Sure, I could have caught the main sessions online, but can Zoom replicate the experience of my Australian colleague force-feeding me “the world’s greatest sweets” every 30 minutes? I think not. And while pigeons can apparently distinguish between a Picasso and a Monet (seriously, you can read all about it here), they can’t appreciate the delicate art of navigating a cross-cultural conversation conducted primarily through charades.

For example, our wonderfully hospitable Greek hosts, enthusiastically declared their mission was to “pleasure us during our stay.” My British colleague and I spent the rest of the evening meticulously avoiding eye contact and desperately trying not to dissolve into giggles. (Sometimes sharing the same twisted sense of humour can be dangerous in professional settings.) Or my Korean dinner companion, with whom I conducted a fascinating dialogue using mostly hand gestures. Or the tears of laughter with my Chilean colleague as I butchered yet another translation.

These moments? Pure gold. Unreplicable. Unzoomable.

All this IRL interaction made me curious about the why, so I did some digging and found some fun facts:

• People used to say “prunes” instead of “cheese” when taking photos (because nothing says “joy” like constipation awareness)
• Face-to-face requests are 34 times more effective than emails (so maybe stop sending those passive-aggressive “per my last email” messages)
• A handshake activates the same brain centres as chocolate (though I still prefer the chocolate)
• In-person socialising, even for just a few minutes, has been shown to significantly boost well-being. (So, those coffee breaks and hallway chats aren’t just procrastination – they’re essential for a happy brain!)
• When you smile, part of someone else’s brain smiles too (it’s like a neural party)
• People appear more attractive in groups (aka the “Cheerleader Effect” – yes, that’s the actual scientific term)
• Anxious people benefit more from social interactions (finally, a perk of being perpetually nervous!)

So while Big Ambitions will stay proudly remote (because, let’s face it, traffic is nobody’s friend), I’m carrying a renewed appreciation for these irreplaceable in-person moments. And about three kilos of Australian sweets.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to expense those sweets as “crucial research materials.”

Mindful Musings

What the world was musing over this past week

Florence says “Ciao” to tourist chaos

Florence just banned tourist golf carts, loud tour guides, and, um, key boxes? Looks like the Renaissance city is going back to basics (and maybe hiding everyone’s keys under a rock).

Swedish minister has gone bananas (Or rather, anti-bananas)

Forget diplomatic immunity, a Swedish minister’s staff demands banana immunity. Leaked emails reveal an unusual pre-meeting requirement: banana-free zones.

Don’t let Trump ruin your next 4 years: cruise away!

Can’t stand another four years of Trump? This cruise company feels you. They’re offering a “Four-Year Skip Forward” package—because who needs democracy when you have unlimited buffets?

Twitter’s (aka X) secret weapon returns to haunt it

Remember Twitter’s abandoned decentralisation project? It just nabbed 1M users in a week. Now flying solo, Bluesky’s winning over the old-school Twitter crowd with algorithm-free feeds and zero drama. Looks like X’s forgotten child might be social’s next big shake-up.

Move over sphinx, there’s a new dog in town

Egypt’s stray dogs are having their moment, thanks to a viral video that’s changing how tourists see Giza’s ancient wonders. These local ‘pyramid pups’ are now drawing crowds, boosting businesses, and turning an age-old problem into an unexpected attraction.

According to a reel by Dr. Lisa Damour, the wellness industry has been low-key gaslighting us with this whole ‘achieve inner peace through scented candles and meditation’ thing. They tell us: just meditate, light some candles, kick your chakras in gear, and boom—instant eternal bliss! Except… life doesn’t work like that.

Dr. Damour claims, very sensibly, that distress is par for the course, especially when you’re a human actually living life. Real life is just a mess. And feeling like a hot mess (or a car crash) isn’t a personal failing, it’s being human.

Speaking of actual car crashes, let me tell you about my week. I’m cruising down the highway in the fast lane, driving at a totally responsible speed (of course!), when suddenly – WHAM! A UFO comes hurtling at my windshield! OK, UFO is maybe taking it a bit far. It could have been a hubcap, but it felt pretty damn dramatic, alright?

My brain short-circuited. My life didn’t exactly flash before my eyes, more like a PowerPoint presentation of my most embarrassing moments. Luckily, the UFO decided to perform a low-altitude fly-by, landed on the highway and disappeared under my car.

