Simon Sinek delves into the contrasting philosophies of finite and infinite games in the realm of leadership. He argues that to excel in the infinite game of leadership, one must concentrate on five core principles:
A Just Cause: A compelling purpose that motivates individuals to willingly make sacrifices.
Trusting Teams: Cultivating a culture where team members feel secure and empowered, thereby encouraging innovation and teamwork.
A Worthy Rival: Having a competitor that helps you identify your shortcomings and pushes you to improve.
Existential Flexibility: The ability to make significant changes in strategy to further a cause, even if it disrupts current success.
Courage to Lead: The bravery to challenge traditional leadership norms, focusing on long-term gains and the well-being of others.
By adopting an infinite mindset, leaders can create a lasting, positive impact that goes beyond their own lifetime.
5 Transformative Lessons from Simon Sinek to Change Your Future
Here are five lessons that stand out:
Lesson One: Forge Your Own Path, But Let Others Do the Same
The Road Less Travelled
Sinek emphasizes that you are free to chase your dreams and ambitions, but this freedom should extend to everyone else. In a world that often follows the beaten path, daring to take the road less travelled can be liberating.
The Balance of Individualism and Community
While it’s essential to focus on your goals, it’s equally crucial to respect others’ journeys. This balance creates a harmonious community where everyone can thrive.
Lesson Two: Own Your Actions, Both Good and Bad
The Double-Edged Sword of Responsibility
Taking credit for your achievements is easy; owning up to your mistakes is the real challenge. Sinek advises that true leadership involves taking responsibility for both.
The Growth in Accountability
When you hold yourself accountable, you not only earn the respect of those around you but also pave the way for personal growth and improvement.
Lesson Three: Be a “Lead Worrier” by Supporting Those Around You
The Essence of Leadership
According to Sinek, a true leader worries about their team. Leadership is not about being in charge but about taking care of those in your charge.
The Power of Collective Success
When you focus on helping the person to your left and the person to your right, you create a supportive environment that fosters collective success.
Lesson Four: Listen Before You Act
The Value of Being Heard
Sinek points out that allowing others to speak before you do gives them a sense of being heard, which is empowering and fosters a collaborative spirit.
The Wisdom in Listening
By being the last to speak, you also benefit from hearing multiple perspectives, which can lead to better decision-making.
Lesson Five: Position vs. Person
The Illusion of Importance
As you climb the ladder of success, people will treat you differently. Sinek cautions that this newfound respect is for your position, not for you as a person.
The Humility in Leadership
Being grateful for the accolades and respect that come your way is important, but remembering that these are not a reflection of your worth as a person is crucial for grounded leadership.
In today’s fast-paced world, it’s easy to lose sight of what truly matters: our well-being. While we often associate well-being with physical health, it encompasses much more, including our mental, emotional, and even social health. This blog post aims to explore the 5 ways of well-being: Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning, and Give.
Connect
The Importance of Social Bonds
Human beings are social creatures. Our connections with others form the bedrock of our well-being. Whether it’s family, friends, or even pets, these relationships offer emotional support, enrich our lives, and even improve our physical health.
Technology as a Facilitator
In the age of the internet, connecting with people has never been easier. Social media platforms, video calls, and even online gaming have become avenues for social interaction. These technologies have been particularly crucial during times of social distancing, where they offer the closest alternative to physical interaction.
The Flip Side
However, it’s essential to remember that online connections should not entirely replace face-to-face interactions. Over-reliance on digital platforms can lead to feelings of isolation and other mental health issues.
Be Active
Physical Health Equals Mental Health
Regular physical activity is a cornerstone of well-being. It not only keeps you fit but also releases endorphins, which are natural mood lifters.
The Role of Technology
Fitness trackers and smartwatches can monitor your physical activity, provide insights into your health, and even remind you to move. Virtual reality games can make exercise fun, and online platforms offer various workouts that you can do from the comfort of your home.
A Word of Caution
While technology offers many conveniences, it also promotes a sedentary lifestyle. Make it a point to balance screen time with physical activity.
Take Notice
The Art of Mindfulness
Taking notice is all about being present. It’s about paying attention to our thoughts, feelings, and the world around us. This mindfulness can significantly reduce stress and improve mental well-being.
