The conversation is between: Guy Raz and Herb Kelleher
What they discuss: How Herb built one of the most well respected and profitable airline in the world.
My Highlight: 'Think small and act small and we will get bigger - think big and act big and we will get smaller' - Herb Kelleher
Full podcast is here
The conversation is between: Lewis Howes and TJ Dillashaw
What they discuss: How TJ develped into a UFC champion and what the keys to his sucess where from a pysical and mental standpoint
My Highlight:
3 Things wrestling can teach you from TJ:
1. You have no team to back you up when your on the mat by yourself - you have to find that stoic mental state within to drive you.
2. Health is fundamental. Focus on it. This has taught me to be disciplined.
3. The fear of embarrassment cant drive you to places you never thought were possible. Wrestling will ensure you go to that place over and over again in you mind which in turn ensures you keep growing.
Full podcast is here
I am a big fan of Lewis Howes. Much like myself, he would admit to not being the most academic of chaps, but one that is hugely proud of his work rate and willingness to learn from others. He hosts a hugely successful podcast called 'The School of Greatness'. As an ex-proffesional American Football player he was looking for new direction in his life and he found that in leveraging technology, namely linkedin to assist other athletes and organise events. Without having any business experience he went from sleeping on his sister’s couch to running a seven figure business in a couple years. He is now a public figure and speaker.
This week Lewis had the enigmatic Russell Simmons on the podcast. My highlight of their talk was Russell discussing his view on the mind and why meditation is so important to his existence. He opens by saying that every religious scripture has reference to a still/quite mind. I wasn't aware of this, but it certainly makes sense. He goes on to say 'your life is not stressful or hectic it's your mind that's stressful or hectic'. Having spent the last 6 months practising a daily 20 minute guided meditation, I have experienced the benefits of a quieter mind. Finally, Russell goes on to suggest attachment is the route cause of suffering (in line with Buddhist approach). He urges the audience to simply watch life like a movie. Material goods will come and go as thoughts do.
Download 'The School of Greatness' if you haven't done so already - you wont regret it. I have found Lewis to be great for reminding me there are those out there forging their own paths and not settling for what they were told to do.
There are guys out there that posses freakish intelligence. When I say intelligence, I mean freakish IQ. We will get to why that's important in a moment! Walter O’Brien had an IQ of 179 as a child and was seen as a prodigy in his native Ireland.
I was introduced to him via Tim Ferriss when Tim featured Walter on his podcast last week. It is hard to express how I felt listening to Walter during the interview. The guy is quite simply operating on another level. He wants to tackle issues the vast majority of the world rarely concern themselves with, simply because of their magnitude. The only way I can describe the joy I felt hearing him tackle these big questions, was that it made me feel proud to be human.
A subject Walter touched on in the interview which I found fascinating was this idea of ''EQ'' vs ''IQ''. In 1990, Mr Daniel Goleman, a reporter at The New York Times came across an article in a small academic journal by two psychologists, John Mayer (University of New Hampshire) and Peter Salovey (Yale). Mayer and Salovey offered the first formulation of a concept they called “emotional intelligence" (EQ). The EQ concept argues that IQ, or conventional intelligence, is too narrow; that there are wider areas of Emotional Intelligence that dictate and enable how successful we are. Success requires more than IQ (Intelligence Quotient), which has tended to be the traditional measure of intelligence, ignoring essential behavioural and character elements. It really looks to address that age old question "why are academically brilliant individuals so poor socially and inter-personally inept?". What we know is that despite possessing a high IQ rating, success does not automatically follow. Different approaches and theoretical models have been developed for Emotional Intelligence.
