Filed under: 2026, A Bit Of Inspiration, Emotion, Empathy, Experience, Humanity, Love
One of the members of my wonderful gang of misfits – James [Bennett, not Tucker] – recently showed me a website that is a testimony and celebration to the best of humanity.
Not because it’s slick.
Not because it’s academic.
Not because it’s beautiful.
But because it’s pure.
A place where you get to watch clips that few people have ever witnessed. One after another.
There’s a couple of reasons why the ‘watch count’ is so low.
One is because what you see is nothing more than an everyday moment that someone captured and decided to upload. The other is because the people who uploaded them didn’t even think [or know] how to name the clip … so you end up watching a stream of stuff that have titles like: IMG 4856 or DSC 3957, basically the number given to the clip by whatever recording device they filmed it on.
So with that in mind, when I said it was ‘pure’, you’re assuming I meant ‘pure shit’, aren’t you?
And if you do, you’d be wrong.
Because in this world of bombast, hype, clickbait and superlatives, these clips pull you in because they’re none of that. They are a celebration and testimony to humanity at its purest because they capture something innocuous that meant something important to whoever uploaded them.
We all have those things …
Memories that would mean nothing to anyone else but to us … they play on an endless loop in our hearts or minds.
A first bike ride.
A school sports day.
A cuddle with your pet.
A plastic bag in the wind.
A stupid race in shopping trolleys.
Cycling down a hill to get the speed so you can jump over your mates.
A Sunday where everyone is in the same room, doing different things and yet together.
Every clip is a different moment. Someone else’s moment. And yet it is yours too.
The reason the title of this post – and the website it refers to – talks about astronauts, is because when you go to it, the experience can feel like you are one. Miles up in the sky … peering through the little window of your rocket down onto the planet you left behind.
Except they don’t mean the planet you left literally … they mean it emotionally.
Because we fill our lives with noise, distraction, acceleration and, far too often, bullshit … meaning we often forget, miss or ignore the fleeting moments that ultimately make – and made – our lives, ours.
The things that are seemingly small, but ultimately made a big impression on us – regardless how long it lasted.
All the videos come from YouTube and were uploaded in the last week or so.
Each one is unnamed, unedited, and unseen by anyone, except you.
It may only last a few seconds, but the feeling may never leave.
Humanity has never needed us to be astronauts so much. Enjoy your trip.
Your journey into space commences in …
10.
9.
8.
7.
6.
5.
4.
3.
2.
1.
Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Advertising, Apathy, Aspiration, Attitude & Aptitude, Auckland, Community, Effectiveness, Efficiency, Emotion, Empathy, Environment, Experience, Humanity
I appreciate that in the first month of 2026, I have enjoyed 2 national holidays … which is on top of the almost ONE MONTH Festive Holiday than many in NZ get to enjoy.
Which leads to the title of this post.
The good [for you] is I don’t get any more national holidays for almost 6 whole, bloody months … so you can revel in my obvious pain and discomfort.
Which leads to the Bad News, again for you.
As I don’t get any more national holidays for almost 6 whole, bloody months, there’ll be no break from blog posts.
See, be careful what you wish for.
Talking of what you wish for, recently I stopped in a small town and and saw this:
I have to say, not only did it catch my attention, it made me feel quite emotional.
Given I had never been to this place in my life, that might sound a bit weird – it IS a bit weird – but it was also lovely to see a community looking out for its greater good.
For someone who feels he can only breathe – and find peace – in the chaos of big cities, I’ve increasingly come to appreciate the value, importance and warmth of community.
Maybe it is the relatively small size of NZ, but I’ve really come to understand it – and its role – here than anywhere else I’ve ever lived … including the very small village we moved to in England during COVID, a place so small that it consisted of 2 pubs and an [in]convenience shop – so named, as it never had any fixed opening times so it was always a lucky dip.
Don’t get me wrong, people looked out for each other, but you knew that their needs always came first.
Maybe that’s the same in NZ, but it doesn’t feel like it. Not with everyone, anyway.
And that’s why I liked this sign – or what this sign was trying to do.
To help the town evolve, innovate and be more useful to more people.
Both in terms of those who live in the town and those who could come visit.
