John's Blog

People confuse ambition with the rewards of their efforts.  A businessman spent the morning telling me of cars, houses and holidays he wants when I asked him about his ambition. No buddy, that's the rewards you get for achieving your ambition.  Ambition is your role, your contributions to society. It's you making your voice heard, your efforts to improve your local or international community.  No, no one is asking you to change the world, so relax. There is, however, a need for your voice, your contribution to make the world a little better, a little sweeter.  Hell, it doesn't have to be the world, if what you have to offer influences more than just you, touching a few other lives, well, then you are living out your ambitions.  Once on the road to fulfilling that ambition, then the rewards will come ... and stay. If you get the order wrong, you may find that the rewards come and go.  So, today... in some small way, do something for someone else. Share wit...

As a life coach, I often deal with people that are crystal clear about their wants, while oblivious to what they need. This awareness is a result of focus on the rewards without recognizing the efforts that will give them the rewards.  What we want and what we need are not always the same thing. Someone may want a nice new car, but what they need is a job to pay for the car.  In many of the coaching sessions that I offer, I find that people come seeking goals when what they need is clarity. They feel a lack of ambition when actually it's a lack of focus. People want to give up for a lack of feedback when the root is a lack of momentum, and they complain about a lack of support or poor response when it's a lack of communication.  At the root of goal achievement, or success of any description, is the foundation stones of clarity, focus, momentum and communication.  Do you want to level up your success?  Stop, take a deep breath and ask: what lies below my wants ...

So, some kooky clown on a little blog wants to mash quantum physics and leadership together, so what!  How does this affect you and why should you care?   Here's why:  Truth is truth on all levels. When you find a principle that works, it will work for everyone - rich, poor, clever, stupid, young, old, leader or not leader.  Quantum physics has revealed some crazy and interesting principles that apply to particles on the tiniest of levels.  As humans, we are made of particles, we are also surrounded by particles - so those truths are true for us as people and true for our circumstances.  What happens to particles has consequences in our personal lives. So, maybe we should pay attention, and learn how to get the best from our quantum make up.  The simple principles and processes of quantum leadership offers tried and tested options that can be applied to fishing or to business alike, with results and explanations that will suit your curiosity and a...

Each day, I fall deeper in love with the complex elegance and the elegant simplicity of the three leadership models that I currently call the U49.  It was time to duplicate the success achieved during the fishing challenge ... in a real life business situation. But, before I could do that, I would have to describe the function and reason for each model in a simple way.  The first model, Tharros, or the courage model, helps leaders plot where they want to go, clearly defining the vision, outcome or end result. This is not out of the ordinary.  This model focuses on developing the personal identity of the leader through involution and evolution, evoking courage to act on what he or she believes.  Involution is the process of recognizing who God has called you to be, clearly identifying your true self, and making the decision to express that inner identity.  Evolution is the process whereby you shape your behaviour and actions to reflect who you are on the inside, ...

I was burning to test the 3 fresh leadership models on someone, but most people looked at me as if I was nuts. No one was prepared to put their profits on the line for my crazy experiment, but I don't really blame them. So, I went fishing.   It's amazing how the brain finds answers when not looking for them. While fishing I decided to pick and start an obscure task, project or business in which I could experiment. In that way, I could test the leadership models, from scratch, without risking existing businesses or relationships.  Then, the genius really struck! Hahaha  Fishing! My obscure task was ... fishing. In fact, the goal was to catch 100 fish in 100 days ... in winter ... even though I had only been fishing a handful of times in my life ... even though I could count the fish I've caught on one hand.  The plan was to use the 3 models in a way that maximized my chances of reaching the goal. No relations or businesses would be adversely affected, except ...

Four years ago, I started to play with the idea of quantum leadership, a leadership theory that aligns with the principles of quantum physics.   Boy, was I confused.  After six long months of struggling to merge physics and leadership, I gave it up as a nice, but impractical idea.  Then, one day a couple of years ago, I sat down to make a tangible 3D model of leadership. I wanted a model I could put in my pocket to use in a pinch.  The information poured onto the page. It took three days to come up with three original, but elegant models that help a leader plot and track progress made.  It was also horribly complicated!  I spent the next two years simply trying to make sense of the complexity that I dumped onto paper.  The only way to make real sense of the models was to practically apply them in a real leadership situation.  To my surprise , none of my business owner friends wanted me to apply the crazy and complicated model to their busines...

Leadership is a crazy, yet important process, filled with obscurity and irony, contrasted by clarity and focus. There is no doubt that leadership is constantly juggling options, like - do it yourself to set the example versus delegate it to someone qualified, or pick resources versus opt for skills. The second principle of quantum leadership also demands a juggling act from the leader, by defining the ideal outcome (vision), and knowing exactly what development has taken place.  The irony of this principle lies in the fact that the tangible progress made by the team is harder to measure than it is to describe the unmanifested outcome.   The leader sets out the vision in all clarity at the start of the process, explaining the why, what and when of the vision's achievement, allowing the team to detail the how. The leader defines the next piece required  in the process, creating focus. The team offers guidance on how to achieve it, creating momentum. Once the step has b...

