Lead a vivid life that does good

Author: andrewnicol.net

My world is changing…

If I’m honest, I didn’t plan for this much change in the last 12 months. 𝗕𝗶𝗴, 𝘄𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘆 𝘷𝘰𝘤𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭 changes in direction for me.

One of my favourite physics formulas is:
𝗣 = 𝗠𝗩 (𝘔𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘶𝘮 = 𝘔𝘢𝘴𝘴 × 𝘝𝘦𝘭𝘰𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘺)

And I didn’t realise it at the time, but I’d unknowingly began a quest for a new trajectory.

Velocity with purpose.

And as decisions gained momentum, they are reshaping my involvement in some of these amazing companies.

  • Nexus Recruitment and Agoge merged to form Nexus Agoge Recruitment. I’ve had the privilege of working with Brendon (CEO) for many years, first at Agoge and then as a partner company after he founded Nexus and Susannah (GM) for over a decade each —and they’re the kind of leaders you trust with both the mission and the people. Their grit, and deep care will shape this next season in all the right ways.
  • I’ve also stepped out of Radical HR. I’m honoured to have played a tiny part in getting things going and now leave things 100% in the hands of the incredible Lisa — thoughtful, bold, and fiercely people-first. Lisa brings heart and clarity in equal measure.
  • And in early April, as I continue to transition, I’ll have no direct reports for the first time in, 𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩, over 30 years (not for long I hope.)


Letting go of something that’s defined you for so long is disorienting.

But there’s also a strange kind of clarity in it.

Freedom even.

𝗩𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗶𝘁𝘆 = 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

For me, Velocity is motion with meaning.

Speed, but aimed at something purposeful.

I’m no longer trying to go fast in multiple directions.



𝘚𝘰, 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘯𝘦𝘹𝘵?
Therefore | To be honest I’m not 100% sure, but;

  • Literally out of nowhere, opportunities have emerged to support CEOs to create Purposeful Productivity—organisations with thriving teams, aligned to strategy, delivering incredible outcomes.
  • And in a tangent space, I’m validating a new business with models, Agentic AI, and new ways of working that help organisations deeply care for people — and grow productivity and profitability.

Reach out if you’d like a coffee to find out more.

I started the week feeling completely overwhelmed!

On Monday, I started the week feeling completely overwhelmed!

And it was all my own doing 🤦🏻‍♂️

Which somewhat ironic, because I literally teach people the CODE to reduce stress and improve their productivity. But being the human I am I completely ignored my own rules, processes and hacks and fell into bad habits.

I had skipped a weekly review two weeks ago, then missed the next one and started this week feeling behind, lacking clarity and overwhelmed. And that was after an awesome weekend away with friends!

It’s now 4:15 on a Friday and I’m clear of the clutter, significantly more relaxed and ready for the weekend AND next week.

How?

Here’s 5 things I did…

  • I recognised the problem | Once I acknowledge the problem I realised I needed to make space to get back on top of it all.
  • I did my Weekly Preview | Normally I do this on a Friday, but as I missed it I did it first thing on Monday. A weekly preview is looking ahead at the week and know what is important (not urgent) and understanding where I will fit it all in. This week my preview included a commitment to do a weekly review. I also decided to train to Auckland instead of drive to get productive time back.
  • I did a full weekly review | I fully cleared the deck, inbox zero, capture locations sorted, tasks captured, and then did my weekly preview for next week, so I know my plan.
  • I updated my projects | Often when we are flying by the seat of the pants, we are tasking rather than batching work to do with projects. I got clarity on what’s next in the right places.
  • I directed work to others | Because I had done the above, I knew what I needed to do and what needed to be directed others. And then I handed off a bunch of work that will now happen without me.

One of the biggest challenges I see in people when they get overwhelmed, is they don’t make the space to self-correct and to do that quickly. If you are ending the week overwhelmed, maybe you need to cancel some meetings and make space to breath.

Energy Redefined: Beyond the Leaky Bucket

As the new year unfolds, it’s an opportune time to reflect on how we perceive energy. Often, we liken our energy to a leaky bucket, something that depletes and needs constant refilling. But this perspective might be limiting us.

What if we reimagined energy through different metaphors?

For me, I relate to energy like the wind or a breeze. The wind is always there – sometimes subtle, other times forceful. Understanding the direction of life’s winds is crucial. For instance, my aging father is nearing the end of his life, a situation requiring me to travel weekly in an already busy schedule. I could resist it, fight against it and feel drained by it or I accept it, recognizing that this is where the wind is currently taking me and look for ways for it to energise me.

Of course plenty of potential metaphors for personal energy.

Imagine energy as wind, guiding us like a sailboat on its course.

Or as ocean waves, where we learn to ride the highs and lows.

Perhaps, think of it as a flowing river, carrying us effortlessly forward.

These metaphors aren’t just poetic; they offer new ways to understand and harness our energy.

When we think about energy incorrectly we run the risk of viewing things as de-energising when in fact they are just this season of life.

By exploring these varied metaphors, we open ourselves to more fluid, dynamic ways of managing and experiencing our energy, transforming not just how we feel, but how we engage with life itself.

So what is your metaphor for personal energy?

The Keystone Word: Shaping Your Year Ahead

Have you ever tried to encapsulate an entire year into just one word?

It sounds daunting, right?

For years, I’ve been summing up my years with a single, defining word. But the real game-changer was when a friend suggested selecting a word for the year ahead, and I’ve found it incredibly empowering.

I’ve found it incredibly helpful as the year progresses to keep me focused on what is really important to the holistic me. The word is less about work goals and more about how I want  grow and lead and be.

As we dive into the new year, what’s one word you’d want to define it?

Imagine a word that truly defines your dreams for the year. Like a beacon for your year, this word could capture your aspirations, objectives, and those areas ripe for growth.

For me, “Ascend” is the word of the year. The goal is to sharpen my focus as I lead my team toward our goals, improves some of my habits, and inspires my personal quests, including climbing actual mountains.

So, what’s your word?