At a time where it feels governments and business are increasingly seems out-of-touch with people’s reality – or worse, actively not giving a shit about it – it was just a nice reminder that ‘hope and optimism’ is born as much from feeling you’re not out on your own, as it is about seeing a path forward.
Maybe certain ‘marketing science experts’ would be better encouraging practitioners to see audiences and communities on their terms rather than as walking wallets who are waiting to hand over their money as soon as you have exposed them to the same efficient distribution of formulaic brand assets that they’ve told every brand to blindly bombard them with.
Just a thought, especially on Super Bowl day … where we will see tens of millions spent on sponsored [Dad] jokes and celebs-for-hire appearances.
Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Attitude & Aptitude, Complicity, Confidence, Conformity, Corporate Evil, Humanity, Love, Management
They say you get wiser when you’re older.
I’m not so sure of that.
You just get more efficient at doing the bits you know, over and over again.
The other stuff? Well that hides, waiting to make a grand entrance. To knock you off your feet or grapple you to the floor.
Sometimes you’re aware of what that thing is through the years spent trying to hide or run from it. But some can be a total surprise …triggered by an event or situation you didn’t even know was an event or situation. And then, seemingly without warning, you find yourself suddenly caught between the glaring headlights of others derision and judgement and the bright spotlight of your own despair and mortification.
We are all fucked up in our own little ways.
The failing is not in our inability to be perfect; it’s the energy we waste pretending we all are.
Someone I met recently admitted to me they were “fucked up” … and said it in a tone that suggested they truly feared the consequences of sharing their secret.
And while they didn’t go into detail regarding the burden they carry, I know some of its impact has been the complete rejection of things that made them feel good and alive. I know, it sounds counter-productive … it IS counter-productive … but when you face this level of pressure, the mind works in mysterious ways and you convince yourself you’re doing the right thing even though you are burning much of what could be good, down to the ground..
There are so many people who are in this situation.
Trying to pretend they’re OK while not dealing with the trauma they probably experienced at some point in their childhood and/or are experiencing right now in their adulthood. Often through – and because of – work.
The amount of young people I met in China recently who are literally exhausted is terrifying.
Sure there are a number of contextual elements that have contributed to it.
The first generation experiencing a slowed-down China economy.
The over-reliance on social media for both identity, community and belonging.
The lack of jobs but with the same high filial expectations.
They are all real reasons and the result is this generation of young, talented kids don’t know how to cope, mainly because they never were taught how to cope – both because they were brought up by parents who never had to deal with things like this as they were economically fortunate – either personally or because of the times – plus they weren’t exposed to technology that made the pressure to achieve even greater. Add to that a schooling system that is far more functionally orientated than emotional and you get this horrible, perfect storm.
Anyway, back to this person I met – who is not from China, but reflects the same mindset.
Since I met them, I’ve discovered just how deeply the impact of their situation has been on them and the people around them – and it has devastated me to be honest. They are a brilliant, talented individual who needs help but feels having that would invite failure into their life. Why? Because platforms like Linkedin tell them – thanks to all the bullshit ‘opinion leader’ pieces – careers and reputations are built on seamless, intellectual perfection, which is obviously bollocks but to young people out there, that is all they know.
Which is each and every one of us is complicit in the situations so many young professionals experience. Which is why if I could relive the moment I met then once again, I would reply with a much more articulate answer.
“We all are”.
I hope they read this post. I hope they reach out. Or I hope they let me reach them.
Look after our young … they’re going to run our future and if we want a good one, we need to give them good habits, good skills and a good understanding of emotion not just function.
Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Agency Culture, Ambition, Attitude & Aptitude, Business, Colleagues, Comment, Communication Strategy, Corporate Evil, Delusion, Effectiveness, Emotion, Equality, Experience, Honesty, Humanity, Leadership, Management, Professionalism, Relationships, Relevance, Reputation, Resonance, Revenge, Standards, Strategy, Success, Systems, Talent
I saw this brilliant interview with Julia Stewart, the CEO of iHOP, the US pancake franchise.
For those of you who are so busy you can’t spent 60 seconds watching it, let me give you the low-down.
In the interview, she discusses how she’d previously held a very senior role at another US food company – Appleby’s – and despite turning the business around, she was denied promotion to CEO that the then current CEO had promised her once she’d proven her impact and success.
