Welcome to a collection of tools, books, and resources that have helped shape how I think about productivity, mindset, habits, leadership, simplicity, and wellbeing. These are my personal favourites — the ones I keep coming back to, recommending to clients, or gifting to people who are on a growth journey. If you’re ready to learn, reflect, and build new habits, you’ll find something here that speaks to you.
1. Essentialism: The Disciplined Pursuit of Less
A powerful reminder that focusing on less but better creates clarity and direction.
2. Atomic Habits
One of the best, most practical guides on how small changes add up to remarkable results.
3. The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
A modern classic on habits that shape success, grounded in timeless principles.
4. Your Brain at Work
Insights into how our minds really work — and how to make them work better for us.
5. Deep Work
Essential reading for anyone who wants to protect focus in a world full of interruption.
6. & Dare to LeadDaring Greatly
Two transformative books on courage, vulnerability, and leading with heart.
Click here for Daring Greatly>>
7. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success
Explores how our beliefs about ability and intelligence shape everything we do.
8. The Highly Sensitive Person + Highly Sensitive Parenting Guides + Highly Sensitive Child
Essential tools for empaths and caregivers navigating a world that can feel overwhelming.
Click here - Highly Sensitive Person>>
Click here - Highly Sensitive Parenting Guides>>
Click here - Highly Sensitive Child>>
9. Simplicity Parenting
A gentle guide to creating calmer, more secure childhoods through simplicity.
10. The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari & The 5AM Club
Inspirational reads that blend life philosophy with daily practice.
The Five Minute Journal
A beautifully simple tool to build gratitude, reflection, and intentional habits.
Moleskine Classic Notebook
Your best companion for thoughts, plans, reflections, and brainstorms.
Capsule Reuse Kits
Small sustainable choices I love for reducing waste in everyday routines.
On a daily basis, professionals are constantly juggling various responsibilities at work and home. This balancing act can be overwhelming, leading to stress and a negative mindset. However, there's a powerful tool that can help professionals manage stress and cultivate a positive mindset: mindfulness.
What is Mindfulness?
Mindfulness is the practice of being present and fully engaged in the current moment, without judgment. It involves paying attention to your thoughts, emotions, and sensations as they happen. Rather than being bogged down by the past or anxious about the future, mindfulness encourages you to stay grounded in the present.
Mindfulness and the Brain
Research has shown that mindfulness has significant effects on the brain. Studies have found that regular mindfulness practice can increase gray matter density in areas of the brain associated with learning, memory, and emotional regulation. This means that mindfulness not only helps you feel better but also enhances your cognitive abilities and emotional health.
Benefits of Mindfulness
· Stress Reduction: Mindfulness helps reduce cortisol levels, the hormone associated with stress. By staying present and mindful, professionals can manage stress more effectively, leading to improved mental well-being.
· Improved Focus and Productivity: By training your mind to stay present, mindfulness enhances your ability to concentrate on tasks. This increased focus can lead to higher productivity and better job performance.
· Emotional Regulation: Mindfulness teaches you to observe your emotions without reacting impulsively. This can help you manage difficult situations at work with a calm and composed demeanour.
· Better Decision-Making: Being mindful allows you to approach decisions with a clear and focused mind. This can lead to more thoughtful and effective decision-making in your professional and personal life.
· Enhanced Relationships: Mindfulness fosters empathy and compassion, improving your interactions with colleagues, clients, and loved ones. By being fully present in conversations, you can build stronger and more meaningful connections.
IntegratingMindfulness at Work
There are many ways of incorporating mindfulness into your daily routine. Here are a few simple strategies to integrate mindfulness into your workday.
1. Start with Intention: Begin your day with a few minutes of mindfulness practice. Set an intention for the day, focusing on how you want to approach your tasks and interactions.
2. Take Mindful Breaks: Schedule short breaks throughout your day to practice mindfulness. This could be as simple as deep breathing, stretching, or a quick walk outside.
3. Focus on One Thing: When working on a task, remove anything that might distractyou and be fully present in the task you are currently working on. This includes what you are physically working on, and what you are mentally working on. If you notice your attention drift, gently bring yourself back to your present task.
4. Mindful Meetings: Before starting ameeting, take a moment for everyone to settle into the present. This can create a more focused and productive discussion.
