In most leadership material you read you’ll come across the need to be self-aware.  I agree, it’s a very important element of growth because if you’re not aware of the need to change it will never happen, right?  But how do you do develop self-awareness?  Often times when I’m running a workshop on leadership I start with awareness and how to develop it.  To do this I always start off with the concept of the Self.  One way the Self can get into conflict is when there is too great a gap between the Actual Self and the Ideal Self. (more…)

Every so often I work with a client who gets quite irritated by the things that people are doing around them.  For example, one client I worked with used to get extremely irate at his flat mates.  He used to go barmy when he’d be the last one to get up in the morning and all the curtains in the house are closed, the rubbish is sitting in the corner of the kitchen or the bin is overflowing, food and dirty plates would be left on the counter top from last night’s dinner.  He’d leave the house after cleaning up after his flatmates and with every step he’d mentally spit and fume about his flatmates and their disgusting habits.  Then he’d arrive at work…ready to start the day.  You can imagine how things would go from there. (more…)

“Curiosity killed the cat…”

The other night my youngest daughter came into the bedroom, she had a nightmare and couldn’t get back to sleep.  Bringing her back to bed I asked her what the nightmare was about.  She said that mammy and daddy died and she was really upset.  I explained to her that in a dream that doesn’t mean what she thinks. (more…)

If you’ve ever wondered what makes up a balanced individual so have psychologists since the beginning of the discipline.  Many renowned psychologists have put forth their view on what makes up a mature personality but after extensive research into the topic the following traits have become known as the Big 5 Personality Traits.  How many do you have? (more…)

I’ve always been fairly ambitious in my life and that ambition has driven me to work ridiculously hard holding down full-time jobs as well as two other part-time jobs while studying part-time on top of all that!  I’ve also gone out and set up small side businesses in the areas I was passionate about at the time but my earlier attempts always met with the same faith.  I was so driven to succeed in my twenties that it was all I could think about.  How to make money! (more…)

I’ve recently taken on more responsibility that has changed the dynamics of my life quite considerably and I’m very excited about the opportunity.  This has meant I haven’t had the time to focus on some of things that are important to me because “there are only so many hours in the day” and “I just don’t have time for everything”…and other excuses.  Sound familiar at all?  So I’ve decided to do something about it and make a few changes so I can continue to live life at high speed and enjoy it along the way. (more…)

If ever you’ve found yourself struggling at 3pm in the afternoon or you need that coffee to kick-start your day then read on.   Modern life is robbing us of our natural ability to perform at our very best throughout the day and to keep going well into the evening.  Here are some super quick tips for getting the most out of your body and your day. (more…)

I’m absolutely blessed that I can, from time to time, go along and see what my girls get up to in their after school activities.  Both of my girls study piano and watching their little fingers dance across the keys is amazing to me.  Sometimes, as you can imagine, when they are learning a new piece that requires both hands going in different directions it can get a little confusing.  I sat watching my daughter, Ciara, struggle (more…)

Imagine this scenario…you and I are out on a boat fishing in the harbour.  Not too far out, maybe 250 metres or so.  We’re not wearing life jackets but we’re having a great time laughing and joking when out of nowhere a freak wave appears and topples the boat.  We both go flying into the water and, almost at the same time, we reach the surface.  Now you’re a confident swimmer and you come up laughing and joking, “Where did that come from?” (more…)

I’m only a couple of weeks away from competing in Ironman NZ 2015 so please forgive me if my every waking thought is consumed by the challenge that lies ahead.  So why is Ironman such a great metaphor for life in general?  When people look at Ironman the first thing they think of is that it’s a tremendously physical challenge…and they’d be right.  But it’s more than that.  The physical, although essential, is only one component of making it to the finish line. (more…)