The story goes on to explain that on hearing this news, she left to join iHOP, where – having helped develop that business – saw an opportunity for iHOP to acquire Appleby’s and make changes that she saw could unlock even greater growth and value for both brands.
The conclusion is that not only did she succeed in making the purchase, she got to call up the CEO who had broken his promises to her and tell them they were no longer needed.
It’s a great redemption story – despite the host trying to make it sound like her motivations were entirely personal, when she clearly highlights that was not the case – but the real point of this post is this:
GET PROMISES IN WRITING.
Yes, I know not all bosses are such 2-faced pricks – in fact, many truly give a damn about their people – but bosses tend to have bosses and so promises and platitudes mean little unless you have it in writing, dated and signed.
Of course I get situations can change.
I appreciate ‘success’ can be interpreted in many ways.
I understand a boss may feel very differently when their offer of relinquishing their role becomes a reality of relinquishing their role.
But this is exactly why everything needs to be detailed in writing – because without that, you haven’t got a leg to stand on.
I’ve learned this the hard way.
Once because of a change in circumstance.
Once because my boss at the time, was a lying, self-serving, 2-faced, gaslighting prick.
And this is coming from someone who has generally worked at very good companies … which means this sort of stuff must be happening way more than we ever talk about.
The reality is that while companies talk about their staff being their best asset, the reality is many demonstrate this more in words than the day-to-day interactions they have with their people. It’s why it’s kinda-hilarious how so many expect loyalty from their people when so few show that back to their people. It’s also why, if you find a boss or company that is transparent, encouraging and willing to go into battle with you and for you – then you should hang onto them, because they know the best way they can do things for the company is to do the best things for your growth.
But even then, GET PROMISES IN WRITING.
Not – contrary to what you may think – because I am suggesting even these people are untrustworthy, but because the foundation of a strong company culture is transparency, integrity and honesty … and so by getting things in writing, you’re actually reinforcing the culture rather than challenging it.
I know things rarely work out as we like or plan.
I know things change and people make mistakes.
But when everyone knows where they stand, everyone knows what’s expected of them and what they can expect of everyone around them – so when things do go wrong or awry [as they always will to a degree] … at best you know about it before you are affected by it and at worst, it is a bump rather than a full-blown car crash.
I say all this, but I also appreciate that for some, revenge is energy and motivation.
A way to help you get even further than you thought you could get.
And I get it – I really do. However, as much as Julia’s story had a Hollywood-style ending, the reality is for most people – revenge ends up being a drain.
Misdirecting you. Exhausting you. Undermining you.
Ultimately taking more than it provided … and then, the pricks win twice.
Which is why transparency provides power and respect and it all starts with GETTING THINGS IN WRITING.
Just ask Julia.
Filed under: A Bit Of Inspiration, Death, Emotion, Empathy, Friendship, Humanity, Life, Love, Loyalty
Got to be honest, I am glad to see the back of September.
There’s been some really good bits, but there’s definitely been a cavalcade of bad.
They say bad news comes in 3’s, well September proved it can come in much bigger numbers than that.
Which leads to the point of this post … and it’s bleak. Especially for a Tuesday. But it’s also real.
You see, the older you get, the more you welcome death into your life.
I’m not talking about celebrities, I mean friends, family members or friends of the family.
Of course, this can happen at any age – after all, I lost my Dad when I was still in my twenties and the posts I wrote following Mum’s death capture the emotional rollercoaster it can trigger in all of us – but growing old does tend to increase the level of loss you feel when learning of someone passing.
I know that sounds counter intuitive given you experience it more, but it’s true. Mainly because you never really get used to it happening.
Sure, the pain and sadness varies depending on who it is and the relationship you had with them, but it always affects you.
Even more so when the people are younger than you.
Over the last couple of months – literally 8 weeks – I’ve learned the sad news that 6 people I knew, had died.
SIX.
Three were ex-colleagues, one was a generous soul who I’d met a number of years ago and 2 were dear friends.
While I got on well with all of them, we weren’t living in each-others pockets beyond the odd note, the odd Instagram comment and the annual ‘birthday’ best wishes.
It wasn’t always like that, but life has a way of impacting availability even if you really try for it not to … which may explains why – bar Billy – I discovered their sad news via social media.