5. End with Reflection: Conclude your workday with a few minutes of mindfulness. Reflect on what went well, what challenges you faced, and how you handled them. This can help you transition from work mode to personal time more smoothly.
Our mindset shapes our perception of the world and significantly impacts our potential for success and personal development. Although often unnoticed, our mindset dictates how we handle setbacks, approach challenges, and capitalize on our strengths. Two primary types of mindsets, as coined by Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck, are the fixed mindset and the growth mindset. Her book titled Mindset, Carol discusses how understanding and transitioning from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset can profoundly change one's life trajectory.
Fixed Mindset vs. Growth Mindset
A fixed mindset is rooted in the belief that abilities and intelligence are static traits. Individuals with a fixed mindset perceive their talents as set in stone and often shy away from challenges for fear of failure. They view effort as fruitless, believing that if they are inherently good at something, it should come effortlessly. Consequently, they may avoid opportunities to learn and grow, contributing to stagnation and frustration.
A growth mindset is the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work. Those with a growth mindset see challenges as opportunities to learn and improve. They understand that effort is a path to mastery, and failures are merely steps on the road to success. This perspective fosters resilience, curiosity, and a passion for learning, leading to continuous personal and professional growth.
Here are five ways to shift from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset:
1. Embrace Challenges:
Start viewing challenges as opportunities rather than threats. Instead of shying away from difficult tasks, confront them head-on. When you face a challenging situation, remind yourself that each challenge is a step towards growth and improvement.
2. Celebrate Effort, Not Just Outcomes:
Shift your focus from simply achieving results to valuing the process itself. Appreciate the effort you put into tasks, regardless of the immediate outcome. By celebrating your dedication and hard work, you reinforce the idea that effort leads to improvement and success over time.
3. Cultivate Curiosity and a Love for Learning:
Encourage yourself to explore new topics, skills, and hobbies. Approach learning with curiosity and an open mind. View every new piece of knowledge or skill as a new tool in your journey towards growth. Developing a habit of continuous learning can help you see the potential in every experience.
4. Add "yet" to Your Vocabulary:
When you find yourself thinking, "I am not good at that," add the word "yet" to the end of the sentence. This small change can significantly alter your mindset, turning a fixed perspective into a growth-oriented one. For example, saying “I am not good at painting” implies that you are not good at painting, and that likely won’t change. However, when you reframe it to "I am not good at that yet" opens up the possibility for learning and improvement. If you learn painting skills and practice, then you very much can grow your skills as a painter. [Note: feel free to replace “painting” with what ever skill is important and most relevant to you.].
5. Reframe Failure as a Learning Opportunity:
Change your perspective on failure from something to be avoided to a natural and necessary part of the learning process. When you fail, take time to analyze what went wrong and what you could do differently next time, making sure that you are compassionate to yourself and others. Treat failures as valuable feedback that guides you toward improvement.
The Takeaway:
Transitioning from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset is not an overnight transformation; it requires intentional practice and a willingness to rewire old thought patterns. By embracing challenges, celebrating effort, cultivating curiosity, adding “yet” to your vocabulary and reframing failure, you can foster a growth mindset that opens doors to limitless potential. Remember, growth is a journey, not a destination. Your mindset is a powerful tool—use it to create a life of continuous learning, resilience, and achievement.
In a world filled with full calendars, more tasks than you can possibly complete and notifications coming at you from all angles, it's easy to get caught up in the negativity that surrounds us. As our daily world seems to just keep getting faster and busier, it's crucial to find ways to counteract this negativity and shift our focus to more positive thoughts. One powerful technique that can help with this is gratitude journalling.
Humans are wired to notice and remember negative events more vividly than positive ones, a phenomenon known as the negativity bias. This bias has been a survival mechanism throughout human evolution, as it helped our ancestors avoid dangerous situations and threats. However, in today's world, this bias can lead to increased stress, anxiety, and dissatisfaction.
Gratitude journalling is a simple practice that involves regularly writing down things that you are grateful for. By focusing on the positive aspects of your life, you can retrain your brain to notice and appreciate the good things around you. A gratitude journalling practice can create new neuropathways in your brain, leading to increased feelings of happiness, contentment, and overall well-being. As Tony Robbins points out, where your attention goes, energy flows.
Research in the field of positive psychology has shown that gratitude journalling can have numerous benefits. Studies have found that individuals who engage in regular gratitude practices experience improved physical health, better sleep, reduced stress levels, and increased feelings of happiness and joy. Additionally, gratitude journalling has been linked to stronger relationships, increased empathy, and a greater sense of fulfillment in life.