 Modern leadership is cluttered with fads and fashions, tricks and games, all designed to hack the identity and process of leadership.   As much as there is a place  for hacks and short cuts in the world, mastery demands dedication and experience. Quantum leadership strips away the smoke and mirrors, in favour of mastering identity, collaboration and timing.   The first principle of Quantum Leadership seeks the description of the minimum elements needed to collaborate the successful outcome on a scale relevant to the benefit of others.   What on earth does that mean?   Let's take a step back and consider the definition of leadership: A leader is someone that guides a team to the successful achievement of a vision.    We can deduce that there are four obvious elements in this definition: 1. The leader – This is the person that births the vision and is responsible for its successful achievement. 2. Guides – The leader has the vision in...

 The mention of the word quantum in any conversation has people sucking air in through their teeth and mumbling, "gosh, you must be intelligent." There is no doubt in my mind that leadership, like quantum physics is complex, but by no means is it intended for a select number of people. Quantum Leadership is as relevant to the janitor as it is to the company CEO, and will change not only your life, but also the world in which you live.  Modern leadership is cluttered with strategies, tactics and gimmicks, which simply distract from what leadership is - a person guiding a collection of people to achieve a desired goal or outcome intended for the greater good. Quantum leadership strips away fads, to reveal the minimum elements and processes needed to birth a vision, gather a team, act as a guide and achieve the results. It’s a raw and efficient approach to vision achievement. Obviously, we all want to add adjective to leadership that drip with success, such as "sign...

  I do what I do because I want you to have three things in your life: 1. I want you to have a sense of being alive, 2. I want you to have a sense of who you really are, 3. When you combine the first 2, you will have a sense of meaning for your life. I want you to fulfil that call. These are probably not the things that you want for yourself, maybe you've never even given a thought to these things. But... I do. Every day. Every day, I research, plan and prepare potential connective paths of discovery that you could take to ... well, to meet you, to live you, to be fully you. No, I don't care if you remember my name or recognize my face on the street, because it's not about me and my development. It is, however, about your growth. At best, all I can offer you is a single piece to the puzzle you call your life. That's the best anyone can do - offer you pieces, the rest is up to you. Your only thought should be that you did it, that you sculpted your potential and that you...

One would think that the actions taken to achieve a vision would actually take you closer to that goal. Indeed, successful people and companies alike focus on doing only the tasks and activities that carry them closer to their destination. This is called "efficiency."  It's staggering to observe just how much "inefficiency" happens. People get caught up, worn down, and burnt out, committed to actions that at best, takes them no where, and at worst, takes them further away from their goal.  What's really shocking is how many people actually take no action towards achievement of their ideal life at all, leaving the outcome to "che sera, sera, whatever will be will be." If they had no ambition, this attitude would be perfectly reasonable, but it is usually people with a dream that do nothing about it.  "Faith," I hear you bellow. "The non-active are believing for the outcome" you reason. Possibly. However, faith is a stro...

A leader is defined as someone that guides a team to achieve a vision for a cause, a company, or even a country. The vision can be as simple as planting a tree, or as complex as taking a country to greatness. This definition of a leader touches every person, even you, in the process. Whether you are the creator of the vision, or someone contracted to help achieve it, the U49 Leadership System has something special for everyone. With its unique philosophies and tools, the U49 is a development system for everything related to the achievement of a vision, offering advice and guidance to the beginner, and the seasoned leader. The U49 Leadership System has four legs, including: leader, team, action, and vision. Each leg is loaded with laws, principles, and strategies that shape the leader's knowledge, skills, and attitude, equipping them with the mastery needed for successful vision achievement. The four legs of the U49 melt effortlessly into three simple models that offer ...

You are forgiven for thinking that the articles posted here over the last couple of months were random and haphazard. Nothing could be further from the truth.  You may even think that the majority of articles were just emotional and religious, or at least "spiritual" in nature. Although that is partly true, it is not the whole truth.  Fact of the matter is that all the articles have been deliberate and grouped into four categories, namely; the vision, the leader, the team, and the action. These four categories combined together form "leadership" as defined by the U49 leadership system.  There is no doubt that what we do in our private lives affects our public performances. This idea is reinforced under the U49, with it assigning personal development topics to the leader, including; mission, truth, and the "I am."  Actually, a lot of what falls under "the team," "the action," and "the vision" comes from the ...