IQ is our score derived from one of several standardised tests designed to assess human intelligence. The abbreviation IQ was coined by the psychologist William Stern for the German term Intelligenzquotient. The reason for this post is to confirm that EQ and IQ are linked. Generally the higher your EQ the lower your IQ. You can improve your EQ but not IQ. Interestingly Walter mentions he is regularly contacted by those who have expressed their anguish that they were not made aware of this link earlier in their lives. They almost saw their high IQ as a crutch to achieving their potential. Perhaps the biggest surprise for me has been the impact of EQ in the world of business. It is generally accepted that 85% of business success comes from EQ not IQ. I'm not sure about you guys but I found this to be staggeringly high. The Harvard Business Review has hailed emotional intelligence as “a ground-breaking, paradigm-shattering idea,” one of the most influential business ideas of the decade. It is useful to understand this link when training or leading others as well as implementing personal development strategies.
Tim Ferriss had the guy who he say's he calls the most for start-up advice on his podcast in January. This was the second time Naval Ravikant was invited onto his show, after his first episode with him quite simply blew many people away with the wisdom that came from the man.
For those who have not come across Naval before. He is the CEO and a co-founder of AngelList. He previously co-founded Epinions, which went public as part of Shopping.com, and Vast.com. He is an active angel investor and has invested in more than 100 companies. His deals include Twitter, Uber, Yammer, Postmates, Wish, Thumbtack, and OpenDNS, which Cisco just bought for $635 million in cash. So he is a guy who has had some serious business experiences but more interestingly a pretty clear idea on how to live a fulfilled existence.
This was one of my all time favourite episodes and I wanted to share the nuggets of wisdom with you. To set the scene, Naval was given a list of questions from the Tim's audience - his answers were mind blowing.
1. You do not need to work for the NY Times to be a great journalist. Naval see's the future evolving in such a way that a personal brand, built in a creative way is going to be a wonderful way to generate a living. It is less easily replicable that traditional products or services. Start writing. Just start.
2. He mentions that having achieved material success and witnessing those around him follow suit, he was taken back by just how unhappy they were. He has come to the realization that all success is internal. True happiness comes from peace. You can find peace, by among other things, acknowledging where your attachments are.
3. Say yes to life. Stop judging - it leads to suffering when you resist life. Accept the way things are. Be in harmony with the way things are.
4. When you catch yourself desiring something, ask yourself 'will I be unhappywithout this'?
5. 'Happiness is a skill you develop and a choice you make. You choose to be happy and you work at it'
6. Tell your friends you are a happy person - you will be forced to conform to it - this is the consistency bias in action.
7. Do not be afraid of death. Naval mentions how he believed this fear he previously had for death came from the idea he was on a quest for immortality. He manages this irrational need by reminding himself that we are nothing in the grand scheme of things - we are but 'monkeys on a small rock orbiting a small backward star'. Our existence he goes on to say is like a firefly blinking in the night. It will fade. Everything will fade. You have 70 years of 70 billion...life is a kind of game...it's precious.. sleep well at night and look after other people but don't take yourself too seriously.
8. Never stop growing and learning.
9. Do not forget we are habit machines. Be aware of your habits and know how to break them. This is an important meta skill. Try to break one bad habit a year and create a good one. This will be success.
10. Meditate
Listen to the full interview here.
I was recently talking with a friend. We were wondering what we had to do to achieve polymath status. You know, that guy whose expertise spans a significant number of subject areas, feeling comfortable in any environment, discussing any subject.
We came to the conclusion. You can give yourself the best chance of winning but implementing these three platforms in your life. Try to watch one Ted talk a day. Ensure you are always enrolled on a course via Coursera and subscribe to at least 5 podcasts on a range of subjects. And do it now:
Ted.com : From technology to science. There's a talk for that.
Coursera.org : From Oxford to Yale. There's an online course for that.
Podacasts : From start-up to history. There's a podcast for that.
3 life lessons from when Seth Godin met Tim Ferriss
In this cracking episode of the The Tim Ferriss Show, Tom sits down with a hero of mine, Mr Seth Godin. Seth is an author of 17 bestselling books on marketing, leadership and challenging accepted norms.
1. On impact. Have a say in this world. Start a blog. Seth regards starting his blog as in the top 5 best business decisions he has ever made (This was the final nudge I needed to start this one).