Crisis averted, right? Wrong. Just as I’m breathing a sigh of relief, there’s an earth-shattering KABOOM and my car starts swerving across the highway. But that’s when my teenage self’s extensive “crash course” training (pun intended, obviously) kicks in.

You see, as a teenager, I found myself in a skid class that I was promised would bring my very hefty insurance premium down. Here’s what I learned that day—when your car starts to spin out, go against every survival instinct you’ve got. Do NOT look at the scary wall, no matter how compelling it might seem. Why? Because in the miracle of human psychology, if you look at the thing you’re trying to avoid, you’re going to steer right into it. Instead, force yourself to look at the open space, the gap in the chaos—your hands will just magically follow your gaze, and avoid the collision.

Then there’s the second biggest lesson I learned: don’t—AND I CANNOT STRESS THIS ENOUGH—stomp on the brakes. Because fun fact: that’s a one-way ticket to disaster. Stay calm, keep steering, and hang on for dear life. Sounds a lot like life, doesn’t it?

When your life starts skidding out of control, and trust me, at some point it will, don’t brake, don’t floor it. Just hold the steering wheel and keep your eyes on the open road. Forget about focusing on all the obstacles that are 100% out to get you—because if you keep staring at them, you’ll crash right into them. Focus on the space, however teeny, where things can still go right.

Embrace the chaos, steer through the madness, and remember: If you’re not occasionally feeling like you’ve been hit by a bus, you’re probably doing it wrong. So, buckle up, buttercup. Life’s going to throw you some curveballs (and probably a few rogue hubcaps). Embrace the skid, steer into the crazy, and if all else fails, blame the aliens.

Mindful Musings

What the world was musing over this past week

Wildlife gone wild! (and hilariously photogenic)

A fish chasing an eagle across the sky, polar bear Judo and a tiny flying squirrel doing its best impression of a crime boss. These are just some of the finalists in the 2024 Nikon Comedy Wildlife Awards.

Grumpy new fish species discovered

Scientists have found the ocean’s newest sourpuss! This tiny Red Sea dweller, barely 2cm long, sports a perpetual pout that would make Grumpy Cat proud.

Squirrels stage train takeover at Gatwick

Forget signal failures—two rogue squirrels shut down a Gatwick train after refusing to leave. Turns out, even rodents know how to cause a commuter nightmare.

AI apocalypse? Your toaster might be plotting

Robots aren’t taking your job (yet), but AI is everywhere. 77% of devices use it, and by 2024 there’ll be more AI assistants than humans. Time to befriend your toaster?

This, for me, is personal. We practically live at the track – six days a week, two hours a day. My daughter eats, sleeps, and breathes track and field. She’s currently third in South Africa in her age category (shameless brag, I know ). We train alongside Olympic athletes, witnessing the blood, sweat, and tears poured into chasing those milliseconds.

And it got me thinking: the corporate world could learn a thing or two from these athletes.

Take that near miss in the 100m. Imagine that in your office. Your team is  5% away from landing that game-changing deal. Do you throw in the towel like a soggy tracksuit? No! You channel your inner Usain Bolt (or should we now say: Noah Lyles), dig deep, and find that extra 5%. 

We live in the age of distraction. Case in point: I start writing this Monday Musings, aiming for zen-like focus, and BAM! Teams is blowing up. Thirty messages in ten minutes about… who knows what? It’s like trying to run a 100-meter sprint while your phone buzzes non-stop. But here’s where we can learn from those Olympians: they don’t let distractions derail them.

Remember that Turkish sharp shooter everyone’s talking about? Dude showed up without equipment, hand casually tucked in his pocket. He knew his stuff, trusted his skills, and embraced the chaos. Now that’s how you deal with a Monday morning IT outage.

The Olympics aren’t just about perfectly executed flips and superhuman speed – it’s about resilience, a quality desperately needed in our chaotic corporate world. Just take Aussie boxer Harry Garside. He poured his heart out after a tough loss. But you know what? He owned it. Acknowledged the heartbreak, the pressure, the weight of expectations. He reminded us that even in defeat, there’s courage in vulnerability.

