At a recent conference, I ran a simple but powerful exercise: past, present, future. It’s one of the exercises I regularly do with teams.

Everyone in the room, some 400 people were invited to rate themselves from 1 to 100 in each of those three modes and to stand and point to the direction of where they faced in terms of time.

Think of an ambitious project you’re working on right now.

At work. At home. Doesn’t matter.

Now ask yourself this:

What’s your level of conviction that it will succeed?

Not how much you hope it will.

Not how much you want it to.

How much do you believe, deep down, that it will happen?

What’s an unpopular opinion you have?

I’m sure you do. We all do, right?

But, how often do you vocalise it?

I wonder if it’s because our online worlds have become increasingly polarised and social media sites stoke division and argument, that we become fearful of expressing opinions that run counter to “acceptable narratives”.

Jigsaws. Remember them?

Used to be standard fare for birthday gifts for kids? Maybe you like us do one at Christmas?

Ever remember that feeling when you’re a good way into solving one and you get that stuck feeling.

You keep looking at the same pieces and you can’t see what ‘s missing.

You start to wonder if you’ve lost piece and whether you can all the way to the end.

That feeling!

I think that’s a bit like going after our big bold goals

Two things have been on my mind this week.

They both revolve around how we as humans have better conversations with each other.

I don’t think there’s anything more important right now as perhaps, you, like me see a rapid cultural decay in how we either build or destroy relationships.

The good news is we all have a choice and can exert control in our own worlds.

We live in an era of distraction, surface-level communication, and relentless busyness. People feel disconnected from themselves, their work, and even their families.

Leaders struggle with engagement. Couples battle unspoken tensions. Individuals wrestle with silent doubts.

The solution isn’t doing more, ”it’s asking better questions and having deeper conversations.

What if the one thing standing between you and your biggest goal isn’t skill, resources, or intelligence, but a conversation you haven’t had yet?

The truth is, most breakthroughs, whether in business, leadership, or life don’t happen because someone suddenly has more talent. They happen because someone steps up and has the conversation that truly matters.

The Conversations We Avoid

We’ve been played.

It’s time to create impact, not be forgettable.

In today’s fast-paced, hyper-connected world, we’ve been conditioned to prioritise breadth over depth—more connections, more content, more distractions. But real impact doesn’t come from reaching the masses; it comes from forming meaningful relationships, mastering key skills, and focusing on what truly matters.

What’s one moment in the past year where you felt completely energised?

Not just mildly motivated. Not just productive. I mean truly alive - the kind of energy that makes time disappear, that sharpens your thinking, that leaves you buzzing long after the moment has passed.

I’ve been asking this question a lot lately. And the answers are fascinating.

Because here’s what I haven’t heard:

Influences.

What are yours?

Did you choose them consciously?

When did you last review them?

It’s an important choice that I see from many high-performing leaders and yet they don’t sing it from the rooftops. They just quietly get on it.

Think of a bath. You’re in the bath