2. On money. Do NOT forget that, once you're basic hygiene factors have been met (food/health/warmth), money is simply a vehicle for experience and contributes to telling you're story. It is not always correct to assume money directly represents net value add to the world.
3. On drive. Use rejection to move you forwards. Seth was told by his English teacher 'you are the bane of my existence - you will never write anything worth reading'. He sent this teacher a signed copy of a best seller of his.
The conversation is between: Krista Tippett and Gordon Hempton
This is glorious interaction. Both Krista and Gordon are supremely composed individuals. Gordon's passion for silence and search for music in nature is deeply inspiring. He has spent his whole life becoming a better listener - a noble mission. And one I have no doubt many of us could benefit from doing ourselves. This is a must listen for people who feel we live our lives in an increasingly busy and disruptive time. I listened to this on the underground in London - and really listening to the vast array of jungle sounds and heavy rain was pure magic.
My Highlight:
'Silence isn't the absence of sound - it's the absence of noise'
Quiet is a "think tank of the soul"
Full podcast is here
In business and sport, culture sets the good teams apart from the great. Here are 6 easily digestible ways in which you can start to build a culture in your organisation:
1. Select your team on character.
2. Understand your strategy for change.
3. Co-write a purpose.
4. Devolve leadership.
5. Encourage a learning environment.
6. Turn standards into action with peer-to-peer enforcement (values alone risk becoming meaningless - but if the senior leadership set the parameters - they will enforce them).
Its auction season again. And no-one touches Phillips when it comes to vintage watches. The fifth instalment of the Phillips in association with Bacs & Russo sale is taking place In Geneva on the 13-14th May 2017. Having had the privilege of seeing the lots in London this week, I can confirm there is lots to get the humble watch geek's pulse racing! Here are my top 5 (with some literature from Phillips on the lots provonance).
1. 1967 Rolex launched the Sea-Dweller
In 1967 Rolex launched the Sea-Dweller dive watch, which established a new standard in performance and technology with its incredible depth rating of 2000 feet, or 610 meters, and the first ever integration of a helium escape valve (HEV). This advanced design allowed divers to dive deeper, and keep track of dive times without fear the watch may fail. Rolex developed the HEV in order to allow tiny helium atoms, which built up within the case during dives, to be released, thus reducing the risk of potential failure. When first released, Rolex was still working towards the patent for this new technology, and therefore early Sea- Dwellers were engraved with the wording “Patent Pending Rolex Oyster Gas Escape Valve” on the case back.
Dating from 1967, the dial is a Mark 1 (Mk1) type with the double red printed Sea-Dweller on the first line, and Submariner 2000 on the second. The signature consisted of the red print placed on top of white, that over time, faded to a light pink tone. The Mark 1 dial is characterized by equal-sized fonts used for all words within these two lines of red text. The case back interior features the last three digits of the watch’s serial number - stamped 464, as well as IV.67. Furthermore, it’s fitted with its original Oyster bracelet, with a rare “Pat Pend”-signed extension piece.
Accompanied with extensive and original documentation, the watch was originally given “on loan” in 1971 by a Rolex authorized dealer based in Singapore. An employee of Divcon-Oceaneering AG at the time, he was asked by Rolex to test the watch and regularly provide status reports and images regarding the watch and its performance at sea.
After providing in-depth analysis and test results, documenting the watch’s performance on oil-related dives in Indonesia and Malaysia, Rolex Geneva formally thanked him for his efforts in 1972. This letter also gifts the watch to the diver, after disclosing Rolex’s newly executed, exclusive agreement with COMEX that precluded them from working with other diving firms.
The owner’s records are the first official documents that show Rolex’s efforts to develop the HEV were not exclusive to COMEX. They are the most extensive set of documents, from original issue, to actual watch testing, to final communication from Rolex Geneva, to have surfaced for such an important dive watch.