These athletes spend years honing their skills, embracing the discipline to push past pain and setbacks most of us wouldn’t even dream of. They understand the power of supporting their team, the importance of mental fortitude when the pressure’s on. No, we don’t need to be Simone Biles defying gravity. But that mindset? That adaptability? That ‘never give up’ attitude? Now those are things we can take back to the office.

So, the next time your inbox is exploding and deadlines loom like hurdles, take a deep breath, remember Akani Simbine, and embrace the fact that sometimes, life, just like the Olympics, comes down to a hundredth of a second. Make it count!

Mindful Musings

What the world was musing over this past week

Move over, Michelangelo!

Turns out, ladies can wield a spray can (and paintbrush) with serious skill. This Women’s Month, South Africa’s celebrating its fierce female muralists, proving public art isn’t just a boys’ club.

Busted bus? No sweat for these Olympic skateboarders!

They just turned the Parisian streets into their own personal halfpipe and skated their way to the competition. Talk about commitment! Guess when you live life on wheels, a little detour doesn’t faze you.

Forget Paris 2024, we’re here for the epic fails of TikTok 2024!

Move over, Olympic champions, there’s a new breed of athletes taking TikTok by storm: the “almost made it” crew. From gymnasts face-planting to divers perfecting the belly flop, these hilarious videos prove that reaching for your dreams often involves a lot of… well… falling down.

Paw-fum? Yes, Please!

Take note, Chanel No. 5, there’s a new (fur)ociously fashionable fragrance in town! Dolce & Gabbana is now spritzing its signature opulence on our canine companions with Fefé, a luxurious perfume designed to make your dog the best-smelling pup on the block.

But hey, if there’s one thing we Belgians have mastered, it’s the art of political chaos. We’ve turned coalition-building into a national sport, complete with its own unique blend of flair, farce, and frequent facepalms. So, let me offer a few insights on coalition-building:

1. Stock up on snacks and settle in

Coalition talks can drag on forever. Belgium’s record is 541 days without a government – I kid you not – so believe me when I say patience is key. Stock up on biltong, koeksisters, and a few good bottles of South African wine.

2. Prepare for the sandcastle effect

Just when you think the coalition is solid, it might crumble faster than a sandcastle in a tsunami. It’s like experiencing political déjà vu, where you keep reliving the same drama over and over. But hey, who doesn’t love a good rerun?

3. Embrace the absurdity

A coalition is like a dysfunctional family dinner where everyone secretly (or not so secretly) loathes each other, yet they’re forced to make small talk and pass the gravy. There’s the nostalgic elder, reminiscing about the “good old days”. There’s the guest who shows up early, rearranges the snacks, and proposes a detailed schedule for bathroom breaks. The rebellious cousin, who suggests radical changes to the menu and rearranges the seating, leaving everyone on edge about what’s coming next. The grumpy uncle, clinging to tradition like a life raft. And the wide-eyed newbies, bursting with fresh ideas and eager to shake things up. It’s a recipe for hilarious disaster.

4. There’s such a thing as a naughty corner

If a party refuses to play nice – Belgium has resorted to cordoning them off. Quite literally. They call it a ‘cordon sanitaire’.  Think of it as putting the troublemakers in a time out. It’s like dealing with that one annoying cousin at family gatherings – you just nod sympathetically and continue with your plans. The show must go on, and there’s always a workaround for those who can’t follow the rules.

5. Don’t panic if there’s no government

If the coalition talks reach an impasse and the country goes without a government for a while, don’t panic. Belgium survived more than a year without one, and life carried on. Our country didn’t fall apart; in fact, we found that sometimes, less political squabbling can be quite peaceful. A bit like an extended holiday from political drama, where the country runs on autopilot.

So, fellow South Africans, sit back, relax, and enjoy the coalition show. With patience, humour, and a good stash of snacks, you’ll navigate the political rollercoaster just fine. And remember, if Belgium can turn coalition chaos into an art form, so can South Africa. Cheers!

Mindful Musings

What the world was musing over this past week

Who knew Mozart was a party pooper?

Forget the club scene, Finnish teens are getting a taste of the classics. To deter late-night beach parties, police are pumping up the volume on classical music. Turns out, Johann Strauss is a real party pooper!

Will AI take to the catwalk?

Move over, supermodels, there’s a new batch of beauties in town, and they’re all pixels! The World AI Creator Awards introduced the world’s first-ever AI beauty pageant, Miss AI. 