By taking just a few minutes each day to write down things that you are grateful for, you can begin to shift your mindset from one of negativity and lack to one of positivity and abundance. For me, I practice gratitude journalling in the morning, after I have enjoyed my cup of coffee. I love and recommend the Five Minute Journal. This journal provides space for you to jot down three things you are grateful for and three things that would make today great. For me, this serves as a reminder that each of us has the ability to create their days so we can enjoy them (note: this may require a mindset shift). It also includes space at the end of the day to reflect on what went well and what would have made it even better.
This simple practice can have profound effects on your mental and emotional well-being, leading to a more fulfilling and satisfying life. By setting aside a few minutes each day to reflect on the things that you are grateful for, your mindset will begin to shift toward finding the good that is already all around us.
As a leadership and team coach, I have witnessed the transformative power of mindset on individuals' success and well-being. I have also experienced it myself.
First off, let’s talk about what mindset is:
Mindset refers to a set of attitudes, beliefs, and assumptions that affect how we perceive and interact with the world around us. It is the lens through which we view situations and make sense of our experiences. Your mindset can influence your thoughts, emotions, us, and overall outlook on life.
And here is the kicker:
Why is that? Because your mindset shapes your beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours, ultimately impacting the outcomes in both your personal and professional life.
One of the key takeaways from the work of Michael Hyatt and his daughter Megan, in their book Mind Your Mindset is that our mindset is the lens through which we view the world. It influences our beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours, ultimately impacting our success and happiness. Hyatt emphasizes the importance of cultivating a growth mindset, which is the belief that our abilities and qualities can be developed through dedication and hard work. This mindset encourages resilience, innovation, and a willingness to learn and grow from challenges.
Carol Dweck, a leading researcher in the field of mindset, has conducted extensive research on the power of mindset. Her work, summarized in her book Mindset, has highlighted the stark differences between a fixed mindset, where individuals believe their abilities are fixed and unchangeable, and a growth mindset, where individuals believe they can improve through effort and perseverance. Dweck's research has shown that individuals with a growth mindset are more likely to achieve success and fulfillment in life, as they are more resilient, adaptable, and open to new opportunities.
Other researchers, such as Alia Crum, have demonstrated the impact of mindset on physical health. Individuals who believe stress is harmful have a higher risk of health issues compared to those who view stress as a natural part of life. Kelly McGonigal shares how to make stress your friend in her famous Ted Talk, which must resonate with folks since it has over 32 million Views. This shows the influence of mindset not only on mental but also physical well-being.
In my coaching, I have seen and worked with individuals who transform from self-doubt to confidence becoming aware of their thoughts and changing them to be more aligned with who they want to be and how they want to see the world. By adopting a growth mindset, individuals can unlock their potential, overcome challenges, and achieve goals.
Michael Hyatt outlines a three-step process to become aware of your thoughts and shift them toward a positive, growth-orientated mindset:
Once we build awareness and notice our thoughts, we can determine if those thoughts and helping or hurting us. If they are not, we can begin to shift our mindset towards one that is growth-oriented, resilient, and open to possibilities. In short, mindset matters. It is the foundation upon which our actions, beliefs, and behaviours are built. By cultivating a growth mindset, we can reach our full potential, navigate challenges with resilience, and lead a more fulfilling, joyful and successful life.
As a leadership and lifestyle coach, I often work with clients who are feeling weighed down by their past experiences, beliefs, relationships, or physical stuff. One of the key areas that we focus on is the importance of shedding what no longer serves you so that you can make space for growth and transformation.
Just like a snake shedding its old skin to make way for the new, we too must learn to let go of the things in our lives that are holding us back or weighing us down. This can include limiting beliefs, negative self-talk, toxic relationships (or even relationships that just no longer bring us joy) or outdated habits that no longer align with who we are becoming.
Shedding what no longer serves you is a process of introspection, reflection, and intentional action. It requires a willingness to confront the parts of yourself that no longer serve your highest good and the courage to release them with love and compassion.
To begin the process of shedding, start by taking inventory of your thoughts, habits, and relationships. Notice where you are feeling stuck or stagnant, and ask yourself what beliefs or behaviours might be contributing to this feeling.