Digital Aids
Apps like Headspace offer guided meditation sessions that help you practice mindfulness. Environmental sensors can help you create a living space that positively impacts your well-being.
The Need for Digital Detox
While technology can aid mindfulness, it can also be a significant distraction. Designate tech-free times to practice mindfulness without interruptions.
Keep Learning
Lifelong Learning
The process of learning doesn’t stop when we leave school or university; it’s a lifelong journey. Continuous learning challenges our brain, keeps us engaged, and improves our self-esteem.
E-Learning Platforms
Online courses, webinars, and educational apps make learning more accessible than ever. Whether you want to pick up a new hobby, learn a new language, or even pursue a new career, the resources are at your fingertips.
The Balance
While it’s easy to get lost in the sea of information, remember to balance learning with other aspects of well-being.
Give
The Joy of Giving
Giving doesn’t necessarily mean material gifts. Time, attention, and emotional support are just as valuable. Acts of kindness not only benefit the receiver but also improve the well-being of the giver.
Technology for Good
Crowdfunding platforms and social media campaigns can amplify acts of giving. Virtual volunteering opportunities also allow you to give back to the community from your home.
The Takeaway
While giving is beneficial, it should not come at the expense of your well-being. It’s essential to know your limits.
Organize tomorrow today – Don’t let other people determine your priorities. a Good idea is Just before lunch, start planning for tomorrow. Split it into:
nice to have done,
the top 3 priorities
1 must do.
Say no – focus on whats important to you.
Focus on 1 thing at a time. Focus on the next step us the strength of technology rather than get swallowed by it (getting swamped by new applications or lots of email)
The Challenge of Learning as You Age and How to Overcome It
As we get older, the ability to learn new things can become increasingly challenging. However, there are several strategies to enhance your learning capabilities. Here are six essential tips to boost your learning effectiveness:
1. Prioritize Attention
Concentrating on a single task can significantly improve memory retention. Constantly switching between tasks can dilute your focus. To enhance your attention, consider stepping away from your mobile phone, practicing meditation, or even exercising, which has been shown to improve memory and focus for up to two hours afterward.
2. Maintain Alertness
Being alert can significantly improve your focus on tasks. Techniques such as controlled breathing, taking cold showers, and physical exercise can help. While caffeine can provide a temporary boost, remember that it’s impossible to maintain 100% alertness all the time.
3. The Importance of Sleep
Sleep not only affects your alertness but also plays a crucial role in immune function, metabolism, emotional well-being, and the consolidation of short-term memories into long-term ones.
4. The Power of Repetition
As the old adage goes, “practice makes perfect.” Repeating information over time is more effective than cramming all at once. Opt for shorter learning sessions spread over multiple days rather than trying to absorb everything in one go.
5. Take Breaks
Allow your brain some downtime to process and internalize new information. A 10-20 minute break post-learning can be beneficial. Wait at least an hour before diving into a new topic to give your brain ample time to assimilate what you’ve just learned.
6. Embrace Mistakes
Learning is an iterative process, and mistakes are an integral part of it. Understanding how to cope with failure can make you more resilient and enhance your learning experience.
Sample Timetable for Learning a New Task: “Introduction to Python Programming”
Day 1: Introduction to Python Syntax
9:00 AM – 9:10 AM: Breathing exercises to enhance alertness
9:10 AM – 10:10 AM: Study Python syntax (Prioritize Attention)
10:10 AM – 10:30 AM: Short break and light exercise (Take Breaks)
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM: Review Python syntax (Repetition)
Day 2: Variables and Data Types
9:00 AM – 9:10 AM: Cold shower to boost alertness
9:10 AM – 10:10 AM: Study variables and data types (Prioritize Attention)
10:10 AM – 10:30 AM: Short break and meditation (Take Breaks)
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM: Review variables and data types (Repetition)
Day 3: Control Structures
9:00 AM – 9:10 AM: Light exercise and a cup of coffee (Maintain Alertness)
9:10 AM – 10:10 AM: Study control structures like loops and conditionals (Prioritize Attention)
10:10 AM – 10:30 AM: Short break and a healthy snack (Take Breaks)
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM: Review control structures (Repetition)
Day 4: Functions and Modules
9:00 AM – 9:10 AM: Breathing exercises to enhance alertness
9:10 AM – 10:10 AM: Study functions and modules (Prioritize Attention)
10:10 AM – 10:30 AM: Short break and light stretching (Take Breaks)
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM: Review functions and modules (Repetition)
Day 5: Review and Practice
9:00 AM – 9:10 AM: Cold shower to boost alertness
9:10 AM – 10:10 AM: Review all topics covered (Repetition)
10:10 AM – 10:30 AM: Short break and meditation (Take Breaks)
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM: Attempt a small project and note down any mistakes (Embrace Mistakes)
Nightly Routine (All Days)
9:00 PM – 10:00 PM: Wind-down routine to prepare for quality sleep (Importance of Sleep)
We have 168 hours in a week which is a lot of time.