Manufacturer: Rolex
Year: 1967
Reference No: 1665
Movement No: D049393
Case No: 2'117'464
Model Name: "Patent Pending" Sea-Dweller "Double Red"
Material: Stainless steel
Calibre: Automatic, cal. 1570, 26 jewels
Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Rolex Oyster, stamped 9315,
end links stamped 285, 200mm max. length
Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel twin lock folding clasp, stamped 3.70
Dimensions: 39.5mm Diameter
Signed: Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed, outer case back signed "Rolex Patent Pending Oyster Gas Escape Valve"
Accessories: Accompanied by Storekeeper's Delivery Note No. 68719 (The Borneo Company Singapore SDN BHD) for loan of one Sea Dweller 1665, case number 2117464, various Rolex correspondence, dive reports and typed test results of the watch from the original owner.
Estimate
CHF100,000 - 200,000
$99,100 - 198,000
€92,600 - 185,000
2. Fifty Fathoms - Milspec I
Just after World War II, the offer of diver’s watches was low. When the French military combat divers’ elite troops’ captain Robert Maloubier and Lieutnant Claude Riffaud looked for a tool watch to accompany their frogmen in their missions, they were unable to find a watch that met all their requirements: a unidirectional rotating bezel , a water-resistant case, an automatic winding movement (to minimize the number of times the crown is pulled out) and protection from magnetic fields. By designing this watch, the two men actually set the standards for modern divers watches. While their search for a watch manufacture that would produce their watch was a daunting task, they met with Mr Fiechter, Blancpain’s CEO, the partner they had been looking for.
Since its launch in 1953, the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms has gained iconic status within the watchmaking and diving world, having also undergone several variations. The present example is the very sought after MILSPEC I version with a humidity tester at 6 o’clock. Despite some military specifications, the present watch is a civilian version as shown by the two parts body case, the bi directional bezel and the luminous diamond hour marker at 12 o’clock. The back of the case is further engraved with the retailer’s name, in this case the diving equipment store Barakuda.
Manufacturer: Blancpain
Year: circa 1970
Case No: 207'956
Model Name: Fifty Fathoms - Milspec I
Material: Stainless steel
Calibre: Automatic, cal. AS 1700., 17 jewels
Bracelet/Strap: Apollo Tropic strap, marked 20-21mm, reference 23055
Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel pin buckle
Dimensions: 41mm. Diameter
Signed: Case, dial and movement signed
Accessories: Accompanied by Blancpain Fifty Fathoms exhibition certificate and original paper tag from the 275th anniversary exhibition
Estimate
CHF20,000 - 30,000
$19,800 - 29,700
€18,500 - 27,800
3. Patek Philippe Ref 530
There are certain references of Patek Philippe wristwatches that can be considered the ultimate in terms of rarity, desirability, and aesthetic beauty. The oversized chronograph reference 530, such as the present lot, is without any doubt, one of these.
Reference 530 was first launched in 1937, and remains one of the rarest chronograph models manufactured by the firm. Even though it takes design cues from its sister model, reference 130, the case size of reference 530 remains substantial even to today’s standards with a whopping 36.5mm. diameter.
The case and dial design of the present lot hit all the right notes. The perfect equilibrium between the case diameter and thickness, the powerful lugs and concave bezel speak of highly contemporary elegance. The gorgeous silver dial has turned a pleasing vanilla, the crisp hard enamel printing and ultra rare Breguet numerals exude beauty and grace.
The present lot is the only known reference 530 in yellow gold with Breguet numerals (as confirmed by the Extract from the Archives). Since its production in 1949 this watch has appeared on the international auction market once, in 2011, flying past its high estimate and breaking the world record for a yellow gold reference 530.
This reference 530 is not only rare but the Breguet numeral dial and incredible untouched condition give it almost a mythical status.
