Let’s get real here. There will NEVER be enough hours in the day to get everything done. No matter what system you put in place. No matter how disciplined you are with your time. There will always be more to…
The ‘Not Do List’ is the new ‘To Do List’

Does being the CEO really make you happy?
To the outside world it looks like you have it all. You are the CEO of a successful business. You have the reputation. The status. The profile. Doors open for you. Money isn’t an issue. You are part of a…

Why I don’t do executive coaching
Do I do coaching? – yes. Do I work with executives? – yes. Only executives (and almost always CEOs or C suite level). Is my 30 years experience in the business world and with business people? – yes. Many people…

Reimagining retirement
When you say the word retirement, many people (especially high achievers) have associations of things like spending your days golfing, being thought of as ‘out to pasture’, the phone no longer ringing or being yesterday’s news. Clearly these are some…

Living without regrets
Imagine it’s your 90th birthday. A large group of all the important people in your life from over the years have gathered to celebrate this special day with you. Close your eyes and visualise the scene. Notice where the celebration…

Are you ready for the second mountain in your life?
The first mountain we climb in our lives typically involves things like achieving career success, status, financial and material things, perhaps raising a family. It’s about using our talents, establishing our identity, making our mark in the world. These are…

Life is not a dress rehearsal, this is it
When I was 17, I left Ireland and got on a boat to the UK to study psychology. I kept a diary from this time (which I still have to this day – see photo above). It wasn’t a diary…

It doesn’t have to be lonely at the top
The old saying “It’s lonely at the top” is in fact a reality for many CEOs all over the world. You’re expected to have all the answers. The vision. The clarity. To see the way forward and be calm and…

When your life is good but something doesn’t feel quite right
In a recent coaching session, the CEO I was working with suddenly looked up and said in surprise “Do you remember that nagging feeling I used to have – it’s gone!”. When we started working together he described how he…

Is meaning more important than money?
I have moments where I think – “This is the work I was born to do”. I feel a sense of aliveness, joy and a deep inner knowing that I’m doing what I’m meant to be doing. Work that makes…

Change vs transition: The psychology of personal change
A lot of people who come to me are thinking about making some kind of change – usually to do with their work. They’re thinking about a different role, changing the type of work they do or perhaps considering moving…

3 tips for making a significant change: How to have a smooth transition
When you make a significant change in the way you live or work, like selling the business you founded, moving to a non-executive career or changing to a very different role or career that is more meaningful for you, there…

Is your life out of balance?
I used to be addicted to being busy. To doing. To achieving. I found it hard to sit still and would have a constant list of things to do running through my head. Don’t get me wrong – it wasn’t…

Avoid a midlife crisis: 3 tips when you’re questioning things in your 40s & 50s
In my blog ‘Midlife questioning (not midlife crisis!)’ I described a time of questioning – of your life, your work or what really makes you happy – that often occurs around mid/late 40s and 50s. So how do you go…

Midlife choices (not midlife crisis)
Starting to question and wonder about your life, your work and what is next for you, is very common in your 40s and 50s. This ‘midlife questioning’ is something that isn’t talked about much or well understood and so can…

Top 2 tips to be less busy
Top two tips to help you get out of the spiral of busyness so you can perform better at work, have more impact and feel calmer.

When everyone else thinks you have a great life but …
One of the things my clients will invariably say to me at some point when we work together is “I know I’ve nothing to complain about really” or “I know I’ve a lot to be thankful for but …”. They…

Time to face facts about busyness
In my work as an executive psychologist and speaker, I was hearing every day about the impact that being busy was having on people’s work as well as their lives. While I knew it was an issue, I really wanted…
