Leadership development

05
Oct
Abandoned personal development plan with coffee stain under dramatic lighting, symbolising neglected career planning

The Career Paradox: Managing Projects with Rigour, Careers with Hope

The surprising gap between professional excellence and personal drift. Most professionals (even the best ones) manage their careers with less
4 min read
20
Sep
Hands pushing fast food tray toward viewer with "WE'RE NOT ORDER TAKERS" text overlay.

We're Not Order Takers: Reclaiming Your Value as a Strategic Navigator

When you accept orders without question, you diminish your value and reduce your contribution to task execution. True professionals are
4 min read
11
Sep
Sunset over ocean horizon with dramatic purple and orange clouds reflected in calm waters

The Journey is the Prize

When the final status report is filed and the war room goes silent, what remains? The Last Light There’s
4 min read
09
Sep
Project Pirate Warped watch face with distorted numbers against dark background

More Haste, Less Speed: Why Projects Fail Before They Begin

The ancient wisdom that separates legendary Captains from shipwrecked amateurs. The Death Spiral Begins at Dawn "We need to
5 min read
02
Sep
Blue jellyfish with flowing tentacles against dark background, representing the lingering effects of hindsight

The Sting of Hindsight: Shaping those Critical Moments

How nine words can transform team dynamics when deadlines loom. The Universal Human Experience There's a feeling every
6 min read
27
Aug
Project Pirate Storm-Tested emerging from turbulent waters

Storm-Tested: What Separates Project Leaders from Project Managers?

When competence meets crisis, you discover who your real leaders are. What Storm-Tested Actually Means We throw around a lot
5 min read
25
Aug
Pixel art gaming scene showing 'SECRET LEVEL UNLOCKED' with pirate character collecting golden coins.

The Unspoken Career Game: Hidden Levels, Side Missions & Why Some People Advance Faster

Remember finding that hidden level in Mario that made you feel like you'd discovered a secret? The one
7 min read
21
Aug
Dramatic pirate ship silhouette on dark ocean with neon lighting and glowing horizon.

Explorers: Why Leadership Is an Act of Discovery

Inspired by The Midnight's "Explorers," this piece reflects on why the essence of leadership is not
3 min read
13
Aug
Project Pirate - Gunpowder barrel with protective cover against stormy sea, symbolising strategic restraint

Keep Your Powder Dry: The Art of Measured Leadership in Stormy Seas

When the cannons are firing and the deck is chaos, the Captain who keeps their powder dry is the one
7 min read
04
Aug
Sailor Jerry-style tattoo with two swallows, compass rose, nautical rope and chains, 'Earned, not given' banner above

The Tattoo That Outranks an MBA: Why Real Leaders Earn, Not Memorise

Earned, not given. Most experienced managers know the type: the project lead whose resume glows with credentials, yet panics the
6 min read