Manufacturer: Patek Philippe
Year: 1949
Reference No: 530
Movement No: 867'650
Case No: 511'605
Material: 18K yellow gold
Calibre: Manual, cal. 13"", 23 jewels
Bracelet/Strap: Leather
Clasp/Buckle: 18K yellow gold pin buckle signed PPCo
Dimensions: 36.5mm. Diameter
Signed: Case, dial, movement and buckle signed
Accessories: Accompanied by Patek Philippe Extract from the Archives confirming manufacture in 1949 with Breguet numerals and subsequent sale on August 12th, 1950.
Literature: Reference 530 is illustrated in Patek Philippe Wristwatches by Martin Huber & Alan Banbery, second edition, p. 265
Estimate
CHF300,000 - 600,000
$297,000 - 595,000
€278,000 - 556,000
4. Patek Philippe 3700/11
The most interesting elements about Gerald Genta’s iconic designs are the stories that lay behind their creation. Recognized today as the greatest watch designer of the era with world famous successes such as Patek Philippe Nautilus, Audemars Piguet Royal Oak, Cartier Pasha, Universal Polerouter and many more, Mr Genta's creativity was boundless. The story behind the design of the Nautilus, besides the inspiration of the porthole, says that the designer sketched one of the most sought after designs in history in 5 minutes while watching Patek Philippe executives sitting in a corner of a hotel dining room.
The present Nautilus Jumbo reference 3700/11 displays a definitely unique vintage look. The usually dark grey dial has dramatically turned to a gold tropical color that reminds us of a tiger’s eye chatoyant gemstone with its golden to red-brown color and silky lustre.
Manufacturer: Patek Philippe
Year: 1980
Reference No: 3700/11
Movement No: 1'309'286
Case No: 540'831
Model Name: Nautilus "Jumbo"
Material: Stainless steel
Calibre: Automatic, cal. 28-255C, 36 jewels
Bracelet/Strap: Stainless steel Nautilus bracelet, max length 195mm.
Clasp/Buckle: Stainless steel folding deployant clasp
Dimensions: 42mm. Diameter
Signed: Case, dial, movement and bracelet signed
Accessories: Accompanied by an Extract from the Archives confirming manufacture of the watch in 1980 and its subsequent sale on May 11th, 1982
Estimate
CHF40,000 - 60,000
$39,600 - 59,500
€37,100 - 55,600
5. Gübelin Chronograph
Gübelin is a Swiss-based, family-owned, jewelry and watch retailer founded in 1854. What started out as a small watchmaker’s watch shop in the picturesque town of Lucerne has today become a Swiss powerhouse selling the most prestigious watch brands.
Not content with putting its signature on dials next to the names of famous brands it retailed, Gübelin decided, in the early 1920s, to commission some of the greatest Swiss makers such as Audemars Piguet, Haas Neveux or Niton to create unique, attractive and sophisticated watches bearing solely the Gübelin signature on the dial.
The present lot from the 1950s is a mystery in the sense that Phillips say they have never seen another Gübelin square chronograph like it on the market. Its vividly contemporary 34mm. X 34mm. white gold case wears much larger on the wrist than the size suggests due to its square shape. The case is in fact quite similar if not identical to the Rolex reference 3529 but larger.
Many elements set the present lot apart from other square chronographs from prestigious brands such as Rolex, Universal Geneve or Mathey-Tissot produced in the 1940s-1950s. First is its sheer size, almost 70% larger than those from the previously mentioned brands whose cases measured 26mm X 26mm or less. The second element is the white gold case, a metal we have not yet seen before in any other square chronograph of that era. These elements lead us to believe that this watch was executed upon special order and could quite possibly be a unique piece.
The case is superbly well preserved with perfectly crisp hallmarks above the bottom chronograph pusher and the top left lug, we are of the opinion the case has never been polished.
Manufacturer: Gübelin
Year: circa 1950
Case No: 165'649
Material: 18k white gold
Calibre: Manual, cal.72, 17 jewels
Bracelet/Strap: Leather
Clasp/Buckle: 18k white gold buckle
Dimensions: 34mm. X 34mm.