There is Time, Build the life you want from the time you have.
Let presume you are in a full time job =40 hours
sleeping 8 hours a night = 56 hours.
That Leaves 72 hours for other things.
Think about turning of Tech i.e phones and Tv
Could you find 8 hours in your week if your car broke down while driving your child to school? So time is there if it’s a high enough priority.
Time is highly elastic you cannot make more time, it can though stretch to accommodate what we choose to put in it. (Parkinson’s law)
So the key is prioritize those really important items and treat it with the importance of a broken car.
For the average person, I don’t have time really means it’s not important enough.
Tops tips use Top priorities for the day and week.
Plan your day, block out time, turn off phone and close slack and emails
Don’t try and multitask, stay focused on 1 core task at a time. You will get stuff done quicker overall as with a distraction on average it takes 15 mins to get back in the flow
Don’t let email and Slack interrupt and overly dictate your day.
Try and find solutions to save your time through things like automation
use Parkisons law to your benefit (think about working hard to a deadline )
the Jack Dorsey approach – think about having a theme for each day & batch activities i.e emails , training etc
Make use of “Dead” time (for example while you are travelling to work, 10 mins between meetings)
Think of your day as being like a Formula One race, you need to build in pit-stops (breaks) to get the most out of the race (day). You cannot run at 100% the whole day and race.
The analogy of your energy being like a battery is a way to conceptualize how you expend and recharge your energy throughout the day. Just like a battery, you start the day with a certain amount of energy, and as you go through your tasks, social interactions, and other activities, you “drain” this energy. Here’s a breakdown:
Charging Phase (Morning)
Full Charge: You wake up after a good night’s sleep, and your “battery” is at or near 100%.
Morning Routine: Activities like showering, breakfast, and light exercise can either maintain your energy or give you a slight boost.
Active Phase (Daytime)
High-Performance Tasks: These are the tasks that require the most energy. It’s best to do them when your battery is still relatively full.
Social Interactions: Conversations, meetings, and social activities also consume energy, some more than others.
Routine Tasks: These are less draining but still consume some energy.
Draining Phase (Late Afternoon/Evening)
Energy Dip: Most people experience a natural dip in energy in the afternoon.
Low-Performance Tasks: This is a good time for less critical tasks that don’t require much energy.
Recharging Phase (Night)
Wind-Down: Activities like reading, taking a warm bath, or meditating can help you transition into a restful state.
Sleep: This is when your “battery” recharges for the next day.
What could help?
don’t context switch between tasks
focus on 1 thing at a time, take a break, focus on 1 new thing
in work this could be plan your day
be aware of your email inbox and slack absorbing your day
The Planning Fallacy is a cognitive bias that causes people to underestimate the time and resources needed to complete a task. Despite past experience showing that similar tasks have typically taken longer than planned, individuals often predict that their own projects will proceed more smoothly. This fallacy is common in both personal and professional settings and can lead to missed deadlines, budget overruns, and increased stress.
Example
Imagine you’re writing a blog post on a topic you’re familiar with. You estimate that it will take you two hours to complete the post, including research, writing, and editing. Based on the Planning Fallacy, you’re likely underestimating the time required. In reality, the process might involve unforeseen complications like:
Additional time for in-depth research
Multiple rounds of editing and proofreading
Technical issues, such as website downtime or formatting problems
Interruptions or distractions
As a result, the blog post might actually take four or five hours to complete, rather than the initially estimated two hours.