Age is just a number

Forget Benjamin Button, American Airlines has its own time-traveling passenger! A 101-year-old woman keeps getting mistaken for a baby by the airline’s system. Looks like their computers need a history lesson.

Monkey see, monkey do…

A Balinese monkey took the phrase “monkeying around with a phone” to a whole new level. Not only did it snatch a tourist’s phone, but it also filmed its own jungle adventure. Move over, influencers, there’s a new vlogger in town!

How did it all start? As the Big Ambitions team, we wanted to inject some clarity, empathy, and humour in an upside-down world. (We even had a Monday Musing called: “Have you tried looking at it upside down?”)

I mean who else was crazy enough to try and explain the government’s rules. We shared in-depth analyses of why flip-flops were a public health hazard and why roast chicken suddenly became a black-market delicacy.

And who could forget the whirlwind of Tiger King memes, the lawyer who became a cat on Zoom, or the brave souls attempting socially-distanced marathons in their living rooms?  (Side note: respect for those who didn’t trip over the coffee table in their quest for Olympic glory).

And – of course – you could count on Big Ambitions to share the best pineapple slushy recipes. Even though we should probably have disclosed that one of our recipes almost blew up the kitchen. (I won’t reveal who in the team made that epic fail).

Our very first Monday Musings was titled: “More apart than ever, yet ever more connected”. Four years later, it seems that whole “connected” thing has taken a bit of a backseat.

Natalia Rosa recently shared a LinkedIn post that really hit home for me. Allowing herself to think back to the pandemic, she said:

“Many of you put on a brave face, steered your teams and industry through chaos with extraordinary grace, were there unwaveringly for others even as you wrestled with your own fears and challenges behind the scenes.

Some of you processed that trauma as we came out on the other side.

But for others, I know you buried a lot of what you went through. You put on a mask, threw yourself into work, and kept being strong for everyone else.

<…>

Lately though, the cracks are starting to show. The masks we wore so well are starting to slip and the fear of what that means is starting to creep into conversations with each other, a good thing I think.

Sometimes the bravest thing we can do is let people see us, cracks and all. Because in that shared vulnerability, we see what lies between the lines.”

The terms “pandemic,” “COVID,” and “recovery” are starting to rank right up there with “pivot” and “resilience” on the “words I never want to hear again” list. But some of us just need a little extra time to unpack all that baggage. We need more time to process and heal.

So, I would like to propose something simple: 8 minutes.

When somebody’s struggling, all they need is 8 minutes of help or support from a friend to get them back on track. So, Simon Sinek came up with a brilliant code to text a friend: do you have 8 minutes? It means: I need you. Because, anybody can step out of a meeting for 8 minutes to be there for a friend.

…And hey, if 8 minutes aren’t enough, I’m sure we can still rustle up a pretty awesome pineapple slushy as you chat!

Mindful Musings

What the world was musing over this past week

Arrest me, please! Hot cop selfie drives South Africans wild

Move over, tough criminals – South Africa’s hottest new offenders are smitten citizens driven to petty crime by Officer Devan Cox‘s smouldering selfie. Apparently, resisting arrest has never been so tempting.

Humpback whales talk back

Scientists have uncovered a cool ocean secret – whales may be far more communicative than we ever imagined. Hear the amazing recordings of their conversation with a humpback whale.

The ‘Scream It Out’ myth busted

We’ve been getting anger management all wrong! New research shows why ranting might feel good in the moment, but could actually make things worse. Learn the surprising ways to actually calm down.

Because everything needs to be pink, right?

In a world obsessed with pinkifying everything…Heinz proudly presents Barbiecue Sauce! It’s vegan mayo, it’s BBQ, it’s inexplicably pink. Perfect for those who think burgers need a dose of Malibu Barbie.

Life in 2024 feels a bit like an obstacle course on a game show. You know the ones where you’re half expecting to face-plant into a mud pit while the audience roars with laughter. I’m dodging work deadlines like they’re… well, dodgeballs. I’m trying to juggle family stuff without dropping the ball. And I’m trying to leap over surprise bills like they’re hurdles. Every twist and turn in this obstacle course comes with its own “you can’t make this stuff up” moment. It feels like the universe is watching, popcorn in hand, waiting to see if I stick the landing or end up in a snowbank.

