Picture Perfect
Look up from your desk. What do you see?
I see the corner of this picture frame.
A constant reminder—ever present.
We're all work in progress.
Some more than others.
The greater your ambition.
The more work you've got to put in.
Avoid mediocrity.
Make Excellence your mission.
How to start taking notes
Here’s our latest Tuesday Tutorial. And it was inspired by a former colleague. So thank you Stuart—for reaching out and inspiring me to pull this together.
Inspire, be inspired!
Do something—make it amazing!
A variation on a theme. And one that’s resonating with me, right now.
Overthinking things can lead to perfection paralysis. You’re unable to move forward for fear of doing anything. You want things to be amazing—then you’ll do things. (Or so you tell yourself).
However, good leaders will always do something today—then make it amazing!
Talking Rhubarb
In this week’s The Sunday Scholar, we learn to improvise in the kitchen, visit a Yorkshire triangle and stop ourselves from talking “rhubarb”.
The Sunday Scholar is a weekly podcast—and email newsletter. It takes a lighter look at leadership. You can download to your podcast player, or subscribe to newsletter via website.
Excellence framed
What does Excellence look like to you?
Pictured here is our first A3 poster—framed. And we think it’s Excellent.
The poster has been lithographic printed in four colours—this provides a richer tone of black.
The typeface is Helvetica Now ExtraBold with reduced leading (that’s the height between each line), and reduced tracking (that’s the distance between each letter).
You’ll also note the design has been rotated by 12 degrees. :-)
Perfect for any office or work environment, this poster is now available to purchase from Twelve Scholars.
Pop. Pop. Pop.
I’ve just picked up our latest posters from picture framing. As always, Chris Orme in Bury has done an ‘excellent’ job. His quality, care and attention to detail is second to none.
Let the bubble popping commence!
Allergic to Mediocrity
What are you allergic to?
For many people it’s food, or exercise, or hard work.
For me it’s mediocrity.
Always wanting to do better.
Striving to do better.
Sometimes breaking a few eggs along the way.
But I get there—in the end.
It’s a leadership thing.
You get what you’re prepared to accept.
As long as you accept mediocrity—or satisfactory.
It’ll always be a race to the bottom.
—
Our Scholar Bee faces away from Satisfactory.
He’s allergic to mediocrity too!
—
A big thanks to Hugh Macleod and Gapingvoid.
They have long campaigning against mediocrity.
Finlandia
It’s the opening night of the biggest music festival of the summer. Expectations are running high. You’ve got to hit all the right notes. And leave them wanting more. What do you perform?
In this week’s The Sunday Scholar we’re inspired by Finlandia. A rousing rendition of national identity. Written by Jean Sibelius, Finlandia was first premiered 123 years ago this week—in Helsinki.
The Sunday Scholar is a weekly podcast—and email newsletter. It takes a lighter look at leadership. You can download to your podcast player, or subscribe to newsletter via website.
Planning a 12 day sprint
How do you make things happen?
Not just getting stuff done (being busy).
But actually make a meaningful impact. Like REALLY happen.
If things are too big, it’s easy to get overwhelmed.
If things are too small, it feels like the needle isn’t moving.
If the deadline is too far away, it’s easy to put off today what can be done tomorrow.
If the deadline is too soon, it’s tempting to accept mediocrity or even poor.
(Assuming you have a deadline!)
Or is that just me?
This week, I’ll be launching something special on Wednesday, 12 July at 12 noon.
The deadline (for me—and anyone interested in making a difference) will be 12 days later.
Call it ‘The 12 Days of Summer’.
A sprint to make Excellence your mission.
Coffee Morning
Here’s a novel idea for the post-pandemic world.
How many of your neighbours are working from home? At least 3 days a week.
And how many are self employed, or could do with a change of scenery during the day?
This got me thinking…
Why not invite them round for coffee?
Once a week. Same time, same place. It could 45 minutes. You’ll be back to “work” within the hour.
Call it an accountability group. Call it networking. Block it in your diary. You know the script.
This week I had the company of eldest brother—working from my home office, instead of his converted garage. It made a difference—to both of us.
A little bit company. Shared coffee breaks. Lunch. We bounced a few work related ideas off each other. Then blamed each other for running out of biscuits!
So if you’re working from home, most of the time. Have a think who lives nearby. It could make all the difference.
My first coffee social starts next week.
Behind the Scenes — Packaging Insert Part 2
A short video that reveals our die cutting tools (no sound). The first tool is the die cutting from. It has knives for cutting and to create fold lines. The second tool is the backing tool, with waste holes for when the board is punched out.
Triathlete Syndrome
What can we learn from "Triathlete Syndrome"?
