Healthy Work Habits Formation

Here’s a secret to help you supercharge your networking. Stop trying to hit home runs with every touch point. Instead, focus on small wins that move the conversation forward. I see so many people making big / vague asks up front: “Can you hop on a 30 minute call?” “Tell me how you accomplished [Big Thing].” These people are super busy and they’re receiving this email from you - a total stranger. The last thing they want is another item on their to do list. Instead, start with a small, simple ask that they can reply to in <30 seconds. Here’s a formula that's been really effective for me: “Hey [Name], your experience in [Industry] is really impressive. I know you're busy, but I just had to ask: If you had to start over and work your way back to [Insert Achievement], would you do A or B? A: [Insert Actionable Thing] B: [Insert Other Actionable Thing]” This formula makes is incredibly easy for them to say "I'd do A" or "I'd do B." Now the door is open! Go do thing A or thing B, get results, and report back. Let this person know you took their advice and then ask for more. This positions you as someone who values their advice and has an action bias -- someone worth investing in. That's going to lead to deeper conversations and stronger relationships!

Three Secrets of Networking: Do You Know? For a long time, I thought networking was about “working the room”—swapping cards, shaking hands, collecting contacts.  But over time, I learned that true networking is far deeper than just building a list of names. Here are three secrets that changed the way I approach networking and helped me build genuine, lasting relationships. ➡️ Lead with Generosity Early in my career, I met someone who taught me the power of giving before asking. I reached out to them for advice and they shared their time and insights with no expectations. This experience showed me that the best connections come when you lead with generosity. Now, when I meet someone new, I ask myself, “What can I offer them first?”—whether it’s sharing an idea, introducing them to someone, or just listening closely to what they need. ➡️ Don’t Overlook the “Weak Ties” Some of my most valuable connections came from the least likely sources—someone I met briefly while on a tour, a friend of a friend, or an old classmate I hadn’t spoken to in years. It’s these “weak ties” that often bring fresh perspectives or even career-shifting opportunities. Staying connected beyond your close circle doesn’t just widen your network but it opens up opportunities from unexpected corners of life. ➡️ Follow Up—Thoughtfully I’ll admit, I used to be terrible at follow-ups, thinking that a quick “nice to meet you” message was enough. But real relationships are built with intention. Now, when I meet someone, I make a point to send a thoughtful follow-up—a note on something we discussed, a link to an article they’d enjoy, or simply a “thank you” message for their time. This small effort not only keeps the door open for future conversations but also shows that I genuinely value the connection. Building a network of genuine relationships takes time, but in the end, these connections add real depth to our lives. What’s one networking tip that’s made a difference for you? #Networking #Linkedinforcreators

𝐍𝐞𝐭𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐫 𝐍𝐚𝐦𝐞-𝐃𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠? We all know that networking is key to career growth. But let’s be real—some people treat it like a transactional game rather than building meaningful relationships. When I first started networking, I thought it was all about connecting with big names and sending cold DMs. Turns out, that’s not how real relationships are built. Here’s what I’ve learned about networking with integrity and respect: 🔹 𝟭. 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗽 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 🚫 We’ve all seen it—someone connects with you today and asks for a favor tomorrow. ✔ Instead, build relationships before you need them. ✔ Offer value before asking for help. ✔ Engage genuinely—not just when you need something. 🔹𝟮. 𝗚𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 🤝 Want someone to remember you? Help them first. ✔ Share an opportunity. ✔ Introduce them to someone useful. ✔ Engage with their work meaningfully. Networking is a two-way street. If you only show up when you need a job or referral, people will notice—and avoid you. 🔹 𝟯. 𝗔𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗴𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗳-𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 🎙️ There’s a difference between showcasing your work and shameless bragging. ✔ Focus on sharing insights, not just achievements. ✔ Celebrate others’ success, not just your own. ✔ Be someone people want to associate with. 🔹 𝟰. 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗕𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗘𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 🚦 ✔ Cold messaging? Make it personalized, not copy-paste. ✔ Asking for a coffee chat? Be clear about your intent. ✔ Got a ‘No’ or no response? Move on, don’t chase. 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙂𝙤𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙣 𝙍𝙪𝙡𝙚: 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠 𝙇𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙖 𝙃𝙪𝙢𝙖𝙣, 𝙉𝙤𝙩 𝙖 𝙎𝙖𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙋𝙞𝙩𝙘𝙝. 𝙊𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙗𝙪𝙞𝙡𝙙 𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙩, 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙣𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨. #Networking #CareerGrowth #BuildingRelationships

