Manifesto Musings

I recently celebrated my 57th birthday. Among the messages and well-wishes, I received a gift that I know I will carry with me for a long time. It came from my brother, Tony – though to me, he is ‘Nails’ (long story). And to him, I am ‘Pedro’ (not quite as long a story). As… Read More

There is something quietly powerful that happens when a group of School Principals – so often in motion, so often in service of others – choose to pause. Recently, we have had the genuine privilege of walking alongside 30 dedicated and deeply caring leaders as they moved through the seven steps of crafting their personal… Read More

Why your hardest days are when your personal manifesto matters most We often describe a personal manifesto as aspirational. It’s a document written in hope. In clarity. In moments when we have just enough space to pause, reflect, and ask ourselves the deeper questions: Who do I want to be? What truly matters? How do… Read More

Happy New Year. Hello, new. New can feel uncertain. It can also feel fresh and quietly exciting. For me, new is not about starting again. It is about carrying forward what I’ve learned – and opening the next annual chapter with a little more wisdom, perspective, and intention. Life is not a series of restarts,… Read More

Over recent months, I’ve become increasingly interested in what it means to develop a more compassionate relationship with time. Not time as a resource to manage or a puzzle to optimise, but time as something deeply human – a rhythm we live within, a companion in our search for meaning, wisdom, and balance. This curiosity… Read More

We have just completed a webinar series with a primary school principal’s cohort in NSW. What an experience! Justin and I are like the Cheshire Cat with grins from ear to ear. The reason is simply this: in this series, we have fulfilled an instance of our jointly held vision of servant leadership. We have… Read More

In Blog #177, we explored the simple but powerful habit of asking yourself, “Am I sure?” Since then, several of our manifesto mates have shared how valuable they’ve found this question – while others have asked for a deeper dive into its purpose. So, let’s revisit the idea and unpack why it can be such… Read More

I have had occasion to reflect upon my Signature Character Strengths again this week. When I joined Toastmasters International over two years ago – to retain my confidence in the public arena after retiring from classroom teaching — I decided to deliver my Ice Breaker speech focusing on my Signature Character Strengths. I entitled it,… Read More

Altruism is a big word for a simple, very human impulse: helping someone else without expecting anything in return. It’s a cousin of kindness and caring, but not quite the same. Kindness is often about warmth in action – offering a smile, holding the door, sharing a meal. Caring can be ongoing – tending to… Read More