I have just embarked on a new project which I am really excited about. The project combines two of my passions: change management and writing. The concept is simple: interview a bunch of people from all walks of life, around topics connected to change management. After the interviews are complete, release them as a series of articles. In eager preparation, I have: — done due diligence — prepared my questions and tested them — set up six interviews with diverse people from al

My third novel is officially complete. It has been edited and is good to go. But, for whatever reason, I am dragging my heels to release it. I have oh so many excuses: – the timing isn't right ... – I have other things on the go ... – the weather is too hot ... – I am under the weather ... – I am binge-watching on Netflix – my children / my family / my friends / my dog ... need me (P.S., I don't have a dog) There may be more than a grain of truth in any – or all – of the afo

There are many ways to write: spontaneously, on demand, on schedule, on inspiration, for fun, for love, for money – or any combination of the aforementioned points. Of course, if you write when the muse hits you, there is something significant – dare I say, mystical – about the experience. Scribbled notes on used gum wrappers, a combination of lipstick and eyeliner on a coffee-house napkin – these are oddly satisfying treasures to behold. The unlocking of hidden thoughts, the

It isn't yet noon, and I have already had the privilege of witnessing four seasons in a day. In the early morning the heat was sweltering and humid. An hour later the winds picked up and the trees swayed and bent – spilling leaves everywhere. Then came the clouds. At first they were white. Fairly quickly they transformed into a grey and heavy blanket covering as far as the eye can see. When the sky was a hundred percent overcast, the electric thunderstorm began. Like a rock

I know I am not alone here. Almost everyone at some point had some sort of lucky charm. Maybe it was underwear, a hair accessory, a peaked cap, or a photo of a BFF. Who knows? I had a lucky pen. This pen went with me to all my tests and examinations. Even if ink was unnecessary – like for instance a driving test, or an eye test. I don't think I am superstitious, but it was always comforting to know that my silver, shiny Parker pen was hanging around. And even now, that the w

As a writer I am not pedantic about how I write or what I write, but I do try to be disciplined about when I write. In my work calendar, I have cordoned off time slots for writing. I allow myself to move these slots around, as needed, but I don't like to give-up on the writing time. It keeps me disciplined. These slots appear daily. It may be a self-fulfilling prophecy, but I have labelled these slots "Writer's Block," because this time is blocked for me to write. So here I a

The corporate world is alluring. Give or take regular economic upheavals and standard fluctuations in the industry, it is reassuring to 'belong' to an organisation and to identify with the strategy and goals thereof. Of course, any regular employment that you are bound to, also comes with financial security, social benefits and a built-in circle of colleagues, who will hopefully become friends. Not all that glitters is gold, but all-in-all corporate employment is not a conso

When I was in elementary school I wrote a story about a ladybird who was unable to fly. The story was inspired by 'real-life events'. My sister and I, in our many outdoor pursuits, rescued a butterfly with broken wings. We placed her gently in a shoe box. We lined the box with leaves. We set her up on the highest spot in the box, and while my sister shouted words of encouragement, I demonstrated how to fly: running up and down the garden, my arms flapping wildly. My story wo

A question that I get asked occasionally, usually with a wide-eyed look of expectation is – what is it like to write a book? This question is not directed at the end result – the publishing, or the release of said book. Neither is the question directed at the creative process, or the so called muse – if there is such a thing. Rather, what people are curious about, is the modus operandi – the HOW. I have been trying for some time now to come up with some sort of coherent res

When I talk about change management in organisations, I usually like to stress three main points: One – change is constant. Even while you are in the middle of one process, other processes are already underway. Sometimes you can predict what lies ahead, but other times, you cannot. Two – change is emotional. Like it or not, change is about gain, but it is also about loss. It doesn't matter that the goal posts spell out a bigger, brighter, more efficient future . . . before yo