Signed: Case, dial and movement signed
Estimate
CHF20,000 - 40,000
$19,800 - 39,600
€18,500 - 37,100
Image: The New Yorker
As a regular reader of these pages you will be aware that one of my favourite prodcasts is 'How I Built This' by NPR. Its a podcast about innovators, entrepreneurs, and idealists, and the stories behind the movements they built.
On the first warm day in London this year I had the pleasure of stumbling across this episode as I crossed Putney Bridge. Nothing could have prepared me for the introduction from Mr Saban:
"I have to tell you that the biggest hits I have had in my life and in music and in television and in business have always been as a result of significant rejections and repeated rejections. So every time I have an idea, and people tell me 'no don't do that'..I think oops I'm onto something"
As a serial ideas man and wannabe entrepreneur, nothing could have shook me to the core quite like it. I'd be lying if I said there wasn't a tear in the eye! Anyone that has ever attempted to build anything will tell you of the heartache and tears it caused. And damn right! because nothing without effort if worth celebrating. And no one sums that ethos up more than Mr Haim Saban. As a refugee growing up in Tel Aviv, Mr Haim Saban remembers not having enough money to eat. As an adult, he hustled his way into the entertainment business, writing theme songs for classic cartoons like Inspector Gadget and Heathcliff. But producing the mega-hit Mighty Morphin Power Rangers put him on track to becoming a billionaire media titan. He his a highly amusing and deeply inspiring gent. This one isn't to be missed!
Listen to the full episode here.
I am a sucker for all things simple (but paradoxically have a passion for watches). When it comes to watches, clean lines get me going! I am therefore a huge fan of Junghans the German watchmaker founded in the Black Forest town of Schramberg in 1861 (particularly their Max Bill range!).
The Meister Driver is their latest edition to the ranks. And its a beauty! Here are the 5 things you need to know:
1. Arthur Junghans, son of the company founder Erhard Junghans, was a close friend of Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach - as a byproduct their watches tend to have an automotive focus.
2. The new Meister Driver contains a J800.4 self-winding movement with a power reserve of up to 38 hours and rapid date correction (weekday display at 12 o'clock and date at 6 o'clock).
3. The Case is stainless steel 40.4, height 11.9 mm, with a mineral crystal back where you can admire the movement.
4. The watch boasts a vintage inspired convex dial with polished lacquer, hour / minute markers (plus environmentally-friendly Super Luminova).
5. You'll be KILLING it with this on the wrist, an open denim shirt from Drakes and a pair of boots from Edward Green.
For more - check out the Junghans website here.
In November last year I reported on Revolution that IWC was to begin retailing on MR PORTER. There I outlined how I felt it was a momentous moment for the industry, likely to see many leading global brands following suit. This week we see MR PORTER announce a global partnership with Bell & Ross. Those aviation and vintage watch guys among you will be pleased to know that you won't have to wait long before picking up your Edward Green shoes or Canali suit alongside your new Bell and Ross with the official launch being Tuesday the 4th of April. MR PORTER will carry a curated selection of 21 timepieces across the Bell & Ross Vintage and Instruments Collections. Within the 11 timepieces from the Vintage Collection, standout models include the WW1, BR 123 and BR 126 Chronograph. Of the 10 timepieces from the iconic Instruments Collection, highlight models include the BR 03 and BR S.
Designed with four key principles in mind – Legibility, Functionality, Reliability and Precision – and with inspiration drawn from the history of aviation. Bell & Ross watches are much like marmite. They are bold - and like many great brands, they do what they do and they do it well!. As a result, they boast a hardcore, loyal group of fans around the wrold.
“We are thrilled to be launching Bell & Rosson MR PORTER, an independent brand creating true utilitarian timepieces, with a unique blend of contemporary and heritage style. Our customers will have the pleasure of browsing a curated selection of 21 styles, ideal for both the aspirational buyer as well as the established watch collector.” Mr Toby Bateman, Managing Director, MR PORTER
Prices range from £1,400 to £5,000
Make sure you set a reminder in your calendar for the 4th April and head over to MR PORTER.
