Harnessing Tech, Elevating Leadership
On 8th November 2024, I took the (virtual) stage at the Digital Security Festival, an event known for exploring the boldest questions about technology, innovation, and the future of business. This year’s focus was on the transformative impact of cyber-presence in business, and I couldn’t resist tackling a powerful reality: the shift from information-driven to data-centric societies—and what that means for businesses, leadership, and even our sense of self. In my keynote, I explored how companies like Amazon, Apple, and Spotify have thrived by leveraging data-driven models, automating decisions, and shaping entire industries. But success powered by data isn’t without its challenges—especially for leaders, decision-makers, and even individual identity. The very tools that offer efficiency can also create dependency, burnout, and even identity crises, leaving us wondering: “When the sky has no limit, how far should we go?”
Why Being Serious Is Seriously Overrated
In a world where seriousness is worn like a badge of honor—whether at school, work, or in our personal lives—have we ever stopped to ask: is all this seriousness really making us happier or more successful? We’re constantly told to “get serious” to achieve great things, but what if being serious is, well, seriously overrated?
This Contemplationist article takes a light-hearted yet insightful dive into the societal obsession with seriousness, questioning whether it’s truly necessary or just a habit we’ve picked up along the way. Through humour, sharp analysis, and some surprising examples, it challenges the idea that seriousness equals sustainable success. If you’re ready to rethink how you approach life—and maybe enjoy it a little more—this article will show you how thoughtfulness, joy, and wisdom can coexist, minus the heavy frown.
It’s Your Glass: Fill It Your Way
Own Your Glass: Break Free from the Hustle, don’t break the glass! By owning our glass, taking responsibility for our actions, and preparing for the unexpected, we can break free from the superficial hustle and achieve true, balanced fulfilment. Embracing this deep, intentional approach transforms our lives from mere busyness to meaningful and enduring legacy.
The Clear Cut: Cutting Through the Clutter to Clear Your Mind
I set out with a simple goal: clear up my desk. Little did I know that a mundane task would turn into a journey of self-discovery. From old papers and forgotten notes to relics of past projects, the act of shredding and reorganizing sparked a surprising sense of liberation. I found myself shredding not just physical clutter but mental clutter too. Along the way, I even ditched two extra computer screens, realizing that perhaps my multitasking setup didn’t need to resemble a NASA control room after all. The result? A profound sense of freedom, focus, and, yes, a better-organized desk.
Whilst shredding, I began reflecting on how this process aligned with deeper philosophies like Taoism, embracing simplicity and balance. Clearing out forgotten tasks and outdated notes brought more than just neatness—it sparked a shift in mindset. In this article, I explore the surprising connection between a clean workspace and a clear mind, and how something as small as shredding papers can pave the way for a more focused, purpose-driven life. Ready to discover the magic of decluttering? Read on to find out how a tidy desk could be the key to clearer thinking and calmer days ahead.
Change Is Inevitable—Why Aren’t You Ready?
This article explores the inevitability of change, emphasizing how humans and businesses often resist transformation despite its constant presence in nature. While everything around us evolves, there is an inner belief that we remain the same. This resistance to change has led to the many downfalls of industry giants and rulers alike who failed to adapt. Focus on superficial growth-related changes while neglecting the deeper transformations necessary to stay relevant in an ever-evolving world.
From a Contemplationist perspective, resisting change is a contradiction to the natural order of growth. Whether in business or personal life, attempting to maintain the status quo leads to stagnation and missed opportunities for growth. True leadership involves embracing change as a force for innovation and progress. By understanding that change is both inevitable and essential, individuals and organizations can align with the natural flow of evolution, fostering the long-term success and resilience of their purpose driven visions. Change is inevitable—why aren’t you ready? The Contemplationist offers a guide to navigating this process.
Winning Must Be Part of Your Cohesive Vision
In this article, Simon Vumbaca, the Contemplationist, highlights how winning must be a natural extension of our cohesive vision of life. Success doesn’t happen by chance but is a result of aligning actions with a clear long-term purpose. By avoiding unnecessary compromises and staying focused on our goals, we embed winning into our very identity. Simon Vumbaca emphasizes that incremental victories, just as much as major achievements, contribute to this vision. Through dedication, discipline, and maintaining a purpose-driven outlook, winning becomes not just an outcome but a continual process that reflects the cohesive vision guiding our life.