Well – it doesn’t just feel like 2024 is spinning out of control, it actually is – and not just metaphorically. Earth has decided to put a spin on our daily lives, literally speeding up, leaving us with days that are microseconds shorter. Who knew we’d miss those microseconds so much, right? It’s like Earth is trying to shave off time.

Not wanting to be left behind, Mars is also picking up the pace. It seems our neighbouring planet is eager to join the fast lane, adding a whole new level of FOMO. Are we missing out on interplanetary races now? Is Mars trying to become the hot new destination, leaving Earth feeling a bit, well, old-fashioned?

Amid this cosmic speed-up, we’re all diagnosed with ‘hurry sickness’. Remember the good old days when boredom was just part of the daily routine? Staring out the window on your commute, contemplating life, or simply figuring out what to have for dinner. Now, our brains are bombarded with constant stimulation, from streaming services to social media notifications. We’re even having to invent whole new holidays to recreate those quiet commute or – dare I say it – loo moments. From mindfulness and meditation retreats to life coaching and destress holidays, there’s a range of healing holidays to choose from. It’s time we bring back the art of boredom, guys. Let’s make staring at the ceiling great again!

If you do find yourself spiralling, remember the golden rules of the Skid and Slide Course:

1. Take your foot off the accelerator.  Sometimes, slowing down is exactly what we need. Let’s not rush through life trying to catch up with Earth’s new spin or Mars’ ambitions.

2. Don’t focus on the obstacles. Whether it’s the daily news, your endless to-do list, or the neighbour’s dog, don’t stare yourself blind on them.

3. Find a clearing and just look at it. Your hands (and mind) will automatically follow the direction. It’s about finding that moment of peace in the chaos, the eye of the storm, where you can just be.

So, as we navigate the skids and slides of 2024, let’s remember to embrace the chaos with a smile and perhaps a touch of interplanetary envy. After all, if Earth and Mars can speed up without losing their cool, so can we. Welcome to the ride of the year—helmets, laughter, and an appreciation for the absurdity of it all are strongly encouraged.

Mindful Musings

What the world was musing over this past week

Step on a scale before a flight?

This airline just introduced weigh-ins for passengers and carry-ons as part of the boarding process. Sure, it’s an odd ask at the gate. But it swears it’s not about judging that extra holiday kilogram or two.

Skinny dippers to the rescue

Not all heroes wear capes. Some don’t wear anything at all. Two passengers on board a floating sauna in Norway plunged into the water to rescue a couple who accidentally drove their car off the quay.

High altitude hoarding

Who needs in-flight movies when you’ve got real-life drama in the overhead bins? Flyers on Delta Air Lines had to return to Amsterdam after maggots rained down from rotten fish wrapped in a bag in the overhead bin. And that’s not the weirdest thing people have brought onto planes.

Japan fires up “Janitor” sat to clean up space junk

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency successfully sent a radical new satellite into orbit that’ll use some slick tech to locate and get rid of old, busted up satellites and random space crap hanging around Earth. About time someone tidied things up out there!

It’s probably the wrong time to admit this, but I’m not that into rugby. I don’t really understand the rules. I cheer at the screen at random times in the hope I get it right, but I’m never quite sure. I’m like this little dude. And, although I’ve been told to just look at the cute guys in shorts, that also doesn’t really do it for me. But once every four years, I still get swept up in rugby fever.

Luckily, this year, TikTok came to the rescue to help explain how things work – toddler style. It explained to me that you can play with the ball and run with the ball, but if you want to share the ball with your friend, you can only share it backwards. Sometimes, all the big guys squish together to enjoy a group hug. Nobody is allowed to hug your head because that’s eina, and you’ll get sent to the naughty chair by the man with the whistle. Hear that, Sam Cane?

But the Rugby World Cup is more than just a game, isn’t it? Jeremy Loops hit the nail on the head when he said: “If you are not South African, you can never understand what “World Cup Springboks” means to this country. It’s bigger than sport. Since 1995, it’s always been bigger than just a sport.”

As much as the victory saw South Africans unite, for me, an incredible moment was that even allegations of racism couldn’t divide us. It’s a touchy subject in our country – but we were having none of it. We even got help from forensics to prove we weren’t cussing at Tom Curry – we were just speaking Afrikaans.