🎤 Yesterday I stood in front of a room full of small business owners and did something I don’t usually do: I opened the hood on exactly how I run my own business. The Outcomes Over Hours framework I teach to corporate leadership teams? I’m not just teaching it. I’m living it. I spoke about the importance of having SYSTEMS to help you consistently deliver results (and faster). Here are the 9 systems I shared that give me both the results AND the life outside of work that actually matters to me. EFFECTIVE (doing the RIGHT work) 1️⃣ One key metric - I’m ruthlessly clear on the single number that tells me my business is moving forward. Everything else is noise. 2️⃣ Colour-coded calendar - every block of my week is colour coded by type of activity e.g. strategic work, client delivery, business development, personal. One glance tells me if I’m leading my business or just keeping myself busy. The calendar doesn’t lie. 3️⃣ Daily plan - I decide my one key goal and top three priorities the night before. Nothing comes at me. I go at it. EFFICIENT (doing the work FASTER and BETTER) 4️⃣ Phone boundaries - your typical social media apps are off my phone. I can still access them on desktop, but removing them from my phone is a game changer. I also have notifications turned off as much as humanly possible. Your phone is designed to hijack your attention - don’t let it. 5️⃣ Meeting discipline - I am extremely deliberate about which meetings I actually attend. White space on a calendar isn’t wasted time. It’s thinking time. And thinking time IS work. 6️⃣ Strategic AI leverage - once I know what needs to be done, I ask one question before I do anything: should this be me, my team, or AI? Getting that answer right consistently is one of the biggest productivity unlocks in my business. ENERGETIC (the rocket fuel that makes everything else possible) 7️⃣ Energy management - I know exactly what time of day I do my best thinking (8-10am) and I protect it ferociously. Energy management beats time management every single time. 8️⃣ Sleep - when a client comes to me burned out, this is the first thing I look at. You cannot lead, think, or perform at your best on poor sleep. Full stop. 9️⃣ Non-negotiables - the things outside of work that fill your tank so you can do your best work inside it. For me that’s running. What’s yours? These aren’t hacks. They’re the foundation of a business that works - without you having to work yourself into the ground to run it. 💡 Which of these 9 do you need to work on most right now? 👇

I rarely talk to the passenger sitting next to me. I don’t know why, but that’s just how I am. Being an introvert, I used to avoid those networking conference halls, crowded networking receptions, and even the small talk at coffee tables. My comfort zone was always in my books, my laptop, and my work. But over time, I realized something powerful – networking is not about being the loudest in the room, it’s about being the most authentic. Here’s what helped me: 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 – I stopped treating networking as a one-time event. Instead, I built small, consistent habits: a follow-up message after meeting someone, sharing my thoughts on LinkedIn regularly, staying connected through meaningful updates. Slowly, it created compounding effects. 𝐒𝐮𝐛𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐞 – I leaned on what I knew best: Intellectual Property. The more I shared insights, answered queries, or just simplified a complex IP concept for someone, the more people started remembering me for my knowledge rather than my volume. 𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 & 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 – When you genuinely care about what you do, people feel it. I noticed that when I spoke with energy about IP, startups, and innovation, the “networking” part happened naturally. Passion is contagious – it connects faster than business cards ever will. Networking, for me, is no longer about breaking the ice in a room full of strangers. It’s about building bridges with authenticity, one conversation at a time. If you are an introvert like me, remember – you don’t need to change who you are. You just need to be consistent, share what you know, and let your passion be your voice. Tell me — what’s one small networking habit that has worked for you? #Networking #Introvert #GrowthJourney #personalbrand #passion #emotion #consistency #PersonalStory

"I hate networking." I hear this all the time. And I get it. The idea of walking up to strangers at events, making small talk, and asking for favors feels forced and uncomfortable. But here's the truth: networking doesn't have to feel like networking. Here's how to build genuine connections without being awkward: Start with warm connections. Don't cold message strangers on LinkedIn. Start with: → Former colleagues → Alumni from your school → Mutual contacts who can introduce you → People you've worked with before These conversations are easier because there's already a foundation. Lead with offering value, not asking for favors. Don't start with: "Can you help me find a job?" Start with: "I saw your post about [topic] and thought you might find this article interesting." Or: "Congratulations on your new role! I'd love to hear how it's going." Give first. Ask later. Use LinkedIn to build relationships before asking for anything. Don't send a connection request and immediately ask for something. Instead: → Engage with their posts (thoughtful comments, not just "Great post!") → Share their content when it's relevant → Send a message just to catch up, no agenda Build the relationship over time. When you do reach out, make it easy for them. Don't say: "Can I pick your brain?" Say: "I'd love to hear about your experience at [Company]. Would you be open to a 20-minute coffee chat? I'm happy to work around your schedule." Be specific about what you're asking for and respect their time. Schedule "informational coffee chats" instead of calling it networking. Reframe it in your mind. You're not networking. You're: → Learning from someone's experience → Having a conversation about your industry → Building a relationship with someone interesting Take the pressure off yourself. Follow up and stay in touch; don't just reach out when you need something. After the conversation: → Send a thank you note within 24 hours → Share an article or resource they might find useful → Check in every few months (congratulate them on wins, share updates) Stay on their radar in a genuine way. The best networking doesn't feel transactional. It feels like building real relationships with people you respect. And those relationships? They're the ones that actually lead to opportunities. Save this post so you're ready to network without the awkwardness.