Then set intentions for what you want to release and make a plan for how you will let go of these things. This could involve setting boundaries in toxic relationships, challenging and reframing limiting beliefs, cleaning house, or implementing new habits that support your growth and well-being.
Remember that shedding/letting go is a continual process of growth and evolution. Be patient and kind with yourself as you navigate this journey, and celebrate each small step towards living a more aligned and authentic life. By letting go of what no longer serves you, you create space for new opportunities, relationships, and experiences to enter your life and propel you toward your full potential.
When things get busy, we can often find ourselves juggling multiple responsibilities, trying to maintain a balance between our professional and personal lives. However, sometimes things seem to just not add up and everything can start to seam harder than it is.
The stress of managing work, family, and personal life can become overwhelming, leaving us feeling drained and unable to be the best version of ourselves. In such situations, it can be time to start subtracting. By simplifying our mindset, calendar, to do list and our stuff, we can live and work within our own capacity.
Here are 5 ways to start subtracting, plus a bonus to help you recharge:
1. Prioritize and Delegate
One of the first steps to simplify your life and work is to prioritize your tasks. Create a list, if you haven’t already. Then determine what is most important, what can be delegated to others, what can wait for later and what can be eliminated. As humans, we often take on too much, trying to do everything ourselves. However, by delegating tasks to our partners, children, or colleagues, we can free up time and energy to focus on what truly matters.
2. Set Boundaries
Setting boundaries is crucial for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Establish clear boundaries between your work and personal life, and communicate them to your colleagues, friends, and family. This may involve setting specific work hours, turning off work notifications during personal time, or designating a specific space for work. By setting boundaries, you can create a more balanced and less stressful life.
3. Declutter Your Space
A cluttered workspace or home can lead to a cluttered mind, making it difficult to focus and be productive. Take some time to declutter your space, getting rid of unnecessary items and organizing the rest. This will not only create a more peaceful environment but also make it easier to find what you need when you need it.
4. Limit Distractions
Distractions can significantly impact our productivity and ability to focus. Identify the distractions in your life and work, such as social media, excessive email checking, or unnecessary meetings, and limit or eliminate them. By reducing distractions, you can increase your focus and productivity, allowing you to live and work within your capacity.
5. Learn to Say No
Sometimes, we take on too many responsibilities, thinking that we can handle everything. However, this can lead to burnout and decreased productivity. Learn to say no to additional tasks or commitments that don't align with your priorities or that exceed your capacity. This can help you maintain a more manageable workload and avoid feeling overwhelmed.
6. Embrace Self-Care
Self-care is essential for maintaining our physical and mental health, which in turn helps us be more present and more effective in our work and personal lives. We sometimes think of self-care as a day at the spa, but self-care can be as simple as making sure you get in your daily walk. Make time for regular exercise, a healthy diet, and adequate sleep. And if you can, set aside time for hobbies and activities that bring you joy and help you relax. When we take care of ourselves, we can better manage our work and personal lives and the thoughts and feelings that come with it. We can also show up better for those most important to us.
Remember, simplifying your life and work is an ongoing process. It's important to regularly reassess your priorities and make adjustments as needed. By removing the clutter and focusing on what truly matters, you can live and work within your own capacity, leading to a more fulfilling and balanced life. So, when things aren't adding up, start subtracting. Your future self will thank you for it.
If you are anything like most people I know (including myself), you are juggling multiple responsibilities at work and at home. You want to excel in your career and maintain a fulfilling personal life. This is often a recipe that leads to feeling stressed and overwhelmed. When your brain is full and you don’t know where to begin, taking a few minutes to do a brain dump can help you clear your mind and remember what your priorities are.
Brain dumping is the process of taking all the thoughts swirling around in your head and putting them down on paper. This technique can help you organize your thoughts, prioritize tasks, and reduce mental clutter. By externalizing your thoughts (on paper or in a digital system), you free up mental space and make it easier to focus on the tasks at hand.
To start, find a quiet space where you won't be interrupted. Then turn off all the distractions (pings, sounds, phones, etc.). Take out a pen and a notebook and start by writing down everything that's on your mind, without editing or censoring yourself. This can include work tasks, personal errands, emotions, worries, ideas, or anything else that's occupying your mental space.