As Heather Robertson said in the Daily Maverick, every South African social media comedian and their cousins twice removed came out of the woodwork to reveal the cornucopia of words in our multilingual country that sound like the “C-word” that rhymes with runt, an English insult to a perfectly innocent part of the female anatomy that England flanker Tom Curry alleged Springbok Bongi Mbonambi called him.

The spirit of camaraderie is exceptional in South Africa. Feeling like he let us down, poor Cheslin Kolbe couldn’t watch the end of the game.

It reminded me of David Beckham, who made a critical mistake by retaliating to a dangerous tackle from an Argentinian opponent in the 1998 FIFA World Cup. (If you haven’t yet – watch the Netflix documentary – it is phenomenal). After the game, his coach, the media, and English fans verbally annihilated him for months on end. If we had lost the game on Saturday, would we have blamed Kolbe and booed him every time he entered a stadium? I sincerely doubt it. South Africa is a family, and we support each other no matter what.

The Rugby World Cup is a time when our nation is united. Forget Eishkom, forget inflation, forget petrol prices, elections, and racial tensions… it’s the time when we remember that we’re ‘stronger together’.

I’ll leave you with the words of Siya Kolisi. “People who are not from South Africa don’t understand what this means for our country. It’s not just about the game on the field. Our country goes through such a lot, and with this win, we can give them hope. As soon as we work together, all is possible.”

Mindful Musings

What the world was musing over

RIP Matthew Perry

Let’s remember this wonderful actor for the work he did helping others who suffered from addiction, like himself.

No, people aren’t mistakenly flying to Austria instead of Australia

The premise is almost too funny to be true: Somewhere in an airport in Salzburg, Austria, there’s an entire help desk dedicated to people who believed they were travelling to Australia instead. Not true, according to the Washington Post.

What do we really think about the Aussies?

A stamp designed by artificial intelligence has revealed what tourists really think about Australia – and it’s pretty funny.

12-Year-Old South African inspires with ‘Imagine Everything’

Imaan, a 12-year-old South African, is on a mission to inspire and empower teens with her Instagram channel ‘Imagine Everything’ and her affirmations bands, promoting kindness and positivity.

My desk is flooded with scraps of papers. At any given time, I have a thousand tabs open on my computer. And let’s not even start discussing the state of my computer desktop…. It gives most people utter anxiety.

Ever since the age of 5 – when my room resembled the aftermath of a hurricane – I’ve been consistently reminded that disorder leads to mistakes, and that neatness and precise organisation are keys to success. Every attempt to ‘fit in’ feels like wearing a suit tailored for someone else.

But guess what? It turns out that my scatterbrained tendencies might actually be a sign of intelligence and creativity. Well, that’s according to Eric Barker, writing for Time Magazine. He presents a theory that says messiness is an indicator of intelligence and that an idea-cluttered brain can lead to more potential breakthroughs. It’s as if disorganised, scatterbrained people are trained to thrive in chaos.

Ultimately, your own disorganisation will train you to approach situations differently, perhaps in a way that prepares you to handle the disorderly nature of life.

You see, the most successful people are the ones who can react when obstacles arise, but who can also remain focused on their objectives.

This brings me to an interesting thought Carre Le Page recently posted on his LinkedIn feed. Carre urged people to “use the difficulty.”

He cited the example of Sir Michael Caine, who as a young actor was rehearing a stage play when a chair prop ended up being wedged into the door that he was supposed to enter the stage through.

He said to the director: “I’m sorry sir, I can’t get in. There’s a chair there.”

The director responded with: “Use the difficulty! If it’s a comedy, fall over it. If it’s a drama, pick it up and smash it!”

It was a lightbulb moment for Michael Caine, both for his acting career and also for his approach to life – he has since taken that philosophy into how he approaches any situation.

He says: “Anything bad happens, you have to use the difficulty – what can we get out of it? There’s never anything so bad that you cannot use that difficulty. If you can use it a quarter of one percent to your advantage, you’re ahead. You didn’t let it get you down.”

It makes me think that young Michael Caine’s mom was probably also led to desperation by the untidiness of his room.

The word “chaos” just has a bad rap, according to Ashli Akins in her TedEx talk, The Creativity of Chaos. She explains that from a point of chaos, a system has one of two options: to collapse or to transcend to a new level. 