I wish I could say my first reaction was shock, but it wasn’t … it was confusion.
In each case I would read the ‘update’ on social media and then look at attached photo and not understand how these two things were connected.
One representing the worst of life. The other, showing them in the most vibrant expression of it.
And then, when I finally registered the reality of the situation – I found myself just going down a rabbit hole of their life.
Trying to understand what had happened.
Trying to know more about the life they had lived.
Trying to learn about the relationships that mattered most to them.
Trying to make sense of the last days, weeks and months of their life.
Trying to find the last time we had spent a good amount of time together.
Of course none of this changes the tragedy of it all, but in a weird way it helped me feel connected to them while also honouring them.
And I have felt a real need to honour them because they were all amazing people in a whole host of amazing ways.
Much better than I will ever be.
Now I appreciate this may all sound like I’ve gone mad but this approach has really helped me come to terms with their loss and if there’s one thing I’ve learned in the dealings with death – what works for you, is all that matters.
But that doesn’t mean it hasn’t hurt.
Hasn’t left scars.
If truth be told, the impact of their loss – underpinned by the shitshow that is my eye and another friend dealing with the rapid decline of a parent who has been in my life my whole life – has had a pretty devastating effect on me.
It’s made me question a lot of things …
Decisions I’ve made.
Decisions I’ve yet to make.
The things I put my energy into.
The things I am expected to put my energy into.
All the sliding doors moments that I have walked past rather than walked through.
And while that all sounds bleak, the reality is it has served as an important reminder that so much of how we live is focused on what we should do rather than what we want to do.
That does not mean it justifies any act of selfishness … but it does validate embracing the opportunities, possibilities and people who bring you the greatest happiness, pleasure or excitement.
I’ve not always been the best at this.
I’ve allowed life to get in the way of what – or who – energises my life far too often.
I’ve seen people, places and opportunities pass me by that – had I stopped worrying about what I am expected to do – could have had a profound effect on many aspects of who I am and how I live.
That doesn’t mean I am disappointed with what I have and what I have done – far from it – I feel incredibly fortunate to be able to be so bloody blessed in so many ways. But it also doesn’t blanket the fact I’ve let moments, people and possibilities slip through my fingers that I felt at the time were potentially hugely important to me or good for me, because I allowed things I shouldn’t have regarded as more important at the time, be more important.
Maybe out of duty.
Maybe out of routine.
Maybe out of fear for realising what I’d settled for versus what I could have done or had.
A long time ago, a friend of mine told me their approach to life was “live a little bit more stupidly”.
I still really like that.
A little bit more stupid might be the most sensible thing I’ve ever heard.
Which leads to the point of this post …
Life’s short.
Far too short to spend it with pricks, processes and problems that take more from us than add to us … and yet most of us find ourselves doing exactly that in some way. Every single day.
Of course I appreciate it is rarely out of choice, but it happens because life is always happening … but what the results in is us often failing to appreciate what’s passing us by.
Or worse, what’s getting ready to say goodbye.
I think about ‘lasts’ quite a lot.
Last meal.
Last hug.
Last laugh.
Last conversation.
A last and final goodbye.
And while we rarely know when the end is going to come, the one thing we can do to counter it is to be present in the things that make us happy and the lives of those who matter most.
Not just when death is approaching, but when opportunity is screaming.
Which is why I hope this post might inspire someone to make the time to make that call.
To a loved one.
A friend.
A family member.
A colleague.
A significant other.
A significant other, you’ve never shared that with.
A person you’ve let a pointless disagreement become a stranger.
Because if losing one of those people hurts, I can assure you knowing you let them go before they even left is even worse.
Life isn’t perfect.
It can be messy and complicated.
Which is why the connections that matter should be all that matters.
However unlikely, inconvenient or challenging they may be to sustain.
Last thing.
I get this sounds like I’m sad. Well I am. But here’s the thing – so I should be. If I wasn’t, that would be far scarier … so know that I write this because I am good, just frustrated I’ve needed the worst of times to remind me to seize the best of life.
So to September, I say goodbye.
Apart from a couple of special things that happened, you were an asshole, which is why I hereby lay you to rest.
Thank God.