Networking isn’t about collecting business cards or sending generic LinkedIn messages—it’s about building real, meaningful connections. But let’s be honest: it can feel awkward, especially when you don’t know where to start. Here’s how I’ve learned to make networking both effective and authentic - Provide some sort of value. When reaching out to someone, think about how you can bring value to them. Instead of asking, “Can I pick your brain?” try something like: - “I really enjoyed your recent post about [topic]—it gave me new insights.” - “I noticed you’ve worked on [project/field]. Here’s a resource I found helpful—thought you might too!” Starting with value makes the interaction about collaboration, not extraction. Networking doesn’t end with the first meeting. After connecting, follow up with a personalized message: “It was great chatting about [topic]. I came across this article that aligns with what we discussed—thought you’d find it interesting!” Consistency and genuine interest are what transform connections into relationships. Networking is a skill, not a transaction. It’s about showing up authentically, giving more than you take, and staying connected.

It's Not an Event. It's a Way of Life... When most people hear the word networking, they think of name tags, conference halls, LinkedIn connections, and polite small talk over canapés. But real networking is far more powerful—and far more personal—than that. Networking isn’t an event. It’s a way of showing up in the world. You are networking every time you make a genuine connection, express interest in someone else’s journey, or offer value without expectation. Weddings. Funerals. Church. School functions. Even a neighbor’s BBQ. You don’t need to wait for a “networking event” to build your network. Life is full of opportunities to connect—if you’re paying attention. How to Network Without Calling It Networking 1. Do more listening than talking. The best networkers are not smooth talkers. They are curious listeners. People open up when they feel heard. When they feel seen. Make it your goal to leave every interaction knowing more about the other person than they know about you. 2. Focus less on what you want to get. Pour more into what you can give. Ask not, “What can this person do for me?” but, “What can I do for them?” Sometimes that’s an introduction, a compliment, a resource—or just showing up and caring. It’s a shift from extraction to generosity. 3. Never show up empty-handed. Whether it’s a boardroom, someone’s home, or a casual meet-up—bring something. Small gestures leave deep impressions. This doesn’t always mean a gift you buy. It could be a kind word, a thoughtful question, or a helping hand. Relationships Are Not One-Size-Fits-All 4. Use emotional intelligence. Not everyone wants the same kind of connection. Some people thrive on regular contact. Others prefer a quiet, respectful “keep-warm” relationship. Pay attention. Let your EQ guide how and how often you engage. 5. Build bridges, not just ladders. A strong network is not made up only of the most powerful people in the room. Sometimes the most helpful person is the least expected. Be intentional about cultivating both vertical and horizontal relationships—mentors, peers, juniors. Diversity brings strength, creativity, and resilience. 6. Play the long game. Networking isn’t about quick wins. It’s about planting seeds and nurturing them over time. Be consistent. Be genuine. One small interaction today might become a transformative opportunity tomorrow. In the end, networking is just another word for community. It’s how we lift each other up. How we grow. How we give. And it’s happening all around you—if you learn to look for it. So the next time you go to an event—or to a dinner, a party, or any social gathering —don’t ask, “What can I get from here?” Ask instead: “How can I be of service?” That’s where real networking begins. Stay blessed 🙏🏼

Workforce planning has always been an incredibly complex and difficult task. Despite valiant efforts to improve these models, they have remained relatively static and simplistic, relying predominantly on small teams crunching data or on predictions from the hiring manager community. In an ideal world, we would shift from a static, once-a-year exercise to a dynamic, more proactive model. We would stop reacting to what's happening now and start anticipating what's likely to happen next. Last week, I had the pleasure of spending time with our enterprise data and analytics team, a group that services over 800 customers. The most exciting topic we discussed was three pilots we're running with customers right now that aim to make this a reality: using a digital twin for work planning. It works by connecting vast amounts of external market data with a company's many internal data sources, some they typically wouldn't consider, such as ERP, CRM (sales), LMS, and Time and Attendance systems. This allows us to run scenarios and model future talent needs. Here’s a concrete example: By analyzing Salesforce, HRIS, and ATS data, we can predict that when multiple prospect opportunities reach a specific stage in our customer’s sales cycle, there is a high likelihood of winning at least one of them. We can then analyze the consistent skill sets across all of those prospect opportunities, allowing us to confidently and proactively start a recruitment process for those skills. The goal being that we have candidates at the final stages of the process, before an official requisition has been raised, positively impacting time to hire. We’ve also been able to replicate a similar model based on website sales activity. The question to ask is: what data is generated in what system that allows you to get ahead of the hiring process today.