While consulting with a Senior Manager last week, he told me how he was in the process of recruiting someone for a much sought after position. He shared one of the wonderful questions he asks in an interview –

We see up to 5,000 messages a day.

This is a huge leap from the 2,000 messages per day we saw 30 years ago.

So “How do you stand out from the crowd?”

During my run this morning I was happily listening to the sound track of Frozen. While this may shock a few of you given my kids are 17 and 14, it will be of no surprise to my friends who are still baffled by the fact I listen to Wham and Abba on a regular basis.

My girlfriend sent me this amazing fable which I would love to share with you –

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, “My son, the battle is between two “wolves” inside us all.

I love reading acknowledgements in books. I read them before I start the book and then often again at the end.

Why?

Because acknowledgements show how much effort goes into helping someone reach their goal.

My girlfriend’s eight year old son was squinting at school. It was suggested she take him to an optometrist. The dutiful mother booked him in straight away.

Both my daughters had to complete an assignment which traces the roots and heritage of our family dating back four generations. Having to collect historical documents, artefacts, conduct interviews with grandparents and parents and label photos, this project results in the most incredible pictorial and written documentation of both sides of our family. A legacy folder that will be handed down to future generations.

You know how it is. You are down at the beach and you ask someone to put sunscreen on your back.

There are those that slop it on quickly leaving gaps.

Every morning I get my coffee from the same café. This early morning habit has given me the opportunity to meet some incredible people.

Last Sunday I went for a beautiful lunch with my parents. Mum and I decided to walk and push my father in a wheelchair down to a local restaurant/bar for lunch. While the sun was shining, there was still a little breeze so we decided we would sit inside.

The first rule when checking into your hotel room, especially with kids is “don’t eat or drink anything from the minibar”.

If someone offers you a mint – Do you take it?

A girlfriend of mine who is an amazing Leadership Coach and Organisational Psychologist said that one of the best pieces of advice she received was to always “Take the Mint”.

A friend of mine was buying bagels last week when the man in front directed her to the ticket dispenser. She showed him she already had one.

“Of course life is unfair. If life was fair, I would look like George Clooney”.

This above statement was made by one of the teachers at my daughter’s school. I absolutely love it.

We are often faced with situations that aren’t fair.

You know how it is. You start the new year after your end of year break and you are super proud of how you have decluttered your drawers and wardrobe. You have given your old clothes to charity, folded your T-Shirts and everything looks fabulous and organised.

When thinking of being spontaneous, planning is not the first word that comes to mind.

As business owners, parents, leaders and employees, you experience how frantic life can be.

Creating space to do what you want in your own time is liberating.

A few weeks ago I listened to a wonderful Podcast interview between Jono Fisher, Founder of the “Wakeup Project” and Nigel Marsh, author of “Fat Forty and Fired”.

A friend of mine was heading to work by train yesterday. She was outraged to witness five young students sitting comfortably while an older woman was standing in the crowded carriage.

I was going for a run the other day when I felt a huge stone in my shoe. Not wanting to stop midway, I kept on running. The stone feeling bigger and bigger with every step. At the end of my run, I took off my shoe only to discover the stone in my shoe was merely a little pebble.

How do people find and remember your business when we are exposed to over 5,000 messages a day?

Feeling overwhelmed by that thought?

While each of us is inundated with many messages every day, the challenge is  “How do you stand out from the crowd?”