Real-World Examples
1. Construction Projects
One of the most cited examples is the construction of the Sydney Opera House. Initially estimated to be completed in 1963 at a cost of $7 million AUD, it was finally completed in 1973 at a cost of around $102 million AUD.
2. Software Development
Many software projects suffer from the Planning Fallacy. For instance, Microsoft’s Windows Vista was initially planned for release within two years but ended up taking over five years to develop.
3. Public Transportation
The “Big Dig” in Boston, USA, was initially estimated to cost $2.8 billion and take a decade to complete. It ended up costing over $15 billion and took 15 years to finish.
Agile project management is an approach to software development and project management that prioritizes flexibility, collaboration, and customer-centricity.
It involves iterative progress and adaptability to change, often breaking down larger projects into smaller, manageable parts known as iterations or “sprints.”
Agile methods are not confined to software development; they can be applied to other fields such as marketing, manufacturing, and organizational change.
Agile in the Tech World
Using Agile methodologies in for example website design allows for a more flexible, adaptive, and customer-centric approach.
Rather than spending months perfecting every aspect of the site before launch, teams can break the project down into manageable “sprints” or “iterations.”
This enables them to release a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) more quickly and then iteratively improve upon it based on real-world feedback.
In this way, design and functionality can evolve in response to user needs and changing market conditions, leading to a more effective and successful end product.
Agile in diagrams
you want to avoid this:
Useful Terminology
Iteration= A time-boxed period during which a team completes a defined set of tasks. Also known as a “sprint” in Scrum methodology.
User Stories= Short, simple descriptions of a feature or function written from the perspective of an end user.
Backlog= A prioritized list of tasks, features, bug fixes, and technical work that needs to be done in a project.
Scrum Master= The individual responsible for ensuring that the Scrum process is understood and followed by the team.
Product Owner= The person responsible for defining, prioritizing, and updating the product backlog to deliver maximum value to the business.
Sprint= A specific type of iteration in Scrum, usually lasting between one to four weeks.
Daily Stand-up= A brief daily meeting where team members discuss what they worked on the previous day, what they will work on today, and any blockers they might have.
Kanban Board= A visual tool used to manage workflow and optimize efficiency by tracking tasks and their statuses.
Swimlanes= Columns or rows in a Kanban board that categorize different types of work or differentiate between different teams.
Epic= A large user story that is too complex to be completed in a single iteration and must be broken down into smaller user stories.
Velocity= A metric used to measure the amount of work a team can accomplish during a single iteration.
Burndown Chart= A graphical representation of work left to do versus time, often used in Scrum to track the progress of a sprint.
Retrospective= A meeting held at the end of each iteration to discuss what went well, what needs improvement, and how to implement those improvements.
Expansion on terms
Burn down chart
as its’ name implies a burndown chart is a chart that shows the burndown of work.
So basically you see the number of story points
the team is delivering over time, so your team’s velocity.
On the X axis you have your sprints and on your Y axis, your story points
Retrospective
What went well?
Great teamwork and collaboration.
Effective communication.
The team worked in parallel on multiple tasks and finished all of them.
Management authorized additional resources for the project.
Good collaboration with other teams.
What didn’t?
Several unplanned issues came up in UAT.
Testing took longer than anticipated.
BAU (Business As Usual) got in the way of project work.
What could we do differently?
Automate testing to reduce cycle time.
Define additional resources for the project or handover BAU (if possible).
MVP
MVP (Minimum Viable Product), the Core of the Agile Methodology. An MVP is a concept from agile scrum that refers to a product that has just enough features to satisfy the needs of early customers and, more importantly, give them something to provide feedback on to shape the future of the product.
FAQ and Useful Info
What are the 3 core roles in an Agile team?
product owner typically an end customer who defines what is valuable and priroties
scrum master – runs team meetings, removes impedimentswork with product owner and ensures the team reamins on track
delivery team – people in charge of execution, defines which user stories are part of a sprint
What are good Agile Rituals?
sprint planning
daily standup
sprint review (demo/showcase)
retrospectives
Top Tips
start with sprint 0 for planning
define who is in the team and roles
agree days and time for rituals
make sure you have done due dillegence before you start
understand constraints
define when releases are done
Does Agile equate to Scrum? Are they equal or the same thing?
