Tips, News & Views / 166 posts found
“The ONE Thing” by Gary Keller
Summary This book makes a simple, and seemingly blindingly obvious, recommendation: To succeed in a meaningful way, find the most important thing to do for your most important mission, then ‘just’ go do that. The real value for me came in three ways: The research and thought-provoking work on what ‘meaningful’ actually is; A practical approach with strategies, questions and tips to move this from being a statement of the blindingly obvious, to something that is eminently…
Corporate Social Responsibility – An Honest Assessment
Although this wonderfully satirical (and uncannily accurate) video is primarily making a point about climate change, it highlights the cause of much of the ill we see from publicly listed companies. The much higher pressure to give shareholder return than to add value. It is eloquently encapsulated in one of the lines, “it ensures solid returns to our shareholders by killing their grandchildren.” It’s the main reason we believe in the power for good and transformation that is the…
“The Willpower Instinct” by Kelly McGonigal
Summary A fantastic research and science-based book on willpower (i.e. not your usual factless self-help diatribe), with good practical tips and a sober analysis of our pathetic capability. Key takeaways: Our capacity for willpower is very limited, so choose carefully and focus its use where it counts; It is also trainable like a muscle, so you can progressively set it harder challenges; Try to actively notice when it fails, analyse why and what triggers it, then be conscious that you have a choice…
Tesla Open Sources its Patents – Altruistic or Cynical?
Tesla’s announcement that it would open up all its patents for use by others who want to use its technology “in good faith” was applauded by Elon Musk’s many fans as a testament to his altruism, driven by a desire “for the advancement of electric vehicle technology“. I’m a huge fan of Musk’s. But it’s not for his passion to leave the world a better place. Although I admire that enormously, on its own it doesn’t make him any different…
Download The Whole of the UK in 3D
The Environment Agency in the UK has opened up its 3D maps of the country for free use by individuals and businesses. See the announcement on the Environment Agency blog. Whomever is working on that jetpack can now add 3D GPS capability. Or perhaps drone deliveries that can go to the right floor. Or accurate information for the emergency services on callout. Who knows. But business opportunities for the creatively minded abound!
Sweden Shifting to 6 Hour Work Days
As the US shifts working hours upwards, and the UK feels like it’s following suit, and as work and home time become blurred with permanent presence through mobiles, and social media at work, it’s interesting to see more Swedish companies switching to the 6 hour day. This comes in some companies with a fairly strict “work hours are for work activities” policy, but equally a “home hours are for home activities” counterbalance. The “work hours for work activities”…