“Without chaos we are too stable to reorganise. We are too inflexible to adapt and change,” she says. “But if we were to harness chaos, follow the disruptions from our usual paths, then maybe we’d find something better. This is where innovation lies.”

So, it turns out we need a little chaos in our lives to thrive… As the CEO of CinePipe Jim Plamondon puts it: “Without order, civilisation is impossible. Without chaos, civilisation is intolerable.”

Mindful Musings

What the world has been musing over the past week

A new anthem for South Africa?

When South Africa faces the dark, it’s time to turn up the volume on our generators! Check out the newest ‘anthem’ uniting the nation—one hum at a time!

The most famous mugshot in history

Humour can’t get any better than when you have a mugshot of a president. Trump’s latest close-up: from county jail to internet’s Hall of Fame.

Everybody gets a hug

On a mission to spread love and care, a Pretoria wellness coach spends hours every week dishing out hugs to complete strangers in his community.

A happy high rise

Cape Town’s newest high: The world’s tallest hemp building! Who knew going green could be so… towering?

Bye, bye Nesquik

A sad day for hot chocolate lovers. Nestlé South Africa has decided to discontinue Nesquik chocolate and strawberry (250g and 500g) from 21 August 2023. 

 

It’s the shortest, most impactful story ever written. The story goes that Ernest Hemingway wrote the gut-punching line to win a bet against his writer friends. Of course, there’s no evidence that such a bet ever took place, and some even question whether Hemingway really wrote it.

It does illustrate an interesting point: impactful copy doesn’t have to be long. As Carre Le Page, Global Head of Content for the Flight Centre Travel Group once said on his LinkedIn page: “It appears that no one is reading your 850 word blogs or eight-page case studies.”

Carre referred to the concept of ‘Smart Brevity’, a notion coined by journalist and businessman Jim VandeHei. You see, the truth is that we have never been more distracted. In fact, the average person checks their phone at least 250 times a day.

Worse: The University of California Irvine study found that, when we’re distracted by something, it takes us 20 minutes to truly refocus. And if we DO choose to read something, we spend an average 26 seconds on it.

So, what does that mean for someone who is trying to grab someone else’s attention with the right marketing? Besides the fact that you only have 26 seconds to do it?

The key answer is: Focus.

Writer Paul Graham introduced a thought-provoking theory called ‘The Top Idea in Your Mind’. The idea is simple yet powerful: the topic that occupies your thoughts while you’re in the shower or during moments of idle reflection is the strongest indicator of your priorities and focus.

According to Graham, “The Top Idea in Your Mind is like the background app that runs in your brain, consuming resources and shaping your actions.”

So, if you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or a budding writer, and you spend your time in the shower thinking about how to arrange your socks in the drawer, chances are your focus is “misaligned”.

You see while you find yourself entangled in the mysteries of sock organisation, contemplating the perfect pairings and the possibility of a hidden sock society, your true passions and goals don’t get the attention they deserve.

So, realign your focus to your true passion and inspiration, and dare to be brave.

When doubt creeps in, and it inevitably will, embrace it as a natural part of the creative process. It’s okay to have bad ideas or to encounter setbacks. The greatest minds of our world had some of the weirdest ideas. Just think of Edison and his scary-looking ‘speaking’ doll that struck fear into the hearts of children and adults alike. But nobody held it against him. After all, he gave us lights (until Eskom took them away again of course).

So, what will you focus on the next time you’re in the shower? Let your thoughts guide you towards your true passions, and unleash your potential for greatness.

Mindful Musings

Marketing Musings

Turning Challenges into Opportunities: The Dubrovnik and Portofino Edition

by Steph Reinstein

Dubrovnik, Croatia, known for its historic charm, said “shhh!” to wheeled suitcases to keep the peace. Rather than leave tourists in a lurch, local businesses could roll out the ‘Cobblestone Care Package’. This solution can enable visitors to rent hand-woven baskets to carry their belongings instead. To add a touch of culture, each basket comes with a booklet detailing the rich heritage of Dubrovnik’s streets. The city’s tranquillity remains undisturbed, and tourists get a more authentic experience.