In this week’s The Sunday Scholar we look at how “Triathlete Syndrome” must be avoided. How it relates to you, your team and your organisation. And what you can do about it. We talk about finding balance, favourites in your team and fewer eggs in one basket.
The Sunday Scholar is a weekly podcast—and email newsletter. It takes a lighter look at leadership. You can download to your podcast player, or subscribe to newsletter via website.
60th Anniversary Special
QUESTION. When’s the best time to start a Bullet Journal?
Answer. 10 years ago.
QUESTION. When’s the next best time to start a Bullet Journal?
Answer. Today.
It was a habit that started 10 years ago. Before that, I used a page-a-day diary. Over the years, it’s developed. And become one of my most treasured items.
For me the benefits are clear
Think in ink—it clears your head
A place to capture all ideas (the good, bad and ugly)
A reference to hold yourself accountable
My latest bullet journal is Volume 60. Yes, I’ve got 60x Moleskine Notebooks sat at home in my Reference Library.
When everyone else is scrambling over the latest productivity and note-taking app in the future. I’ll be pleased that I made the decision to go offline all those years ago.
Behind the Scenes — Packaging Insert Part 1
Die cutting tool using to create the Twelve Scholars ‘X-Wing Version 3’ Packaging Insert
How you do anything is how you do everything.
It’s been eight weeks in the making. From initial ideation to final delivery. To produce a special presentation box that has a certain WOW factor. And we think you’ll like it!
This photograph shows one half of the die cutting tool using to create our ‘X-Wing Version 3’ packaging insert. And it looks incredible.
The craftsmanship, the locking nuts, the recessed holes. I feel humbled and privileged to witness what Excellent looks like behind the scenes.
Inspire, be inspired!
The HARD reset
A new month is always an opportunity to reset. Draw a line in the sand. Review what you’ve achieved. Focus on the future. But I’ve always used July as a HARD reset.
It’s a HARD reset because you’re half way through the year. Blink and it’ll be Autumn. Soon it’ll be Christmas. It requires an open and honest conversation—with yourself.
Here’s a few HARD reset questions to consider this weekend.
What’s on track? And what’s off track?
What are you taking responsibility for?
What needs to happen (for the rest of this year), to make it a successful year?
How will you start July? What will you be doing differently?
Packaging Production Line
Today’s the day our packaging insert for the Leadership Compass went into production.
A big thanks to everyone at Belmont Packaging for making me feel welcome. You’ve got a great factory and it’s good to about your future investment.
The "Twelve Scholars Tube Insert X-Wing Version 3" was always going to be a challenge. And the team at Belmont has proven again that Anything Is Possible!
The attention to detail in setting up the job was second to none.
A special thanks to Elise, Gareth, Phil, Simon and Anna for their support throughout the job.
Look forward to working with you all again soon.
Find your happy place
Where do you go to relax and reset?
One of the most important ways to avoid setbacks is to find your happy place. Somewhere you can truly switch off and unwind. It’ll help avoid burnout (too common in entrepreneurs). And focus on the task in hand. Plus it will put things into perspective. What’s not to like?
My happy place has always been the sauna—combined with a swimming pool. But recently, both have been out of action due to a refurbishment. And I’ve felt it. My diet, health and mental well-being have gone out the window. My work and creative output has suffered too.
Now, after two months, the sauna and pool are open again—they look great. But the temperatures are not what they ought to be. I can cope with cold water. But the sauna temperature isn’t quite there.
I’d say the pool is satisfactory. And the sauna is poor.
After 60 minutes on the top shelf last night, I felt more anxious than when I went in. And that’s not normal.
Inspired by Ogilvy
At last, a leadership compass that’ll guide your team—no matter the situation.
What makes Twelve Scholars the perfect choice for leadership development?
I’ve taken inspiration from David Ogilvy this week. Having digested his two books last week, I thought I’d have a go at writing headline copy that compares to his famous Rolls-Royce advert from March 1959.
The Leap to Leader
There’s a lovely article in this month’s Harvard Business Review (Jul-Aug 2023). Written by Adam Bryant, it argues that to succeed as a senior leader, you need more than just special skills and competencies. You need a new mindset.
The article covers many of the themes we discuss on our Leadership Development Programme.
Be clear about what you stand for
Hone your decision making
Set the bar for your team’s performance
Master the art of compartmentalisation
Build self awareness.
Craft your personal narrative.
The articles concludes, “Leadership lessons are all around us. Take in as many as you can and make the time to reflect on what you discover.”
The article is adapted from Bryant’s new book, The Leap to Leader, which will be available next month.
(And yes, I’ve just pre-ordered my copy!)
New Product Brochure
TWELVE SCHOLARS presents a thoroughly modern leadership development programme. Copies of our new product brochure are being posted on request. Alternately, you can download your copy here.