Reframe! #2

1/ NOTICE

What’s the difference between those who talk a big game and those who deliver?

A consultancy founder called me last month.
We talked about what she wanted to build next. 

The conversation meandered through a new offering, different clients, better structure.

The energy was there, but something wasn’t working. Then I asked: “What outcome do you actually want?”

She started to answer. Stopped. Started again. Then admitted she wasn’t sure.

She had ideas but hadn’t paused to get clear on where those might take her. So we spent the next ninety minutes on that.

I only asked three questions:

• What do you want?
• What’s important about that?
• How will you know when you’ve achieved it?

Answered properly, these questions shift everything. 

Suddenly there’s clarity. With clarity comes accountability. And accountability creates momentum - the thing that ultimately delivers results.

Where have you seen that in practice?

“The individual is not the best authority on their own problem. Those who ask questions from the outside frequently are.” ​- Reg Revans

More: The 4 Disciplines of Execution by Chris McChesney, Sean Covey, and Jim Huling

2/ TRY

What happens when you talk to 100 people on purpose? 

A challenge for 2026. 

Write down 3 things you want to achieve in the next year and one bigger thing further out. Make a list of your connections. Then start the conversations. 

• A coffee counts. 
• A Zoom call counts.
• A group dinner counts. 

You’re not just networking. You’re talking to people who might help you see your goals differently. 

The magic isn’t in a perfect agenda. It’s what happens when you put yourself in the path of synchronicity. 

And, by the time you’ve had those conversations, you’ll have moved forward. Because you showed up and stayed curious. 

The 100 number is arbitrary. 

But committing to a number makes you do it instead of thinking about doing it. 

Pick your 3 things. Start talking. See what shifts.

"Ever feel like you're mooching through life, doing okay and feeling pretty fine, but not thriving?" ​- Phoebe Dodds

More: The 100 Connections Challenge: how to change your life in 2026 - Phoebe Dodds

3/ QUESTION​
​
​How will you create space for Brain-Struggle?

​This LinkedIn post by Adrian Sandy got me thinking about the power of independent thinking again. 

He was talking about it in the context of "Cognitive Upsizing" in the age of AI. That's an idea he was introduced to by Joel Pearson in a talk about "The psychology of Thriving in an AI World." 

Cognitive Upsizing is a prescription for what you must do when you outsource a task to AI. Basically you find something more involved only you can do. 

For me that immediately points to independent thinking. That's something most people are avoiding - not because it's hard, but because they're moving too fast to realise they need it. 

So how will you create space for Brain-Struggle?

"Simple can be harder than complex: You have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple."​
​
- Steve Jobs

More: Solitude and Leadership by William Deresiewicz

What are your takeaways from today's brief?