#design

How Brands Like

Manchester United

Are Getting It Wrong

2 min

Don’t just listen, hear.

In life we often talk about good listeners. People who are always attentive and are the ear for you to bend when things are not going well. But listening is only half of the story as it takes a certain type of person to go from listening, to hearing. We all listen to what is happening around us yet very few people really, truly hear what is being said to us. I know that I have to make a concerted effort to stop myself thinking about what I am going to say or trying to solve t

2 min

Chaos: The universal call of change

From love to fear, creativity and structure a sense of chaos seems to be part of who we are. Even when we are at our most organized, a small aspect of our world can tip the scales into chaos once more. When you think about it, it is natural that chaos is part of our lives. In the grand scheme of things we are still very, very young as a civilization and we were born out of the chaos that is the planet we call home. From it’s chaotic fiery beginning, the earth has gradually se

2 min

It’s in our nature to want more

We are constantly battling, inside of ourselves, and those around us in the struggle to want more. We often have a self depreciating feeling about ourselves when we want more or we see the in other peoples eyes a totally focused, unwavering assault on the object of their desire. In all truth it is possibly one of the most distasteful traits we have as human beings. Greed in our world seems to be the root of all evil, from the leaders of our world to the person that looks back

2 min

It’s in our nature to want more

2 min

If only we looked at the world like children do

Last night I was posed a question from my six-year old daughter about God. Before I go on with this story I just want to make something clear between you and me, religion is not a subject I am comfortable talking about on any blog, forum or anywhere in fact because I believe religion to be a very personal thing which causes much strife in our world. But this is something that really put a smile on my face yesterday. Meena, my daughter, asked, “ Where does God live.” So I repl

2 min

Anger will only hold you back

Anger, fear or any other negative emotion will literally blind you from seeing the positives in your world. Today, on the road from Dubai to Abu Dhabi, I had a man driving very dangerously around me eventually pulling along side my car and shouting at me to move. Now there were a long row of cars in front of me and, I believed a space too small, to move in beside me. But this gentleman seemed to force his way in so maybe I was wrong, although the man who was forced to move ou

1 min

Don’t survive, Live!

There was a time in the evolution of the human race when survival was the only thing that mattered. A time when we never what the next day would bring, for our race, not us as individuals. We all know this is true yet often these survival instincts take over and we find ourselves on automatic pilot, just coasting through the days, one after the other. Unfortunately it often takes a major incident to shake us out of this. A disaster like New Zealand or Japan has faced recently

2 min

Why are you so hard on yourself?

So you’re not perfect! Who is? No one! So why do you analyze every flaw that you have, every mistake that you make and thing that is not the way other people say it should be? Why do you look in the mirror and only see the bad things? Why, when you are getting dressed, do you think about the negative things that you think people will see? Why do you continue to put yourself down when there is so much more to you than any of these things. No one really cares, no one is analyzi

1 min

Light the path for others and one day they will do the same for you

Can you beat the odds when they are stacked against you? Can you defeat the demons that you create? Can you be positive in the face of a negative sea that continues to sweep over you wave after wave? These are the circumstances we face in our daily life, these are the chains that hang around you dragging you deeper into despair. But you hold the keys to release the chains, you hold the answers to the puzzles of your mind, you hold the balance in your mind between moving forwa

2 min

Success comes from leaving fear in the shadows in your mind

What is it in life that you wish to achieve? Some dreams seem to be so far out of our reach that often put them down as unachievable, but why? Why do we close the doors on the things that obviously mean a great deal to us before we even give them a chance. Fear is one of the most debilitating emotions that spreads like cancer throughout our entire psyche. An emotion that not only stops the things we really want but gradually eats away at our self confidence, for once you allo

2 min

Journey through your dreams to find the person you really are

Why is being a dreamer looked on as if it is some kind weakness or failure? I never understood when people commented on another by saying, “he/she is such a dreamer.” Why would that be a bad thing? The greatest people in our history were dreamers and the greatest people in our future, will be the dreamers of today. The only thing that you need to realize if you are a dreamer is that you cannot spend ‘all’ your time dreaming, there has to be action that comes with it or else e