If you're a watch geek like myself - this news will be like music to your ears.
Just when you thought the London's watch scene couldn't get any better - Roger Dubuis open a flagship boutique within Harrods.
This is the first ever UK Roger Dubuis boutique in the UK. The concept and construction has been overseen directly by the brand’s Creative Director, Alvaro Maggini, and it is heralded as strategically important by CEO, Jean-Marc Pontroué.
Roger Dubuis watches aren't for everyone. And this was echoed by CEO Mr Jean-Marc Pontroué when I interviewed him in Harrods last year during their pop up. As well as stressing their rarity, he also expressed his interest in London and its importance in the watch world. So this opening is not all together unsurprising. Not only are their designs bold, their prices can be eye watering. Thats why Roger Dubuis is where you go when you have everything.
How do we achieve happiness in the digital age? With more noise in our lives than ever before - Harvard psychologist Shawn Achor argues that happiness inspires us to be more productive. What's fascinating is that external conditions can only predict 10% of our long term happiness.
Image: David Heitz
Here are 5 actions you can implement today to be happier for longer :
Small Changes that ripple outward:
Photo credit: Irish America Magazine
In this podcast Tim Ferriss sits down with John Crowley. It is a deeply powerful conversation with a deeply facinanting gentleman. Just to give you an overview, John is the Chairman and CEO of Amicus Therapeutics, a publicly traded biotechnology company. John moved into biotechnology in 1998 when his two children were diagnosed with Pompe disease a neuromuscular disorder. He left his job and set out to become an entrepreneur on a mission to find a cure for his children. Incredibly, In 2001, Novazyme, the firm he founded was acquired by Genzyme Corporation for nearly $200 million.
John also served as a commissioned intelligence officer in the U.S. Navy Reserve from 2005-2016. He was assigned to the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) and is a veteran of the global war on terrorism, with service in Afghanistan. He graduated with a B.S. in Foreign Service from Georgetown University, and earned a J.D. from the University of Notre Dame Law School and an M.B.A. from Harvard. He previously served (2014-2016) as the National Chairman of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America and is a founding board member of the Global Genes Project. John is a Henry Crown Fellow at The Aspen Institute. An incredible guy.
Highlight:
For me, the highlight of this quite remarkable conversation is actually not John's momentous drive, his success or the drug breakthroughs. But the the story he shares about the time he visited his daughter Meghan in her Dorn at Notre Dame in her first week. She required 24/7 nursing assistance as she was in a wheelchair. So when John visited her, he found a rota the wall where all scheduled helping her in and out of her wheelchair on a daily basis. But what blew John's mind was that he had totally forgotten that it actually requires two people to help her in and out of her chair. It was then he saw the second rota, where seven times a day students volunteered to help her in and out. When John said it, it sent a shiver down the spine. Quite incredible. As Tim says 'It gives you new faith in humanity'.
Listen to the full interview here.
I'm not quite sure speeches of any kind get much bigger that this one delivered by Naval Admiral William H. McRaven at The University of Texas on May 17, 2014. It's a real, real shame that only 4.4 million people have had the privilege to watch this thus far. And it's my mission to ensure this man and this speech get the recognition they deserve. If you're ever in doubt, ever feel as though you can't go on - get this on.
(Image NY Times)
Here are the take away points:
1. If you want to change the world, start by making your bed.
“If you can’t do the little things right, you will never do the big things right.”
2. If you want to change the world, find someone to help you paddle.
“You can’t change the world alone—you will need some help— and to truly get from your starting point to your destination takes friends, colleagues, the good will of strangers and a strong coxswain to guide them.”
3. If you want to change the world, measure a person by the size of their heart, not the size of their flippers.
“SEAL training was a great equalizer. Nothing mattered but your will to succeed. Not your color, not your ethnic background, not your education and not your social status.”