There are few things as valuable as having confidence in your own ability. Your ability will open doors and paint your trail with greatness, if ... you trust it.  Many people make a decision only to be racked with doubt. Second guessing your decision undermines the choice, weakening its foundation, making it vulnerable to collapse.  As a leader, there is a lot at stake when you make a choice. Even though we know - he who hesitates loses - we still succumb to doubt and insecurities. I've seen more owners destroy their businesses by not making a definitive decision, than those that made a bad choice and stuck with it.  Confidence will make up for some incompetence, but indecisiveness will erode even the most lucrative of ideas. The U49's Axios Model put a "choice assistant" in the hands of the decision maker, boosting confidence in the choice taken. The extra confidence stirs faith in the heart of those willing to attempt the impossible, setting the sta...

Knowing when to make the right decision needs more than just having information, it requires a confidence, a toughness of mind, and an unshakable desire to carry out the decision.  Timing is the creator of good leaders, and undertaker of the bad ones. The leader needs the timing of a decision to be perfect, in order to drive the vision forward. There are few skills as critical as timing to the ongoing development and existence of a leader. In times past, leaders where left to haphazardly discover the value of a well timed move, and to practice it like a blind man throwing darts at a target he has never seen.  The "timing model" in the U49 Leadership System, KAIROS, let's leaders learn decision making with a "safety net" in place. The kairos model divides vision achievement into nine key decision "moments," helping the leader pick the right time to make a decision in the vision's favour. The kairos model plots the vision's posit...

The saddest stories are the ones where people's dreams are on hold for "when it..." is ideal.  Every one has something that ties them down, occupies, and limits their ability to live out "the dream." Some are waiting for money, some are waiting for a golden opportunity, and others are waiting... just waiting.  Most people use dreams as a crutch to help them limp through the day. Others see their dream as the light at the end of the life tunnel. A limited few use dreams as a target to focus their efforts. For all of them, the dream is never realised.  We are not called to to strive for "I will," " I could," or even "I should." We are, however, called to live out our "I am." Our hopes and dreams are the the guidelines to do just that. By putting our dreams on ice, we freeze our true identity.  Dreams are God's vehicles that carry us to our purpose, which we "sell out" for that romance, for that bond ...

In the quest for love, I often wonder if the games people play are intentional, or could it be that the antics are fabricated in our own perceptions?  Prone to overthinking, I am often guilty of analysing the pretzels out of all gestures of kindness within the context of a relationship. "What did they mean with this?" "What was the purpose of that?" "Is this love, or are they toying with me?"  Riddled with insecurities, I observe, mentally record, and scrutinize with "OCD" repetition and accuracy, every. single. little. thing. Unfortunately, the doubt and paranoia eventually creates the distance I imagined between myself and those I had hoped to love.  It's with agonising humiliation that I recently realised I am my worst enemy when it comes to intimacy. The conclusion followed the realisation that I don't always recognise "love" when I see or experience it.  In striving for a healthier life, I've made a commitme...

The most common topic people talk about around personal development is the meaning of life, "why exactly am I here?" Life is less about discovering purpose, and more about choosing a meaning to give to life. When a dog wakes up in the morning, it doesn't ponder the reason for being a dog. It didn't have to go on a quest to discover its purpose. The dog simply gets up and does doggy things, it has no choice in the matter Fortunately, or not, people get to choose their own purpose. For most, selecting a reason to live is frightening. The thought of committing to a single mission can be more intimidating than getting a permanent tattoo, or picking a partner, for life! Those seeking a life mission often seem to wait for the heavens to open, as they watch a beautiful white dove flutter down and land of their shoulder. With a voice like James Earl Jones, they then expect the divine messenger to tell them what to do in life. Life is more grounded than that, and pu...

Entrepreneur, manager, and politician are roles that each require it's own set of unique skills, but does not guarantee that the title holder is a leader.  A person gets the title of leader by way of birthing a vision. The leader was, is, and always will be the vision owner and curator, responsible for taking it from inception to completion, with the effective and efficient help of a team.  Anyone that feels strongly enough to act on a vision can lead. Having a vision obviously doesn't mean the person will be a good leader. Like any skill, leadership is loaded with various principles, strategies, and techniques, requiring study and practice to master.  Many visions lay dormant on the shelf of "one day," collecting dust. The owners of the " vision-in-storage" become reluctant to dust the vision off and make it happen, because they feel unworthy of the leader position.  Instead of letting your vision decay into "regret," equip yourself wi...

Manifesting your desire needs knowledge of three things; know where you've come from; know who you are; and know what you want.  Jack and Sally are a young couple struggling through a turbulent life, with hopes of better things to come. It's been a wrestle to get where they are now, and for the most part, they are positive the situation will eventually turn around.  Once in a while, Jack will sit down to check if he is steering his life in the right direction. On one such occasion, Jack spoke aloud to himself, asking: "why isn't my dream manifesting?" "Well, what is your dream," asked a little voice. Shocked by the question, Jack looked around for the source of the voice, eventually noticing a little ant watching him from the table.  Amused by the talking ant, Jack said, "I'm not sure what I want, but I know that I'm sick of the results I have." The ant studied Jack for a moment, and then asked, "Well, who are you? What ...