In this episode we take a deep dive with Aoife O'Brien, host of Happier at Work podcast, into Brendon Burchard's "High Performance Habits." Uncover the secrets behind all six habits that pave the way for personal and professional excellence. Seek Clarity: High performers have a clear vision for their future and a strong understanding of[...]

In this episode we talk to Graham Owens about the book "Tuesdays with Morrie". A memoir by Mitch Albom that tells the story of the author's former college professor, Morrie Schwartz, who is dying from ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig's disease). The book is divided into fourteen chapters, each covering a different topic of[...]

Shane O'Mara on Substack: Brain Pizza Get the book: here We are social animals and talking is part of what makes us human.But what purpose does conversation serve? In this revelatory tour of talking, neuroscientist Shane O'Mara explores why we communicate, what happens in our brains when we do it, and what it means for[...]

Every now and again you record an episode and completely forget that you are doing doing a podcast. You are so absorbed in what the guest is saying that it becomes a free lesson in life. This is one such episode. A lot of people talk about how to be successful in your chosen arena.[...]

The world of business is in constant change and the world of sales is evolving to keep up. From the days of the power close through to solution and insight selling serious sales professionals constantly seek ways to improve. The modern sales person has a host of sales models to help them which this book[...]

We are talking to Professor Ian Robertson author of several books; 'The Stress Test', 'The Winner effect', 'The Mind's Eye' and 'Mind Sculpture'. In this episode we discuss his newest book 'How Confidence Works'. Steven Pinker called this book 'Interesting and Important'. Former Irish President Mary Robinson said it is 'A revelatory and practical new[...]

In this episode we talk with Ben Belazi about the book "Talk Like TED". This book analyses some of the most successful TED talks to provide insights into the art of public speaking. The author, communication coach Carmine Gallo, emphasizes the importance of storytelling, authenticity, and passion in delivering a memorable presentation. He also highlights[...]

The Art of the Impossible is a book by Steven Kotler, a writer and researcher specializing in neuroscience and peak performance. The book provides practical guidance on achieving "impossible" goals, drawing on insights from elite performers, neuroscientists, and psychologists. Kotler argues that by applying the principles of "flow" - a state of optimal performance and[...]

Former CEO of Siemens, and current regional director of SWARCO, Gary O'Callaghan joins us in this episode to discuss how the book Good to Great influenced his leadership style. This is a book we have covered previously but to get a different perspective on how someone else has used its lessons is invaluable.

Former CEO of Siemens, and current regional director of SWARCO, Gary O'Callaghan joins us in this episode to discuss how the book Good to Great influenced his leadership style. This is a book we have covered previously but to get a different perspective on how someone else has used its lessons is invaluable.

In this episode, Donald H Taylor, chair of the Learning Technologies conference talks about a cluster of books by Nigel Harrison, which includes "How to be a True Business Partner by Performance Consulting," "Improving Employee Performance," and "How to Deal with Power and Manipulation by Performance Consultant." These books are important for Learning and Development[...]

Tools of Titans by Tim Ferriss is a best-selling book that compiles the advice and insights from highly successful people to help readers improve their lives. Ferriss intended to write this book as a personal journal for himself. He wanted to collate all of the learnings from the people he had interviewed on his podcast.[...]

Winning is a book written by Jack Welch, former CEO of General Electric, which provides insights and advice on how to succeed in business and in life. The book is divided into four sections: Underneath It All, Your Company, Your Competition, and Tying Up Loose Ends. Underneath It All: In this section, Welch emphasizes the[...]

One this episode we discuss the book 'The Psychology of Money' with the host of The Entrepreneur Experiment podcast Gary Fox. This book, written by Morgan Housel that explores the behavioral and psychological factors that influence our relationship with money. The book emphasizes that making good financial decisions is not just about understanding math or[...]

What kind of leader are you? According to the author there are 3 types of leader (or SuperBoss) - Iconoclast, Glorious Bastard, Nurturer. A SuperBoss is not going to necessarily going to care about your personal welfare and you might in fact hate your SuperBoss. However, the chances are you will look back on your[...]

