Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa is a non-religious, non-commercial holiday created in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga. Observed annually from 26th December to 1st January, it celebrates African heritage, unity, and cultural identity.

Kwanzaa spans seven days, each dedicated to one of the Nguzo Saba, or seven core principles:

1.     Umoja (Unity):
Building and maintaining unity within the family, community, and nation.

2.     Kujichagulia (Self-Determination):
Defining, naming, and speaking for ourselves.

3.     Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility):
Working together to build community and address shared challenges.

4.     Ujamaa (Cooperative Economics):
Supporting and benefiting collectively from community-owned businesses.

5.     Nia (Purpose):
Committing to the development and restoration of the community.

6.     Kuumba (Creativity):
Using creativity to leave the community stronger and more beautiful than before.

7.     Imani (Faith):
Believing in our people, leaders, and the justice of our collective struggle.

Overcoming setbacks

I think it’s a good idea to create an evidence journal. Write down the moments when you faced something difficult and came out on the other side. The human brain has a natural negativity bias. It tends to remember situations where things did not go well more vividly than moments of success, and under stress, this bias is amplified. The stress response narrows focus, increases self-doubt, and can trigger thoughts of inadequacy, overwhelm, or performance choking.

An evidence journal helps counter this pattern by reminding the brain of facts rather than feelings. It creates a tangible record of resilience, competence, and progress. And this wiring is human, not gendered. Our brains respond to stress in similar ways, regardless of gender differences.

““The best way to control the cattle is to give them a big pasture.””
— Shunryu Suzuki

Storytelling broken down

A strong story follows a clear structure.

It begins with the character.
The hero wants something specific. The first task is to define exactly what your stakeholder wants.

Next comes the problem.
Every engaging story is driven by a problem, because problems create attention. If there is no tension, there is no reason to keep listening.

Once the problem is clear, your role becomes clear.
You do not position yourself as the hero. You position yourself as the guide who understands the problem and has helped others navigate it before.

From there, you build the bridge.
You connect their problem to your solution in a way that feels logical, relevant, and achievable.

Then you challenge them to act.
Do not put people in the mind-reading business. Tell them clearly what you want them to do next.

After that, define what is at stake.
Give your stakeholder a vision of a better future if they take action. Show them what success looks like on the other side.

Finally, address the cost of inaction.
Make clear what happens if nothing changes and the problem remains unsolved.

I think this is how stories move people. What do you think?

Execution over explanation

There is a profound difference between being busy and being effective. While others are busy talking, boasting, or explaining their value, the disciplined leader is simply building. I think this is the discipline of silence. It is the understanding that you do not need to prove yourself with words. You do not need to explain the "how" or the "why" to those who are merely observing. When you operate with quiet intensity, you guard your focus and protect the destiny of your project.

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Seeds need darkness

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Innovation and transformation do not survive well under premature scrutiny. Think of your strategic goals as seeds. Every seed requires darkness, patience, and protection to germinate before it can break through into the light.

When we reveal our plans too early, when we explain rather than execute, we are unwittingly inviting resistance. We open the door to doubt and organisational inertia. In many environments, it is an unfortunate reality that people may criticise more than they help, and tear down more than they build. I think in order to protect the integrity of your vision, you must learn to work in the shadows until the foundation is unshakeable. What do you think?

Results matter

In a corporate landscape deafened by constant communication, performative productivity, and endless meetings, the rarest executive competency is not public speaking, it is the discipline of silence. As leaders, we are often tempted to broadcast our intentions, rally the troops with speeches, and seek validation for our plans before they are fully formed. I think the strongest force in your professional life is focus, and speaking too much often invites unnecessary friction.

Ultimately, results are the only language that requires no translation. The most effective leaders know exactly when to step into the light: not when the idea is formed, but when the work is finished. By the time you reveal your hand, the success should be self-evident. Step forward not with arguments or promises, but simply to show what has been done. Silence is not passivity; silence is strength. In a world that won't stop talking, let your execution make the noise.

Activate your chakras

Root Chakra – I am
I am grounded, safe, and free to shift into calm and peaceful energy whenever I choose.

Sacral Chakra – I feel
I feel at ease, trusting that life supports me and that I am allowed to experience joy and flow.

Solar Plexus Chakra – I do
I act from self-trust and confidence. I do not chase outcomes; I align with them.

Heart Chakra – I love
I love myself fully and treat my body with respect, care, and appreciation.

Throat Chakra – I speak
I speak my truth clearly and honour my boundaries with integrity.

Third Eye Chakra – I see
I see opportunities, abundance, and clarity in my surroundings and within myself.

Crown Chakra – I understand
I understand that protecting my peace sometimes requires letting go of people, patterns, or situations that disrupt my balance.

Be kind to yourself

In Western cultures, motivation is often driven by harsh self-talk and shame becomes the tool used to push forward, yet shame rarely creates lasting change. Instead, it fuels a cycle of resistance and self-sabotage. When you shame yourself for a habit or behaviour, you create an inner split. One part becomes the harsh inner critic, while another takes on the role of the rebellious child. These parts work against each other, consuming energy that could otherwise support meaningful change.

I think self-compassion offers a different approach. When you slip up, treat yourself as you would a close friend who is struggling, with kindness, understanding, and encouragement to try again. This approach does not remove responsibility or excuse behaviour. It recognises that sustainable change grows from self-acceptance, not self-criticism.

I know

What problem are you solving?
Leaders and organisations struggle to navigate uncertainty, cultural complexity, and inclusion in ways that sustain performance, trust, and engagement.

Who are you solving it for?
I work with senior leaders, leadership teams, and organisations operating in diverse, fast-changing environments.

