I often get asked what it’s like being a business coach.

And I usually give the same answer.

The business part is easy.

The people bit is more complex.

An ancient Greek parable states, “The fox knows many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing.”

In business it’s easy to become a fox: Fast but not the fastest, creative but not genius, GOOD but not GREAT.

Like you, my behaviour has patterns.

Those patterns show up in every area of my life, especially business.

Let’s be honest, you’re not paying yourself much.

Not when you consider the financial risk you took in starting your business, the long-hours, grumpy customers and staff headaches. Sometimes, you think it would be easier to just be an employee.

Teaching yourself is certainly a great way to start begin learning a skill. However, there is a down-side which is not often talked about.

The first week of lockdown I sat down at my new home office desk, pulled out a black felt pen, and started scrawling ideas on Post-it notes.

Who are the people surrounding you right now?

Last Friday at an ActionCOACH training day in Wellington - I laughed at COVID-19.

I took this photo a few weeks back, but it's poignant now more than ever.

Feeling a deep sense of gratitude today.

Are you leading a successful expedition or one that is doomed to fail?

In the whirlwind of the day to day, it's easy to put the BIG questions on the back burner.

As Kiwi's we're often reserved with our praise - we don't want anyone's head getting too big now, do we?

In a beginners Jiu-jitsu class, you'll typically find a group of students who are 'unconciously incompetent' (they don't realise how much they suck). 

Gutted to hear AuCom Electronics founder Ray Archer has passed away (pictured here with his wife Kathy).

Where do you go to vary your work routine?

If you’ve owned a business for a while, then the chances are you know a thing or two about what you should and shouldn’t be doing.

You're probably familiar with the 'fight or flight' concept, but a less familiar killer, is the 'freeze' state. And as business owners, we're particularly vulnerable.

It was the week my wife was due with our third child, and my last jiu-jitsu class before taking some time off.