THE HUMAN COST OF MASS LAYOFFS
The human cost of mass layoffs (and how to turn them into opportunity) It’s no secret that mass layoffs have become the trendiest management formula to balance the books lately, especially in tech. I do not like them. I’m not talking about extreme cases, every business faces tough times, but because mass layoffs are used […]
IN PRAISE OF SAYING YES
In praise of saying YES. It feels almost counter-cultural in today’s world, it’s rare to hear reminders about the power of saying yes. There’s no shortage of content on saying NO; articles, books, strategies to protect your energy, set boundaries. But sometimes, all that “no” advice can feel heavy and keep us away from living […]
BE THE MASTER OF YOUR FATE (AND CAREER)
“I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul.” This line from Invictus , the poem by William Ernest Henley, became iconic after Nelson Mandela embraced it. For me, it’s not just a beautiful quote, it’s a guiding principle for how I live. For years, I moved through jobs thinking […]
CREATE YOUR CAREER VISION
Visualise to make it real. We often underestimate the power of having a career vision. Not just a goal or a plan, but a clear picture that gives meaning to what we do and helps us make choices that actually move us in the right direction for us. When I work with clients on their […]
SHOULD WORK BE MEANINGFUL?
Should work be meaningful, or simply a way to pay the bills? I’ve always believed that work can and should feel fulfilling. It is worth fighting for a job that makes you proud and that you find mostly enjoyable. After all, we spend around 40-45% of our waking hours working every week. It would be […]
STORYTELLING AND STANDUP COMEDY
What stand-up comedy taught me about storytelling. Those who know me, know I like to try new things. One of those things was stand-up comedy. I loved it. And, unexpectedly, it taught me more about storytelling and public speaking than any other training ever could. In stand-up, you’re basically telling a story (a funny one, […]
AMBITION (WHEN IS IT TOO MUCH?)
Ambition: How big is the gap between where you are and where you want to be? In career coaching we often use a simple tool to visualise that gap. When the distance feels huge, people tend to slip into stress, overwhelm, even anxiety. When the gap is small, motivation rises. There is something clear to […]
INCREASING YOUR LUCK SURFACE AREA
I want to share a concept that has probably helped the most in my career… Nice hook, right? But it’s true… it’s called increasing your ‘Luck Surface Area’. When people tell me that I’m lucky, they might be right… but only partially. To me, luck isn’t just random fate. It’s often the result of intention, […]
PERSONAL BRANDING
If the words Personal Branding make you cringe and break out in a cold sweat, same. I get it. For years, I actively resisted the idea of defining my personal brand. During my MBA, I felt it was a box, a mould often built around someone else’s expectations. No way was I fitting into that. […]
YOU ARE THE AVERAGE OF THE FIVE PEOPLE YOU SPEND THE MOST TIME WITH.
We all know social connections matter in life and careers, but I’m always surprised by just how much our circles influence us. I’ve noticed lately a clear pattern in my clients: – Those with high confidence and resourcefulness usually surround themselves with good people who support them (it’s mostly about quality, not quantity). – On […]
HOW WILL YOU MEASURE YOUR LIFE?
Xmas is around the corner, and I get (even) more philosophical than usual. Lately I’ve been thinking about one of my favourite books: How Will You Measure Your Life? It’s not written by a new age guru. Quite the opposite. It comes from Clayton Christensen, legendary Harvard Business professor, based on a speech he gave […]
HOW TO GO BACK TO WORK AT A JOB THAT MAKES YOU FEEL DRAINED.
I am back in snowy Amsterdam, and I am having so many conversations about that scary feeling of going back to work after the Christmas holidays. With friends and new clients, the same thing keeps coming up. They cannot help but realise they are not excited to go back to work, to say the least. […]
