There is a famous saying: If it looks like a duck, swims like a duck, and quacks like a duck, then it probably is a duck. No truer words can be spoken about aggression and people who exhibit aggressive behavior. In these situations the ‘Duck Test’ works. You can see…

I’d not seen her for twenty-five years. And then suddenly, out of nowhere, I bumped into her in a supermarket. I’d never really understood why we lost touch. She was one of my best friends. So, when that chance meeting happened, we were both amazed and delighted. It all came…

Meetings, virtual or in the flesh, must be appropriately planned Bringing a group of people together is expensive. Meetings reflect the culture of an organization, and they must be productive and positive. Like players in an orchestra, some people will play more notes than others, but everyone is equally important. …

Nobody believed me. — Sunday night. 10 pm. I was immersed. Soaking away the rigors of a brisk country walk in the warm womb-like waters of the hot tub. Kids in bed. The crisp winter’s evening delivered a deep, clear black sky. Here in the Peak District it’s a balmy two degrees at best. …

Spoiler Alert: It actually worked — I was 14 when I first went on a diet. I’ve been on one ever since. Thirty years later, I’m still overweight. I live each day trying to be a better version of me. I dream. I’m hopeless at skiing, but in my mind’s eye, I can see myself flying…

I recently hired a small team of freelancers for a regular gig working on my online business. I was swamped with applications. Here’s what I learned sitting on the other side of the table. 1. Follow the Instructions It was incredible how many people didn’t apply according to the outline in the job ad…

It’s easy, and it works. — Back in January 2020, I conducted a year-long experiment. I started logging several simple actions on a habit tracker to see if these small incremental modifications would make a difference. I was astounded by the impact. The most significant transformation (I don’t use that word lightly) came from the simple…

Understanding The Hidden Depths of Our Relationships Using Transactional Analysis — In the first article, we examined the nuts about bolts of Transactional Analysis and how we can use it to understand and even improve our relationships with other people. In this article, we focus on the most complex transactions — where there is more going on beneath the surface of…

The ability to say ‘no’ is a prized skill. As technology grants 24-hour access to our lives and the ability to be quickly available is an accepted norm, the art of saying ‘no’ can be a superpower. As Warren Buffet said: “The difference between successful people and very successful people…