December 2020

I’m starting this post with a dangerous and seldom-realised fact. There is no such thing as a work-life balance. Work is part of your life—a significant part—but not a separate entity. If anyone tries to convince you otherwise, you seriously need to consider their motives. To escape what some people think are ills associated with…

The inevitable end-of-year slump is officially here. This is perhaps the toughest time to stay motivated. With the current economic situation, bonuses may be forfeit. Some people have lost their jobs. Holiday cheer may seem to abound in malls and commercial districts, but how many employees’ morale and motivation are at a peak? When was…

Picture the scene: You’re at a wedding and the best man is fumbling and mumbling through a poorly conceived and ill-advised speech. He reads the speech off a piece of paper that makes you wonder just how much one can fit onto an A4 sheet if they write small enough. His remarks are in poor…

Now that you know what to focus on in terms of your speech’s content (see Part 1), you’ll want to concentrate on the mechanical and technical aspects. I cannot emphasise the importance of preparation and practise enough. Part of that preparation includes discovering what you will work with (or against). For instance: Will you use a…

When was the last time you heard a toast that actually made you pause mid-selfie and feel like getting off your seat to clink glasses? Having to endure a pointless, eye-roll-inducing, and meandering toast is reason enough to have most of us (teetotallers included) reaching for a glass of something to numb our minds. The…

Gone are the days of handwritten and hand-delivered letters, communiques, and invitations. We now have myriad apps that support with planning an event, counting that event down, and doing everything from sending out reminders to giving guests on-point directions. Not to mention the DM apps we spend most of our waking hours on… Apps make…

Do you sit down to a meal with your smartphone either in hand? Is it on the table? Do you eat, sleep and breathe with your smartphone near you? Are you always checking your phone when you attend meetings, conferences, or somewhere you think people can’t see you doing it? If you’ve answered yes to…

As a society and individuals, we obsess about busyness. We want to appear busy all the time.  Your refrains may be “I’m too busy to…” or “I don’t have time for…”Sometimes our preoccupation with busyness prevents us from taking the time to say thank you. At this time of year, many of us receive gifts…

The holidays are drawing nearer. You’re itching to get out of your home office. 2020—what a year… The list of places we can escape to is pretty short. Gatherings and visits look unlikely. We’ve added travel—local and domestic—to our 2021 wish lists. We all need a break.  While trips to the grocery store feel like…