It is an opportunity to start again — The way I see failure has changed massively from when I was a child. Failure was always a negative word. It was a word which I dreaded, for the tone accompanying it was often clad in disappointment, sadness, and sometimes even anger. …

4 Steps to Help You Before Making a Big Decision — 92% of university students worry about mistakes when making big decisions. This worry extends beyond students to us all. The mistakes we worry about are the ones where we decide too quickly or are hasty or impulsive. These decisions are often driven by emotion over logic. …

How to Think About the Worst Case Scenario Like a Pro — Be Ready for anything. Now that’s a mantra everyone would say speaks to someone whose planning included thinking about the worst-case scenario. But, it’s a mantra few can say with any confidence. You see, on balance, we’re more optimistic than pessimistic. So, difficult situations don’t get much thought. …

It is what the successful focus on — Successful decision-makers focus on what they can control when making decisions. They focus on three elements of choice to achieve this. These are: Information Outcome Action To be clear, I’m not saying successful decision-makers have total control over these elements. Far from it. …

Goals are only half the battle — The second most highlighted quote in Atomic Habits is this: “You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.” These are true words. In fact, the whole statement represents a brutal fact most of us ignore to our cost. Goals are…

And Its Sentiment Leads to a Better Life — The day after Christmas Day — Boxing Day — began as a day of giving. Tradesmen received Christmas boxes in the 17th century as thanks for their services throughout the year. The tradition changed, as this Wikipedia entry explains: In Britain, it was a custom for tradesmen to collect “Christmas…

It comes from a famous quote that explains why we should. — Thomas Edison’s most famous quote isn’t a gloat. When he could have exploded with joy, and told the world what a genius he was, he didn’t. Instead, he talked about failure. “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” Interestingly, the common belief is the quote…

You shouldn’t be so smug… — You knew it. You knew it was going to end in tears. At least that’s what you tell everyone. Always after it’s happened, you’re always there, ready to deliver your expertise. “I knew it!” Most people won’t stand up to you and say if you knew this was going to…

It can certainly hurt your ability to make good decisions — Confirmation bias can hurt your decisions in the most unusual ways. I discovered this on a recent slate grey Sunday, when, with the rain falling, we got out some board games to help pass the time. Connect 4 is a family favourite. The two-player game where each side has to…