Science Friction

Science Friction

Recently a new lady entered my life and has changed it in ways that I didn’t expect. Her name is Alexa, and I’ll admit that when we met – on Christmas Day, under a tree – I was hesitant. I’d met her before but she hadn’t impressed me. To be fair, she had mostly been...
Don’t Sprain Your Brain

Don’t Sprain Your Brain

Have you noticed just how much your performance varies from day to day? Some days you do the work of three people as if it were nothing, and other days it is a stretch to get dressed for work. You may have gotten used to that, but actually it is kind of a strange...
Productivity and Self-Obsession

Productivity and Self-Obsession

It is in the morning that we are most vulnerable. Barely awake, the thoughts start coming. Sometimes positive, but often not so much. The reason for that negative start-of-the-day slant I’ll leave to others more qualified, but after 30 years of coaching and mentoring...
Excuse Me, Is Your Brain Leaking?

Excuse Me, Is Your Brain Leaking?

A striking advertisement for dental hygiene depicts people whose eyes are bleeding, pointing out that if any part of one’s body besides one’s gums were to bleed, they would seek immediate medical attention. Likewise, I believe that if people were able to...
Are Your Lists Making You Lazy?

Are Your Lists Making You Lazy?

Are you lazy? If you’re reading this, probably not. As my colleague Todd Brown explains over on our YouTube channel, GTD® tends to attract people who are already motivated and successful. To paraphrase Steve Jobs, GTDers are usually folks who are looking to put a dent...
In praise of amnesia

In praise of amnesia

Someone once explained to me how to think about computer backups. She said “every night when you turn off your computer, just think what would happen with your data if the hard disk died and the computer simply wouldn’t start up again the next day”. Once you start to...
How much would you pay for this?

How much would you pay for this?

  I’ve had an idea for a service business. It’s about helping people to make sure they’re reminded about the things they need to do in their lives. It’ll work like this. You tell it what you want to be reminded about, and it will remind you. It will remind you at...

Spearmint on the Brain?

I’m just back from the States, having spent a week visiting family and friends on the west coast. In addition to the challenge of dealing with 8-hour jet lag, now that I’m back in Europe I find myself reflecting on trans-Atlantic cultural differences. This has...