Dear Reader,
It's been a rich and interesting week, in business, emotionally and weather-wise. I'm sitting now in the sunshine at Sea Space, where we had a warm welcome on Wednesday. The CEO Ben Harper made a powerful and far-reaching point to the Cornwall Chamber of Commerce:
Community is the foundation for commerce.
I think this is true for Newquay, and for hospitality, but I think it's going to be increasingly true and relevant for the wider world too.
Connecting and contributing
This week I set myself a goal, to post on LinkedIn every day. Partly to learn, partly to teach; also to connect, and to contribute.
There were a few surface lessons but the deeper learning for me was: it’s emotional. There’s something about being seen that stirs things up: uncertainty, exposure, vulnerability.
I found some useful questions underneath it all: “Is this really what I think?” and “Am I ready to stand for it?”
Also "Who am I to say this?" and for that matter "Who am I?!" This is not a straightforward question!
What’s becoming clearer
Out of the noise, some signal is emerging. I keep coming back to a few core ideas:
- Calm creates the conditions for change
- Strategy follows state (not the other way round)
- Action teaches. Reflection refines.
One of the hardest parts I find is: knowing when to act, and when to reflect. For anyone that has studied David Kolb and experiential learning (balancing "Plan, Do, Observe, Reflect", in a nutshell) this is still at the very core of my philosophy, as it has been for 40 years.
Fortunately, most learning happens unconsciously. It's better that way!
So "Who am I?"
I’m someone who believes in the infinite power of positive psychology, personally and collectively; that love and contribution are not soft ideas - they are strategic forces; that when people are calmer, clearer, and more connected, they don’t just feel better. They do better.
And I want to do things about this.
🔥 Revisiting the giants
I also found myself revisiting Tony Robbins, initially via his conversation with Steven Bartlett. (I recommend watching it. It's beautiful. Two men with calm, strong spirits, open hearts and refreshingly low ego. I think it's really significant.)
To be honest, I have been avoiding Tony. I've had a story in my head that he's a bit intense, and I've found him intimidating, for about 30 years! This week I dropped the story and, my goodness, am I glad I can now hear him. Underneath his beautiful energy is a simple message:
Fulfilment comes from Love and Contribution.
What struck me most wasn’t just the message. It was his consistent application of it. He's a personal development coach yet he has fed literally billions of people. He has fought human trafficking. He has created positive change at a MASSIVE scale.
And all this is built on a foundation of applied psychology.
This reinforced something I care deeply about:
Psychology isn’t just interesting. It’s leverage.
When we apply it to ourselves, we amplify what we can give to others. When we give to others, the benefits amplify exponentially. There is no limit.
So what's love got to do with it?
The idea that stayed with me most this week is: Love and Contribution are the fundamental forces in human change.
Love is how we connect. Contribution is how we express it. When we do both, natural energy flows in abundance and we find we can make powerful, positive changes. And there is no limit.
When we love, we don’t just feel better. We do better. For ourselves, and for everyone around us. And it doesn't just add up - it multiplies.
So one deep question I'm contemplating this weekend is, how do I love and contribute? And how can I do more?
As always I value your support, your thoughts, feelings and ideas. Please let me know how this lands with you. And have a lovely weekend.
Very best wishes,
Adam