4. If you want to change the world get over being a sugar cookie and keep moving forward.
“Sometimes no matter how well you prepare or how well you perform you still end up as a sugar cookie*.”
*For failing the uniform inspection, the student [in Basic SEAL training] had to run, fully clothed into the surfzone and then, wet from head to toe, roll around on the beach until every part of your body was covered with sand.
The effect was known as a “sugar cookie.” You stayed in that uniform the rest of the day—cold, wet and sandy. There were many a student who just couldn’t accept the fact that all their effort was in vain. Those students didn’t understand the purpose of the drill: You were never going to succeed. You were never going to have a perfect uniform.
5. If you want to change the world, don’t be afraid of the circuses.
“Life is filled with circuses. You will fail. You will likely fail often. It will be painful. It will be discouraging. At times it will test you to your very core.”
6. If you want to change the world sometimes you have to slide down the obstacle head first.
7. If you want to change the world, don’t back down from the sharks.
“There are a lot of sharks in the world. If you hope to complete the swim you will have to deal with them.”
8. If you want to change the world, you must be your very best in the darkest moment.
“At the darkest moment of the mission—is the time when you must be calm, composed—when all your tactical skills, your physical power and all your inner strength must be brought to bear.”
9. If you want to change the world, start singing when you’re up to your neck in mud.
“If I have learned anything in my time traveling the world, it is the power of hope. The power of one person—Washington, Lincoln, King, Mandela and even a young girl from Pakistan—Malala—one person can change the world by giving people hope.”
10. If you want to change the world don’t ever, ever ring the bell.
“In SEAL training there is a bell. A brass bell that hangs in the center of the compound for all the students to see. All you have to do to quit—is ring the bell. Ring the bell and you no longer have to wake up at 5 o’clock. Ring the bell and you no longer have to do the freezing cold swims. Ring the bell and you no longer have to do the runs, the obstacle course, the PT—and you no longer have to endure the hardships of training. Just ring the bell. If you want to change the world don’t ever, ever ring the bell.”
For the last two years I have done my very best to implement a daily meditative practice. Generally it's 15 minutes in the morning after training on Headspace. And i'v loved it! I'v found it to be deeply powerful on multiple levels. And as a result, I'v recently been exploring its applications for athletes. I stumbled across this cracking piece from The Rugby Strength Coach here. It's a great read - let me know what you think below.
Enjoy.
1. Habring² is a small independent manufacturer founded by husband-and-wife duo Richard & Maria Habring (Richard Habring previously worked for IWC where he developed the rattrapante (split-seconds chronograph). You have to love a small, artisanal business.
2. Because Habring² only produce a limited number of watches a year - as an owner you'll be part of a very small club.
3. In 2014, Habring² developed an in-house A11B (base) caliber (a big deal for any manufacturer). And In the Erwin, we see the evolution of the A11B caliber with the edition of jumping seconds/dead-beat complication to create the A11S.
4. The development of the movement is one thing - but even better is the fact that Erwin 'looks' so damn simple - but really isn't. On first glance many would dismiss Erwin as a quartz watch and only you know its not.
5. Erwin is not only beautiful - he's perfectly proportioned at 38.5mm - the ultimate in versatility.
Check out more from Habring² here
In today’s digital age, branding goes way beyond just your logo. The term ‘brand’ now encapsulates everything about your business. It’s about the experience you give your customers, on your website your social media channels and in-store.
This is magic: Jeff Bezos, Founder of Amazon.com, defined a brand as ‘what people say about you, when you’re not in the room’.
Advancements in digital technologies (internet, mobile, etc.) allow people to interact with your brand at any point in their journey. So the big question is, when they do, what will they say about you?
Many organisations have been left behind because they neglected the importance of investing the time to think about their brand in this broad sense.
When launching your product or service have a think about how you can:
- Be recognised
- Set yourself apart from you competitors
- Motivate your stakeholders
- Connect to your loyal customers
- Actually represent your business values