Meanwhile, in Portofino, Italy, stopping in the street might cost you a hefty €275. Enter the Portofino Promenade Challenge. Local businesses could come together and create a mobile app that rewards tourists for their continuous walking with virtual coins. These coins can be redeemed at local shops for discounts on coffee, gelato, and souvenirs. The app also provides fun historical trivia and recommends picturesque spots for photo opportunities (where it’s okay to stop!). The streets stay fluid, and visitors enjoy an active and engaging experience.

Necessity is the mother of invention – Dubrovnik and Portofino can, with a dash of creativity, transform challenges into rewarding and lucrative opportunities.

Team Musings

Ignite your Leadership Superpower: Unleashing Extraordinary Success in the Professional Arena

by Teresa Richardson

Just like superheroes possess unique superpowers, individuals in the business world have their own extraordinary traits that set them apart. These superpower traits in leadership, inspired by the DISC personality system, hold immense value in understanding ourselves and excelling in the professional realm.

Discovering your own superpowers can help you unleash your full potential for success in leadership. Which of these superpower traits do you possess?  Now, think about the members of your team. What are their superpower traits?

Influencing others: Imagine possessing the ability to inspire and influence others effortlessly, like a charismatic superhero. Your superpower trait lies in captivating hearts and minds, making you an influential leader and motivator.

Directing: Just as superheroes provide clear guidance and direction to save the day, your superpower lies in leading and steering others towards success. Your clarity of vision, assertiveness, and decisive nature make you an invaluable asset in aligning individuals and teams with organisational goals.

Processing: Similar to superheroes analysing situations with precision, your superpower lies in assessing needs and modelling tasks effectively. You possess the ability to break down complex problems into manageable steps, creating streamlined processes that boost productivity and drive business growth.

Detailing: Like superheroes with a keen eye for detail, your superpower lies in organising and comprehending intricate aspects of processes and tasks. Your meticulous approach ensures accuracy and precision in your work, making you indispensable in handling complex projects.

Creating: Imaging being a superhero with the power of boundless creativity and innovation. Your superpower lies in inventing original means of accomplishing tasks and goals. You are resourceful, imaginative, and capable of producing fresh concepts and ideas that drive forward-thinking initiatives. 

Persisting: Resilience and perseverance are qualities that define superheroes, and your superpower lies in overcoming challenges and adversity. You possess unwavering determination and tenacity under pressure, thriving in demanding conditions where others falter.

Relating: Just as superheroes build alliances and foster unity, your superpower lies in building solid relationships. Your ability to connect with people and involve them in your projects creates a harmonious work environment. Your superpower of building relationships promotes collaboration, effective teamwork, and ultimately creates a more integrated and successful business ecosystem.

By understanding and embracing your own superpower, along with recognising the superpowers of your team members, you maximise the overall strength of the team and gear it towards success. Together, harnessing everyone’s unique abilities, you create a dynamic force capable of achieving extraordinary results. So, dive deep into self-discovery and uncover the superpowers within.

What the world was musing over?

Bridge Escape: baboons outsmart lions with dangling antics

In a jaw-dropping spectacle, quick-thinking baboons turn into daredevil acrobats as they hang precariously from a bridge, skilfully evading a group of regal lions on a leisurely stroll above. Safari guide Mike Botes filmed several baboons on a recent game drive in the MalaMala Game Reserve.

Your remote work paradise for €1 per month

The local council of Ollolai in Sardinia promises a rental fee of just €1 per month for ten selected newcomers. Just recently, the local council made a public call for all those interested in working remotely from the village, with it saying, “Are you interested in working remotely from beautiful Sardinia for just €1?” and noting that all those wishing to take a chance will be “close proximity to untouched nature, delectable cuisine, and the incredible nearby beaches.”

Getting creative with in-flight entertainment

Inflight entertainment may come as standard on most long-haul flights, but when flying with no-frills carriers passengers usually have to come up with ways to keep themselves occupied. One innovative traveller was spotted making his own entertainment: he got out a projector and used it to play a movie on the overhead bin.

Diet water anyone?

Some of the weirdest room service demands include ‘diet water’, melted ice cream – and rice bowls for dogs. That’s according to the Room Service Report published by Hotels.com. Other bizarre requests included boiled bottled water, a giant serving of bison and blowfish, and one respondent even requested a fish they had brought with them be cooked and served.