We are currently living through motivation 3.0 according to author Daniel Pink. 1.0 was all about survival getting enough food, water and shelter. 2.0 happened in the industrial age. A factory worker was willing to do X to get paid Y. The modern era has changed how we are motivated which leads to Motivation 3.0.[...]

Everything that you have in your life right now is the result of a previous decision you made. Your decisions shape your life and your destiny both personally and professionally. The question then is - how do we and how should we make our decisions? There is a great quote mentioned in this book right[...]

What this episode is about: 1. Personality and behaviour aren't different online vs. offline. The internet and social media is an extension of our lives and communication and so not completely separate. It has very real impacts on us, and how we interact with the world so it's important to understand that and manage your[...]

Stories are one of the most persuasive ways to convince someone of your argument, position yourself as an expert and to move someone along in a sales process. Some people are natural storytellers but the rest of us can learn the rules and structure to tell a compelling story. That is the essence of Building[...]

There is a lot to be said about when to have rules, when to trust the team and when to provide guidelines. In this episode we cover the 10 principles author Kevin Kruse thinks you should consider when it comes to your leadership style. Some make perfect sense and you will wonder why you didn't[...]

Peterson does not mince his words when it comes to delivering his rules for living a good life, a considered life. Considered by some to be a divisive figure, Jordan Peterson is unapologetic about what ills society in this book. If you or someone on your team is stuck in a rut, this episode could[...]

All any of us want is to do good work. We want to solve interesting problems with good people. This is easier said than done for some people. Kim Scott puts forth 6 issues that can cause untold damage for some people while others think everything is rosy in the garden. Just Work covers what[...]

According to Patrick Lencioni there are 5 dysfunctions in a team that left unaddressed will lead to disaster. In this episode Kevin speaks to executive coach and leadership expert Maggie Perotin, founder of StairwayToLeadership.com about how she has used the lessons in this book in her own teams. 

We have all had the feeling in our lives that we are surrounded by idiots - “If everyone did what I told them to do when I told them to do it we wouldn’t be in this mess”….does that sound familiar? It is extremely frustrating when you recognise that your plea’s, plans and persuasion techniques[...]

Going from pillar to post is a trap that a lot of us fall into. We are too busy working, looking after kids etc. to stop and think about the direction of your life. This episode addresses this 'busyness'. What is it all for? You need to find time to hit pause, take a breath,[...]

Most of us have had the pleasure of either owning or encountering a friendly dog. As soon as they see us, they become ecstatic, jumping up and down, their tail wagging, panting with excitement. Their full attention is on us and we are the most interesting thing in the world to them for that moment.[...]

Dale Carnegie describes three techniques for building better relationships with your colleagues and customers. The first is to never criticise, complain or condemn. The second is to show honest and sincere appreciation. People perform better when they receive sincere praise.  Thirdly, arouse an eager want. How will you see it from their point of view?...will[...]

Being a leader is about managing people without causing resentment. Carnegie recognized that this was a fine balancing act and came up with 9 tips for being an effective leader.

In an age where distraction lies around every corner being able to perform 'deep work' is more valuable than ever. In his bestselling book 'Deep Work' Cal Newport puts forward 4 reasons why we should strive to do deep work and then provides rules for how we can achieve it. Newport says that 'Deep Work'[...]

How does Amazon decide on what to build or do next? How do they ensure that technical dependencies don't get in the way of continuous growth? In this episode we cover Working Backwards written by Colin Bryar and Bill Carr, 2 senior employees who worked closely with Jeff Bezos during some of the most explosive[...]

Each and every one of us is wired to seek comfort and avoid discomfort. But maybe too much comfort is a bad thing. The number 0.004% is a significant one in this episode. That is approximately how long we have been exposed to our modern way of life. Humans have been around for 2.5 million[...]

The idea of quieting the mind, of stillness, is not new. In fact, Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, Cicero etc. understood it's importance centuries ago. If you've had a particularly hard time the last while, you might find some solace in this episode. You will find some simple techniques to help quiet your mind. These techniques generally[...]

