Category Archives: Failure

Do we wash our dirty linen in public?

Posted on April 27, 2012 by

No. But it still needs washing.

Posted in Are we logical?, Broken relationships in business, Conflict, Denial, Failure, High staff turover, Integrity in business, Leadership, Leadership problems | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The reluctant leader

Posted on February 24, 2012 by

Ever been to a lecture on “cold calling”? A few years ago I did just this. I sat through 30 minutes of suggestions about scripts, about what we could say to potential “prospects”. A question was then put to us … Continue reading →

Posted in Big business failure, Broken relationships in business, Conflict, Cost of leadership, Do I really want the job?, Failure, Getting to the top, High staff turover, Leader resigns, Leadership, Leadership problems, Leadership qualities, Reluctant leader | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

It’s all about exams

Posted on August 20, 2011 by

If you’ve just had results you could be forgiven for thinking it was. And of course exams are important. But is there more to life than your A level grades? What happens if you don’t have any? Will you make … Continue reading →

Posted in Exams, Failure, Personal development, Success | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Felicity fails to follow

Posted on May 26, 2011 by

Or lead even. In episode 4 of BBC’s Apprentice Felicity Jackson was given the mantle of leadership for the beauty treatment task. If you wanted an exercise in what to do to win, then this would be a good example, … Continue reading →

Posted in Failure, Finding success in business, Leadership problems, Passion is key, The Apprentice 2011, TV reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

How does sport mirror life? Ashes day 7

Posted on December 4, 2010 by

I was once paid to watch cricket. Well only for an hour or so, and technically I was at a “networking event”, so it was really work, honestly! One of the side effects of enjoying sport, is hearing some of … Continue reading →

Posted in Ashes, Failure, Leadership, Sport mirrors life, Success | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Apprentice Alex: “it’s a total mess”!

Posted on November 11, 2010 by

This week’s task on BBC’s Apprentice was about advertising a cleaning product. The losing team picked “Germ-o-nator” as a brand. It didn’t exactly clean up. Both teams were very poor, but somehow we’ve been there before with this task. And … Continue reading →

Posted in Failure, Leadership problems, The Apprentice, TV reviews, You're fired | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

What happens if you mess up?

Posted on October 22, 2010 by

It’s all very well writing about leadership and integrity in business and in the community, but what happens when we get it wrong? What happens when we totally blow it? Is there hope after a disaster? Well it’s true that our … Continue reading →

Posted in Big business failure, Broken relationships in business, Confidential advice, Failure, Forgiveness, Integrity in business, Leader resigns, Saint or villain, You're fired | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

How to win your task: Stella Apprentice

Posted on October 14, 2010 by

The contrast between success and failure on BBC’s The Apprentice Episode 2 could not be more clear. Head girl Stella led the boys to victory, while Laura led the girls of St Trinians to nothing. Stella’s team won the task of designing a beach … Continue reading →

Posted in Conflict, Failure, Leadership, Success, Teamwork, The Apprentice, TV reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The Apprentice: what lies in store?

Posted on September 30, 2010 by

Lord Sugar’s assistant, Nick Hewer, was reported in “The Times” yesterday as saying it never ceased to amaze him how contestants failed to learn anything from watching previous series (BBC “The Apprentice“! With a new series starting, and I must … Continue reading →

Posted in Failure, The Apprentice, TV reviews, Why we don't take advice | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

How close is a big firm to failing?

Posted on September 15, 2010 by

The bigger you are the harder you fall, or so I was told. Having worked in the Big Four, I can confirm that they are very worried about falling over. And it’s no surprise either. When Arthur Andersen collapsed a … Continue reading →

Posted in Big business failure, Binary thinking, Confidential advice, Failure, Getting to the top, Leader resigns, Lonely at the top | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment