THE DARING WORKS NEWSLETTERTrimTabs - small shifts, big possibilities.
A weekly dose of curiosity, perspective and the occasional provocation.
A trim tab is a small flap on the rudder of a ship. By moving this tiny piece, you can help turn the much larger rudder and ultimately change the direction of the entire vessel.
It's an idea I came across through the brilliant and unconventional thinker Buckminster Fuller, who saw it as a metaphor for how individuals can influence much bigger systems.
And I love the idea that small shifts in how we think, see and act can create ripples far beyond ourselves. That's the spirit behind TrimTabs.
Every Tuesday morning, I share something that's got me thinking. Sometimes it's about business, leadership or the systems we've created. Other times it's nature, burnout, community, technology or simply what it means to be human.
I draw on my experiences in the corporate world, my work as an Accredited Coach and strategist and my growing fascination with what the natural world can teach us.
It's a place to connect seemingly unrelated ideas, challenge a few assumptions and perhaps see something familiar in a different light.
Sometimes personal. Sometimes practical. Occasionally provocative.
And hopefully, every now and then, something that acts as a little trim tab in your own life.
When did rest become something to earn?
I don’t know about you but life has felt rather full recently. The shift from summer into September’s ‘back to school’ energy combined with ever increasing costs and global volatility has brought a real change in what I was seeing, reading and experiencing.
Despite that, there’s been plenty to feel good about too. Last Tuesday we held our first ‘Gather’ evening. Sitting around a fire, eating cake and spending time together was magical.
Where are all the men?
I’ve been thinking about writing this for a while but I wanted to get it right.
I’ve been wondering where all the men are?
Not just in the spaces I’ve created but in the spaces I find myself in. A lot of the work I’m drawn towards these days sits somewhere around healing, spirituality, nature, coaching, personal development and exploring what it means to be human.
Our real strength comes from connection
I’m excited to share what I’ve been up to this week.
It’s genuinely been one of the most eye-opening and hope-filled few days I’ve experienced for a while.
Lots of my work sits somewhere between sustainability, culture, wellbeing and systems thinking. It’s a fascinating place to be but it can also feel complex, overwhelming and (at times) frustrating.
When does technology stop serving us?
I’ve been sitting with the feeling for a while that we’re living our lives the wrong way round when it comes to technology.
This isn’t an anti-technology rant. We all use technology every day and some of it has undoubtedly made our lives easier. If I had family in Australia, for example, I’d quite happily use a video call to see their faces. That technology helps me feel connected to people I love.
Dare to think
I hope you don’t mind but I’d like to start with a question for you.
How comfortable are you to go with the truth?
I mean it, pause for a second and think about that. How often do you really think for yourself, listen to your intuition and go with what feels true for you?
Remembering my roots at 44.
It’s my birthday tomorrow. I’ll be 44, which sounds like a grown-up age. I’m not sure I feel very grown up though. I suspect I’ll always be something of an experiment in curiosity, learning and emergence, so each annual journey around the sun gives me a chance to reflect on what I’ve learned, witnessed and explored along the way.
So if I was going to summarise this year, I think I’d call it a great remembering.