Learning to win: every day is a lesson provided we want to excel
Whether we realize it or not, we are all learning every day. What sets successful people apart—those who continually surpass themselves—is their relentless desire to improve, even when they’re already winning. Imagine an athlete at the top of their game, constantly refining their technique, analysing every performance, and pushing harder every day. That’s the mindset: […]
Back to Work: Time to Take Things to the Next Level
In Europe, August is a time for vacations. Many Latin countries close their doors to normal business and head to the beach. These are times spent with family and friends, recharging batteries. This good habit has, in one form or another, extended to most countries in the Western world. For many, though, me included, breaking […]
If This Goes On, What Must Come Off?
Recently, I reread Sir David Attenborough’s A Life on Our Planet. I highly recommend it. The perspective offered in each chapter is both enlightening and chilling. The anthropological evolution of society is mirrored beautifully within its pages, and the interaction between humans and the world around us is thoroughly documented by a witness who has […]
The Real Cost of Learning Your Lessons
“Errare humanum est.” To make mistakes is human. A very well-known statement that has been used in all sorts of instances to express that errors do happen. The reason errors occur can relate to many things, depending on each specific case. A world without errors would be a world ruled by a lack of initiative, […]
From Strategy to Tragedy (and How to Make It Back)
Good planning is essential to success. Like many others, I am a great believer that preparing for all eventualities, every angle, and possible outcome is the way to have a fighting chance for a great strategy to succeed. It doesn’t matter in what walk of life or business the strategy is for. Failing to prepare […]
So, What Is Really Going On Is…
We all want to do well. We also want others to do well. When both aspirations’ paths go in the same direction, then it is brilliant, and all seems perfect. Sometimes, though, paths that seemed to go in the same direction cross each other in a non-positive manner. One may be tempted to accept some […]
Vote for Me (Blah Blah Blah): A Song on the Electorate-Elected Dance
As you all know, it is not the role of the Contemplationist to comment on political ideology. It is really not something for us. As a Contemplationist, though, reflecting on the impact the last few weeks will have on the short-term future is something fascinating. The current 12 to 17-year-olds will inherit the world in […]
I Have No Idea Why I Did It, but It Was the Right Choice!
Are Your Choices Really Yours? The Subconscious Influences on Our Decisions Pricing a service or a good is an arduous job. You do not want to charge too much, but you also do not want to undervalue your offering. I read in a book on value services that the best way to achieve the best […]
Adversity as Constructive Force
As mostly all of us do, I invested my time in a lot of things, possibilities, opportunities, options of deals with great outcome, companies, projects reviews, technicalities and so on. It all seemed a winning horse at the time and off course worth my time. A lot of the time invested did not turn into […]
Money Is Not an Object… Anymore
In business and in life, we like to feel informed. I must confess that since 2008 the degree of business and financial information available and gathered has been growing exponentially. We now have on-the-spot updates and financial predictions that are delivered with such convincing aplomb that we believe they must be accurate and based on […]
Fluid Strategy
I am often asked: what is Strategy? I used to use long and detailed explanations that covered all sorts of possible objections the listener had never even thought of, taking the more ‘detailed’ route of strategy of my own in anticipating their reactions. However, in recent years, the more experiences I had the more I […]
Ask Yourself These Three Powerful Questions – And Do Nothing
I was recently looking for some information to help a client that had grown so fast since first trading to see where things were being delayed in the implementation of his strategy. To any neutral observer it was clear: daily tasks micro-management was taking over the execution of the agreed strategy. The client was frustrated […]
Rational or Instinctive Decisions: Which Works Better?
The time to make a decision is the most nerve-wracking moment for any decision maker. The list of the “what ifs” is never-ending. Assuming the information we have is accurate, have we really covered all the angles that matter? The list goes on. The reality is that one is rarely in possession of 100% of […]
Return on Time Invested
According to western traditions, we are at the start of a new year. This is a time when all resolutions are forged in purposes and actions. Most for a short while. We focus on what is ahead. Have we learned from the recent past though? For me 2023 has been a fantastic year by many […]