How are you solving it?
Through coaching, leadership development, and DEI consulting that build emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and inclusive leadership capability, supported by assessment, dialogue, and practical tools.

What is your industry expertise?
I bring extensive experience across corporate leadership, sales and marketing, project management, and organisational development, with a strong focus on culture, DEI, and modern leadership practice.

Impossible standards

All data is, by definition, historical. It tells us what has already happened, not what will happen next. When it comes to DEIB, there is often an expectation of an impossible standard of proof: that we can demonstrate with absolute certainty and predictability that an initiative will succeed before the work even begins. This expectation ignores the reality that cultural change cannot be measured or guaranteed in advance in the same way as financial investments. The question leaders need to ask is this: What happens when DEIB is treated as discretionary and easily replaced by short-term financial considerations? What is the long-term cost to trust, belonging, innovation, and organisational resilience?

Emotional choice

Emotions such as happiness and gratitude are largely processed cognitively through neurochemicals like dopamine and serotonin. Many of the emotional responses leaders experience under pressure, however, are adrenaline-driven and felt physically in the body. These responses directly influence presence, decision-making, and leadership impact.

I first recognised this dynamic in high-pressure performance environments, where physical tension signalled emotional reactivity. By learning to release tension and ground myself, I gained the ability to intentionally choose my emotional state. This approach was not based on self-talk, which often reinforced self-criticism, but on embodied awareness and presence. The result was greater focus, clarity, and the ability to operate effectively under pressure.

For leaders, emotional choice begins with noticing physical signals. Releasing tension and reconnecting with the emotional state you want to lead from allows you to respond rather than react. Emotions shape behaviour and influence others more powerfully than words, making emotional regulation a critical leadership capability.

Providing shelter

Even when an innovative approach is proposed, procurement processes often prevent its adoption. Procurement teams tend to require like-for-like comparisons based primarily on price, which limits their ability to evaluate solutions beyond narrow cost metrics and reduces the role of innovation in decision-making.

““True leadership demands complete subjugation of self, honesty and integrity, uprightness of character, courage and fearlessness, and above all a consuming love for one’s people.””
— Robert Sobukwe

The value of coaching

A coach is a dedicated partner in your development, helping you clarify your goals, define what you want to achieve, and align your actions with your aspirations. Through a safe and reflective environment, a coach supports meaningful self-discovery, encourages deeper insight, and listens with empathy while serving as a strategic thought partner. By asking powerful questions, a coach helps uncover solutions, expand perspectives, and strengthen both leadership capability and self-awareness. A coach also challenges limiting assumptions, guides you in articulating your core values, and provides consistent accountability to ensure follow-through and sustained progress. Interested?

Contact with me via this link to schedule a complimentary 30-minute discovery call.

Everyone has capital

As we move through life, our relationship with time and resources shifts. Youth often gives us an abundance of time with limited financial means. Later in life, we tend to accumulate more capital, yet the time available to enjoy it becomes more restricted. This makes intentional living more important.

How seriously do you take your appearance and the impression you create?
Do you have a clear plan for your personal and professional growth?
Have you built a kindness practice that shapes how you show up for others and for yourself?
In your daily actions, how do you demonstrate excellence?

These questions help anchor our choices and ensure that the way we live aligns with what we value most. If this feels familiar, contact with me via this link to schedule a complimentary 30-minute discovery call.

Everything will be better when

“My schedule is intense right now. Work and family commitments require constant attention, and the pressure from always-on technology adds another layer to it. I do not often express this, but the pace can feel overwhelming. Even so, I am addressing several major challenges, and I expect the most demanding part of this period to ease within three to four months. When that happens, I plan to take two to three weeks to reset. I will focus on my family, regain structure, and begin a healthier routine. I believe that this shift will put me on a more sustainable path.”

If this feels familiar, contact with me via this link to schedule a complimentary 30-minute discovery call.

““Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” ”
— Viktor Frankl

Active questions

6 active questions to ask yourself every day.

  1. Did I do my best to be happy?

  2. Did I do my best to find meaning?

  3. Did I do my best to be fully engaged?

  4. Did I do my best to build positive relationships?

  5. Did I do my best to set clear goals?

  6. Did I do my best to make progress toward goal achievement?

““Our mission in life is to make a positive difference, not to prove how smart we are and not to prove how right we are.” ”
— Peter Drucker

Controlled exposure

Do you understand that human beings operate within hierarchies?

This realisation was difficult for me to accept. I wanted to believe that we naturally function as an egalitarian collective where everyone stands on equal footing and where our efforts move us toward fairness.

Through my work and study, I learned that much of our interaction happens beyond words. NLP practitioners often say that only a small percentage of communication is verbal, the rest lives in our voice, tone, posture, timing, and pauses. These elements create meaning long before the actual words reach the listener.

My interest in persuasion, communication, marketing, and coaching has led me to study how human beings operate at both conscious and unconscious levels. I focus on how I present myself, as well as the social dynamics that shape relationships. I think body language, mindset shifts, and environmental cues all influence how others interpret who we are. Controlled exposure is my approach to developing deeper awareness of these dynamics. Every interaction becomes an opportunity to understand myself, understand others, and navigate the unspoken hierarchies that exist in every human group.

Jeffrey Brown RIP

I was deeply saddened to learn that my old friend Jeff has transitioned to the other side. Even though our paths have not crossed for ca. 35 years, his passing has stirred many memories. Jeff was an important part of a chapter in my life that I remember with great warmth, and hearing this news has reminded me how deeply people can shape us, even long after time and distance have taken us in different directions.

Rest in peace, champ. Thank you for the moments, the laughter, and the imprint you left on my journey. 🙏🏾