Technically no, in reality yes. Allow me to clarify this, Scrum is one of many Agile methodologies, but Scrum is the most popular and widely used of all Agile methodologies. Hence, when people are talking about “Agile” they are generally referring to Scrum. Most people don’t even know there are other methodologies besides Scrum. If you want to learn more about the other methodologies, just go to this link.
Explain agile in an interview
The Agile Way! Keep it simple and succinct. Just let the interviewer know that Agile is an iterative approach to managing projects. Highlight that you love Agile because it follows a customer-centric approach whilst closely collaborating with your team members to deliver value for the business in a short period of time. You can also mention a couple of the things found on this article.
Case Study
Breaking a complex project into manageable tasks
Breaking down a complex project into manageable tasks is fundamental in Agile methodologies. Here’s a simplified step-by-step process:
Define the Vision:
Start with the end goal or the main objective of the project. What are you trying to achieve? This can be documented in a vision statement or a product roadmap.
2 Create Epics:
An epic is a large chunk of work that can be broken down into smaller tasks. It’s more granular than the vision but not as detailed as individual tasks. For example, “User Authentication” might be an epic for a software project.
3 Develop User Stories:
For each epic, create user stories. A user story is a description of a feature or requirement from an end-user perspective. It typically follows the format: “As a [type of user], I want [an action] so that [a benefit/a value]”.
4 Break Down User Stories into Tasks:
A user story can often be broken down into multiple tasks. For instance, for the user story “As a user, I want to reset my password”, tasks could be: – Design the “Forgot Password” interface. – Develop backend logic for password reset. – Implement email service for sending reset links. – Test the password reset functionality.
5 Estimate Tasks:
Once tasks are identified, the team can estimate the time or effort required for each task. In Agile, this could be in story points or hours, depending on the team’s preference.
6 Prioritize:
Determine the order of importance for your user stories and tasks based on business needs, dependencies, risks, and other factors.
7 Plan Sprints:
In Scrum (a type of Agile methodology), work is divided into sprints, which are time-boxed iterations (often 2-4 weeks). Place your prioritized tasks into these sprints based on the team’s capacity and the project timeline.
8 Review and Adjust:
After each sprint, conduct a retrospective. Discuss what went well, what didn’t, and how processes can be improved. This feedback loop ensures that the project remains adaptable and the team continues to improve.
9 Maintain a Backlog:
Not all tasks or stories will fit into the immediate sprints. Keep a well-maintained and prioritized backlog of these items. Over time, some backlog items might become irrelevant or new ones might be added.
10. Continuous Communication: Foster an environment of open communication. Ensure that team members can discuss challenges, clarify doubts, and collaborate on solutions. This keeps everyone aligned and ensures that tasks are accurately defined and understood.
Remember, the goal of Agile is flexibility and adaptability. As you move through the project, it’s okay (and expected) that tasks, priorities, and even the broader scope may change. The key is to maintain communication and ensure that the team is always working towards the most valuable outcomes for the project.
Case Study -Example
Let’s take the hypothetical scenario of developing a new e-commerce platform:
Vision: Create a user-friendly e-commerce platform where users can buy handcrafted products from local artisans.
Epics:
User Authentication
Product Browsing
Shopping Cart Management
Checkout and Payment
User Reviews and Ratings
User Stories (for the ‘User Authentication’ Epic):
As a new visitor, I want to register for an account so I can make purchases.
As a registered user, I want to log into my account to view my order history.
As a user, I want to reset my password in case I forget it.
Tasks (for the ‘Reset password’ User Story):
Design the “Forgot Password” interface.
Develop backend logic for password reset.
Implement email service for sending reset links.
Test the password reset functionality.
Estimate Tasks:
Design interface – 8 hours
Backend logic – 5 hours
Email service implementation – 3 hours
Testing – 4 hours
Prioritize:
User registration and login (critical for user acquisition)
Product Browsing (core feature)
Checkout and Payment (necessary for monetization)
Shopping Cart Management
User Reviews and Ratings (can be introduced as an enhancement in version 2)
Sprint Planning: – Sprint 1: Complete the design and development of user registration and login, start on product browsing. – Sprint 2: Complete product browsing and start on shopping cart management. … and so on.