What is it that makes a company that is trundling along with OK results suddenly turn into a great company with hockey stick growth in all the right areas? In his book Good to Great, Jim Collins and his team dig into the companies that fit this typeof growth and look the variables that seemed[...]

What is it that makes a company that is trundling along with OK results suddenly turn into a great company with hockey stick growth in all the right areas? In his book Good to Great, Jim Collins and his team dig into the companies that fit this typeof growth and look the variables that seemed[...]

A psychopath is not necessarily a serial killer, your friendly neighbourhood neurosurgeon could possibly be a psychopath and believe it or not that is probably the best person for the job. There is so much to be learned from the characteristics of a psychopath that we can apply to our own lives and careers. In[...]

There is a wealth of information on what leadership looks like. But I really believe this book hits upon an aspect of leadership that you might not have considered. Author Sam Walker devised stringent criteria for choosing 16 top performing sports teams and asked himself a very definite question - 'What, if anything, do these[...]

If you are anti-participation medals or you are overwhelmed with trying to please everyone…. If you are tired of trying to ‘crush it’ everyday, then this is the episode for you. Mark Manson has a no holds barred book based on the realities of life. Chapters with names such as ‘You are not Special’ and[...]

One of the most difficult things about leadership is finding the balance between opposing forces. When to mentor or when to let someone go. When to provide instruction and when to leave your team to figure out their own solutions. You can understand all of the 'rules' of leadership but what sets this book apart[...]

The way you stand, sit, talk, shake hands, in fact the way you do EVERYTHING communicates something. In his book 'The Book of Tells', author Peter Collett moves through the different tells that we put out into the world. From submissive tells to dominant tells to how to spot a liar. This episode will make[...]

You have heard a lot from us on books about negotiation. That's because it is a topic that lends itself to ever area of business and leadership.  There is no right way to do it because it is so nuanced with a lot of moving parts. There is however, lots of wrong ways to do[...]

Do you wish you had reacted differently (or better) to a situation? It might not have been your fault. It might have been your chimp. We all have 3 parts to our brains, a human, a chimp and a computer brain. The human is logical and rational. That is who you wished had written the[...]

Navy seals are the best trained soldiers in the world. They operate in absolutely chaotic situations where miscommunication can mean death. Unclear directions or an individual going on a solo run can mean death. For navy seals, leadership matters. Their rules of leadership are at the core of the book written by Jocko Wilink and[...]

Over 25 million copies of this book have been sold and with good reason. In this episode we figure out how to apply these 7 habits to our own professional and personal lives. The author groups his 7 habits into 3 categories - independence, interdependence and continuous improvement.  The habits are laid out in a[...]

What does it mean when someone cross their arms? It means they're being defensive. Or when someone cannot make eye contact? - they're being deceptive. In fact, this is all nonsense. As a species, we are terrible at reading body language. Who knows why someone crosses their arms or doesn't make eye contact. We need[...]

Combining three previous episodes into one this reissued episode focuses on the powerful sales book by Dan Pink. We dive into the new way to look at sales and come to the conclusion that we are all, like it or not, in sales. Part i: Sales has changed, he provides a set of tools to[...]

Habits can serve us when they help us to achieve our goals. But they can also hold us back from getting where we need to get to. In Atomic Habits, the author James Clear builds on another great book about this topic (The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg) and delves into what causes us[...]

Leadership is hard. What are the traits you should look to emulate from others? How will you know you are doing a good job? Another question is how do you prepare for inevitable disasters? In their book The Ostrich Paradox the authors Robert Meyer & Howard Kunreuther discuss this aspect of underpreparation in depth. We[...]

Master business storytelling.  What do The Lion King, The Goonies and Star Wars have in common?    In this podcast we discover the answer and delve into the structure of stories and how to make any story into a business story.    We can use stories to persuade, counter lies and mistruths, inspire action, engage[...]

A psychopath is not necessarily a serial killer, your friendly neighbourhood neurosurgeon could possibly be a psychopath and believe it or not that is probably the best person for the job. There is so much to be learned from the characteristics of a psychopath that we can apply to our own lives and careers. In[...]