players display feats of brilliance which even they …
For more fun, explore the absurd
Do you ever have days where you feel dull? Struggling to keep up with the pressures of life. Dwelling on the negative and struggling to laugh? I've felt like this for the last, I don't know, 5+ years now I think. Small children and a full time job took all my energy. Especially the physical …
The think-write-think cycle
At work the best leaders set aside time for 'thinking'. Apparently. I've never connected with this idea. Don't get me wrong, I've tried it. I've brainstormed. Used mind maps. Worked through the end of chapter challenge questions in the books I'm reading (occasionally - it's too much like school). I've tried seeing things from other …
You can ‘over present’
One of the skills I admire the most is the ability to present to an audience. To do it well you have to balance many things: - Knowing and memorising subject matter - Speaking clearly, varying tone and timing of voice appropriately - Using body movements, gestures - Deploying props or slideware - Preparing all …
Take a risk. Start something. Poke the Box.
Photo by Danielle Macinnes on Unsplash Late last year, less than 6 months in to an exciting new role, my contract came to a sudden end. I’d sensed something was up – someone let slip in a meeting that there was a budget review taking place. Later, when I asked my client what that meant …
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A 25 year search – who I am and why I’m here
Hi I'm Jonathan. When I was 15 my mum signed me up for a class on self-hypnosis to help me with my preparation for school exams. I was curious. My only experience of hypnosis at that age was the TV entertainment kind, Paul McKenna convincing normal people that they were super heroes or dinosaurs on …
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@Naval 60 day meditation challenge
I took up @Naval Ravikant's 60 day meditation challenge and have been tracking it on Evernote. Below are all my daily scribbles, and some overarching reflections. Background I've been meditating on and off for years. I get carried away with the enthusiasm of a new method, the music or voice on an app, the promise …
Your Clear Mind 