How does a dog learn what’s encouraged and what’s not allowed? Well they try something and then they get rewarded or scolded. But then there’s this grey middle area, where they learn how different people have different levels of leniency. For example they can get away with jumping on the couch with Pam but they … Continue reading Without reprimands →

You made a mistake, maybe it’s a small mistake, maybe it’s a big mistake, but it is most certainly an embarrassing mistake! Well at least in the eyes of the witnesses. The thing is, if you’re not embarrassed by it, they have nothing on you. Their attempts at mocking you will falter and fail to … Continue reading No regrets →

I was surprised to hear a local golf club was on the brink of bankruptcy. I thought to myself: "How could that be? They have tons of members and a huge membership fee, they must have extraordinary levels of income. How could it have gotten this bad?" Then upon further rumination I came up with, … Continue reading Long term neglect →

Recently I was thinking about my graduation day and the speech that was given. Ironically the only thing I remember about the speech was that the speaker couldn’t remember anything from his graduation day speech. If I were to give a graduation speech tomorrow I think I would I would make it on dealing with … Continue reading Uncertainty speech →

As a last resort, in order to flatten the Covid-19 curve, the Irish government has enforced a lockdown. I think it was a last resort because people love their freedom. Freedom is hard earned (eg. wars of independence) and shouldn’t be taken lightly. You always want to feel like you have freedom, freedom to do … Continue reading Lockdown freedom →

Everyone on the team is happy with the design.  The developers have readied the website.  The factory have confirmed they can build it.  The ads have been written. The agency notified.  Everyone is poised, ready to go. Their hard work for the past year is about to come to fruition.  All they need is the … Continue reading Approval and deniability →

Once upon a time there was an agency.  An agency with a reputation for two things: producing brilliant creative and being a great place to work.  All who worked at this agency cherished their time there. It was their dream work culture.  Then came ... the client.  This client was huge, easily the biggest the … Continue reading Firing clients →

Everyone volunteered their opinions as to why this was an awful situation but no one volunteered to do something about it. Why? Because complaining is easy. Changing the status quo is hard. Adapting a process means hard work and rectifying a relationship requires confrontation. Neither are pleasant tasks, it's easy to see why people avoid … Continue reading Complaining v Action →

Dave: “Hey Jeff, you don’t have to do that spreadsheet in the end, the CEO is going to do it” Jeff: “What? Does he not trust me to do it?” Dave: “No, no, no, don’t take it personally this is more about him than you.” Jeff: “But I can do it his way!” Dave: “I … Continue reading Control satisfaction →

The weeks disappear for the 'office fire fighter'. The arrival of summer is shocking to them, 'it felt like only yesterday it was Christmas'.  Unfortunately they don't get a say in what they do, their agenda belongs to someone else. Their plans for safe proofing the office are continuously put on the back burner as … Continue reading Office fire fighter →