My Number One Tip For Escaping a Dead-End Job

May 24, 2013 in Careers | 2 comments

Over the years I’ve met a lot of people who felt as though they were stuck in dead-end jobs.

They may have been in the job for a year, five years, ten years or even more.

Some were in their early 20′s or late 50′s.

They all dreaded going to work, they hated Monday mornings and each wanted nothing more than to leave, but they don’t know how to escape.

It may be that they didn’t really know what they wanted to do next.

Or perhaps they needed to undergo more training or increase their skills before leaving, but struggled to make the time.

In many cases, it turns out that the fear of an unknown future is greater than their dislike of their current situation, giving them little motivation for taking action and generating such inadequate excuses for staying such as: Read the rest of this entry »

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Everything You Need, You Already Have

May 23, 2013 in Personal Development | 4 comments

Sometimes, I wish that I had more charisma, or more talent, or more money or that I was more athletic or good-looking.

Sometimes, I look at the opportunities that others have and think that I would be more successful if I had the same set of circumstances surrounding me.

Sometimes, I think that I need to wait a bit longer before taking action on a project because I don’t yet have all of the skills required to get it exactly right.

Then I hear a small voice remind me, “Darren, everything you need, you already have.”

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Everything’s Contagious

May 22, 2013 in Personal Development | 4 comments

When you’re enthusiastic and passionate about something, it’s contagious.

When you’re dour, dull and disinterested, it’s catching.

When you’re confident and in control, it has a calming effect on others.

When you panic and act frantically, those around you start to look over their shoulders as well.

When you’re focused and working hard, those around you are more likely to do the same.

When you slack off, those around you also look for an excuse to give less than their best.

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There Are Lots Of Ways To Change the World

May 21, 2013 in Personal Development | 4 comments

Some people change the world through music, art or poetry.

Some people change the world by creating extraordinary products that change the way we live.

Some people change the world by standing up to injustice, often at considerable personal cost.

Some people change the world by leading businesses that engage their people to do great work.

Some people change the world by healing the pain of the less fortunate and speaking for those who have no voice.

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Are You Getting Closer or Further Away From Your Goals?

May 20, 2013 in Personal Development | 2 comments

Every action that you take…

Every time that you work on your craft…

Every call you make…

Every item you cross off your list…

Every time you deliver phenomenal service to a customer…

Every time you respond immediately to a great idea…

Every single time you do something that matters, you get one step closer to your goal.

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10 Things I Want My Kids To Know When They’re Older

May 17, 2013 in Parenting | 7 comments

Logan, Hayden and Madison

Logan, Hayden and Madison

Frederick Douglass once said, “It’s easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.”

Being a dad is one of the biggest challenges of my life.

I have three awesome kids, Hayden (aged 8), Madison and Logan (both aged 5) and raising them to become adults who are able to confidently make a positive contribution to society isn’t always easy.

They didn’t come with a manual and whilst I want to be the best dad I can be, I know that I fall short of my own expectations far too often.

One statement that I used when the kids were very young was that “we’re not raising children, we’re raising 25 year olds.”

The idea is that when I focus on the short-term, I can become reactive and make decisions that suit me at the time.  But when I think about the long-term consequences, I discipline them better, give them more attention and help them to become better people.

As I said earlier, I don’t always get it right, but there are 10 things I want my kids to know when they’re older.  If Karen and I get these right, we’ve done OK: Read the rest of this entry »

Know, Go and Show

May 16, 2013 in Leadership | 4 comments

Leadership guru and best-selling author, John C. Maxwell once said, “Leaders must know the way, go the way and show the way.”

It’s a great reminder of the responsibilities and challenges that come with leadership.

There can be a temptation as leaders to operate without a clear plan, to be aloof and to ask people to do things that you would never do, but that’s not how the best leaders operate.

So, if you’re a leader (or are aspiring to be one), let me ask you a few questions:

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The Unstoppable Train

May 15, 2013 in Personal Development | 6 comments

English: Transperth B-series train at McIver s...

Transperth B-series train (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Imagine a train at a station.

It takes a lot to get it moving.

A lot of energy, a lot of power.

And even then, progress is slow, the wheels seem to meander around.

But then, something shifts.

The wheels turn faster, momentum builds and before too long, the train is an unstoppable force.

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Let Others Say How Good You Are

May 14, 2013 in Personal Development, Sports Stories and Principles | 2 comments

Following the sudden retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson, came the announcement that star Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes is hanging up his boots (again).

The “Ginger Ninja” has been a brilliant player for many years, but you’ll never hear him say it.

He has always kept a low profile, preferring to let his football do the talking rather than make outlandish statements about himself or his team.

And in retirement, he’s more likely to take an assistant coach’s role and spend more time with his family than be found in a high profile and better paying media job.

So, what do his footballing peers say about him?

French superstar Zinedine Zidane after being asked what it’s like to be the best midfielder in the world, “Ask Paul Scholes.”

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Buying Career Insurance

May 13, 2013 in Careers, Personal Development | 6 comments

It’s possible to buy insurance for almost anything these days.

Insurance salesmen are peddling life insurance, house and contents insurance, car insurance, boat insurance, health insurance and travel insurance.

Such insurance is meant to protect us from the unforeseen circumstances that occasionally happen in life.

So what do I mean by career insurance?

I’m not talking about income protection insurance in case you get injured at work (although I’m told that’s a good idea).

I’m talking about ensuring that your career is safe in the years ahead.  Protecting you from the unknown future that will be impacted by inevitable and inexorable change, technological advances, global competition and other unforeseen pressures.

Is there really such a thing?

Can you really buy insurance that protects you from massive change and from the possibility that your job (or even industry) may not even exist in the future?

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