Review and Adjust (after Sprint 1): – Found that users want social media login options. – Adjust upcoming sprints to integrate social media authentication.
Backlog Items:
Implement a recommendation system based on user’s browsing history.
Offer gift wrapping options during checkout.
Create a loyalty rewards program.
Throughout the project, the team meets daily for stand-ups to discuss progress, blockers, and next steps. They also engage with stakeholders frequently to ensure the platform is aligning with business goals and user needs.
After the launch of the e-commerce platform, iterative feedback is gathered from real users, and the team continues to enhance the platform based on this feedback, ensuring its success and adaptability in the market.
Now, let’s evolve the e-commerce platform example by focusing on a comprehensive database design and implementation for it.
Vision: Develop a robust and scalable database for the e-commerce platform to efficiently manage products, user data, transactions, and reviews.
Epics:
Database Design
User Data Management
Product Data Management
Transaction Data Management
Reviews and Ratings Data Management
User Stories (for the ‘Product Data Management’ Epic):
As an admin, I want to add new products to the database with all related data points to list them for sale.
As a system, I need to categorize products based on several attributes (e.g., type, artisan, price range) to aid in product searching and filtering.
As an admin, I want to update or delete product details to maintain accurate inventory and product information.
Tasks (for the ‘Add new products’ User Story):
Create a table ‘Products’ with columns: ProductID, ProductName, Description, Price, ArtisanID, CategoryID, StockCount, ImageURL, etc.
Develop an admin interface for entering product data.
Integrate data validation checks to ensure product data integrity.
Implement backend logic to insert product data into the ‘Products’ table.
Test the product addition functionality.
Estimate Tasks:
Create ‘Products’ table – 3 hours
Design admin interface – 10 hours
Data validation checks – 5 hours
Backend logic for data insertion – 8 hours
Testing – 5 hours
Prioritize:
User Data Management (to support user registration and login)
Product Data Management (to list items for sale)
Transaction Data Management (essential for sales)
Reviews and Ratings Data Management (for user feedback)
Database Design (constant across all other epics, foundational)
Sprint Planning: – Sprint 1: Set up initial database schema, focus on user data management. – Sprint 2: Focus on product data management and start transaction data management. … and so on.
Review and Adjust (after Sprint 1): – Found that users also want to store multiple shipping addresses. – Adjust upcoming sprints to add a ‘UserAddresses’ table in the database schema.
Backlog Items:
Implement database archiving for older transactions.
Design data redundancy and backup protocols.
Analyze database performance and optimize queries.
Throughout the project, the database team collaborates with frontend and backend teams to ensure seamless data flow. Regular backups, testing, and performance checks are scheduled to maintain data integrity and system health.
Once the database is up and running, periodic audits and optimizations are conducted based on system usage and growth patterns, ensuring its scalability and reliabil
This is a dumping ground of great and powerful quotes i have found along my journey.
“Living well means spending more time on things that matter. Living poorly means spending more time on things that don’t matter. Wisdom is knowing the difference.” –
Mark Manson
All change starts with awareness
The quote “All change starts with awareness” is a commonly used phrase, but it is not specifically attributed to a single individual. It is often cited in the context of personal development, organizational change, and social movements to emphasize the importance of recognizing a problem or opportunity as the first step toward making a change
Being busy and being productive are not the same thing. It’s easy to be busy. It’s hard to be productive. Being productive is not about doing more; it’s about concentrating all your energy on the few things that matter.”
Shane Parrish
Don’t get caught up in distant goals or 5-year plans. Life is not linear; it’s a series of meandering paths. Focus on the next step, on what’s in front of you now. There are no ‘aha’ moments; only tiny, incremental gains. And that’s OK. Keep at it
“Do the best you can. No one can do more than that”
John Wooden
I never lose. Either i win or learn
Nelson Mandela
“the one thing that can solve most problems is dancing”
James Brown
“the universe buries strange jewels within us all, and then stands back to see if can find them”
Elizabeth Gilbert.
Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity
Seneca Stoic philosopher, statesmen and Orator.
We are so lucky to live in this world , over a century ago we would have been able to watch a world class music performance once in a lifetime today we can re-watch it every day.
You tube Contributor
Success doesn’t have to be defined by status, title or material wealth. You can measure achievement any way you want