2 min

Sometimes taking a step backwards is the fastest way to move forward

Push hard against a wall and it only resists you more. A problem in your way can feel like a brick wall that appears out of no where. You were doing fine, just coasting along when you suddenly felt the resistance in front of you. In these situations we often try to push the wall down. Our minds determined that nothing can slow us down or prevent us from moving forwards. But not every wall in front of you is a bad thing. When a wall stops our progress we are forced to stop and

2 min

The future is not what is used to be

Things change. people change. The world changes. It’s a fact of life and something we cannot, ironically, change. I have on occasion found myself ploughing on deliberately, trying to keep the status quo within my life as stable as possible. But over the years you realize that no matter what you prepare, no matter what you do things around you are going to change and there is nothing you can do about it. Fight it? Fight what? How can you fight something you cannot see? You beg

2 min

The wave that follows a tsunami, is one of love and kindness.

We have all witnessed the terrible destruction that has wreaked havoc on the beautiful island of Japan, first with a 8.9 magnitude earthquake and then the awful and powerful Tsunami that followed. The sheer power of mother nature tearing the island apart before an unstoppable wave washed across the country was terrifying to witness. All of our prayers today are for the people who are in Japan, or have loved ones in this area. But after the horrifying wave of the Tsunami struc

2 min

Every exit is an entrance to somewhere else

Many times through life we must focus on new beginnings rather than something coming to an end. Our life is full of chapters, some big some small, but all add up to create the person that is you. Every experience no matter what it holds for you will be a lesson for you to carry forward through the next journey. Sometimes in my life I see the path ahead and it stops me in my tracks, as situations in front suddenly make sense of all the little bumps and turns that came before,

1 min

Fuel the fire; that burns within, Never give up; or give in.

Hold back no more; break the mold, it only harms; the ambition you hold. Be strong and delve; into your dreams, Things only come; to who be bold. Cast off the shadows; that drag you deep, Chains of creation; that you did reap, Our passion and hopes; will fuel you far, But determination; success will keep. Pass through the doubters; they matter not, Some people scheme; whilst others plot, But dreams can break; all negative vibes, & like a star; you’ll burn so hot. & insp

2 min

Life is not perfect, so keep making adjustments along the way.

Self doubt can be the most paralyzing feeling you experience. You can be sprinting down your path full of confidence when from no where comes self doubt and knocks you sideways. It stuns you and blocks you. It stands in front of you mocking the very things you believe. Tearing every shred of assurance you have away. It can be a terrifying experience as there is no way of seeing it coming. It often comes when after being passionately involved in something for so long with care

2 min

All roads lead to your destiny, but which journey will you take?

Standing at a crossroads you can see down one path clearly. A progressive, stable and assured journey with the occasional bump in the road. You know that the lights are clear, signs are present and everything will be predictable, for the most part. It’s a path that continues straight from where you have been walking for a while. In this day and age it is something to be extremely grateful for as so many people around the world face difficulties on the career and life fronts.

2 min

Taking a step in the right direction

In life we often contemplate where we are going. We question the final destination, the if’s and maybe’s that are life’s unanswerable questions. And what is most disconcerting is the fact we have no control of when or what will happen after the journey comes to an end. With this in mind it can paralyze a person with fear and doubt about everything they do. Unless we face facts that somethings in are life are out of control we remain like the proverbial rabbit in the headlight

2 min

When you are not involved, don’t complain!

When my life recently decided that she wanted to buy a dog, I have to say I was less than enthusiastic about the idea. With the busy lives we lead and the traveling that both of us do now I couldn’t see the logic behind it. But like most things my wife managed to convince me it was a good idea, maybe she is the one who should be working in advertising! We had discussed it a few times and I kept putting off the idea as much as I could. The a few weekends ago we, my wife and 2