When doing a brain dump, it's important to include all aspects of your life. This means listing work-related tasks such as project deadlines, client meetings, and emails to respond to, as well as personal responsibilities like doctor appointments, kid's activities (or your own), grocery shopping, and household chores. By including both work and home life, you create a whole picture of everything that needs your attention.
Once everything is out of your head and down on your paper, it's time to make sense of the information you've gathered. Start by categorizing your list into different sections, such as work, personal, health, finances, and so on. This will help you identify key areas that require immediate action and prioritize tasks accordingly.
Next, apply filters to sort through the information and identify what's important. Ask yourself questions like:
What tasks are time-sensitive?
What tasks can be delegated or postponed?
What tasks require long-term planning?
What items are within my control, within my influence or out of my control and influence? For those that you have no control or influence over, let them go.
What tasks are in alignment with my priorities?
By filtering your brain dump, you can create a roadmap for tackling your responsibilities in a structured and efficient manner.
And NOW, it's time to take action. Start by creating a to-do list with the most urgent and important tasks at the top. Break down complex tasks into smaller, more manageable steps to avoid feeling overwhelmed. Set realistic deadlines for each task and track your progress as you work through your list.
In addition to prioritizing tasks, it's important to schedule regular brain dumps to prevent mental clutter from building up. Set aside time each week to review your to-do list, add new tasks and priorities — and remove any that are completed or are no longer important to you.
In our fast-paced world, juggling multiple tasks and responsibilities has become the norm. Many individuals struggle with one common enemy: procrastination. We put off important or challenging tasks, and work on the things less important – like emails and other people’s priorities – which drains us and increases our stress levels.
The solution…"Eat the Frog".
Eat the Frog is a simple yet powerful strategy that can help us overcome procrastination and focus on what matters most to us.
What is "Eat the Frog"?
The term "Eat the Frog" is a metaphor coined by renowned author Mark Twain. According to Twain, if you eat a live frog first thing in the morning, you can rest assured that it's likely the worst thing you'll have to do all day. In other words, "Eating the Frog" means tackling the most challenging or daunting task at the beginning of the day, which then frees up mental space and energy for the rest of our tasks.
Benefits of Eating the Frog:
Increased productivity: By tackling the most difficult task early on, we eliminate the feeling of dread that accompanies procrastination. This allows us to focus better and complete tasks in a more efficient manner, freeing up time for other activities.
Reduced stress and anxiety: Procrastination often leads to a constant nagging feeling in the back of our minds. By tackling the challenging task head-on, we alleviate this stress and decrease anxiety levels, leading to an overall improved well-being.
Improved time management: Prioritizing the biggest/most important task at the beginning of the day gives us a clear sense of purpose and direction. It prevents us from wasting time on less critical matters, ensuring we use our time and energy more effectively.
How to use "Eat the Frog" in your routine:
Identify the frog: Take a moment to identify the most pressing or challenging task for the day. It could be a difficult assignment, an uncomfortable conversation, or a problem that requires immediate attention.
Set your intention: Before starting your day, make a conscious decision to tackle the frog first. Visualize the sense of accomplishment and relief you will feel upon completing it.
Break it down: If the task seems overwhelming, break it down into smaller, manageable steps. This way, you can work on each step one at a time, gradually conquering the entire task.
Eliminate distractions: Minimize distractions — silence your phone; close your email; find a quiet place to work; — to help maintain focus while focusing on the task at hand. You can use the Pomodoro Technique to help.
Celebrate progress: As you complete the challenging task, take a moment to acknowledge your effort and reward yourself, even in small ways. Celebrating milestones helps motivate you to continue conquering future frogs.
Effective leadership is crucial for achieving success in any field, be it business, politics, or community activism. While each leader has their unique style, there are certain qualities that stand out as fundamental for inspiring and influencing others. In this blog post, we will explore some of these essential leadership qualities and discuss strategies for developing them in your own leadership style.
Conclusion: Developing essential leadership qualities is a continuous journey of self-improvement and growth. By cultivating visionary thinking, effective communication, adaptability, empathy, integrity, and a commitment to continuous learning, you are laying a strong foundation for your leadership style. Remember, leadership is not just about achieving personal success - it's about inspiring and empowering others to reach their full potential.
Unlock your potential as a leader by investing time and effort into developing these qualities. As you hone your skills and continue to grow, you'll find that your leadership style positively impacts both your own success and the success of those you lead.
#3-404 Hanson Street
Whitehorse, YT Y1A 1Y8
Directions
