I recently contributed to an article by Connor Campbell from www.nerdwallet.com We considered what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur and investigated whether experience or innate ability matters more. I concluded that after some considered self-reflection to establish your personality traits, strengths and competencies you should follow your own path. If you've a spare [...]
The Covid-19 pandemic has placed a huge strain on the nation, and it’s no exaggeration to suggest that we’re in the midst of a wellbeing crisis. Small business owners are suffering from financial worries, stress and feelings of isolation. It often comes from having to solve all the challenges by themselves, without having the option [...]
As a brand ambassador for KitBrix I wanted to share some very exciting news with you! KitBrix are so proud to announce that they are the Official Sports Luggage supplier of British Cycling and the Great Britain Cycling team. KitBrix will be supporting British Cycling and all their riders at all events for the next four years. [...]
Managing a busy care home is a 24/7 commitment and throughout the pandemic the challenges have been immense. Alongside balancing the needs of residents and staff, operational responsibilities are significant – including the careful disposal of often hazardous waste. Selecting the right waste management partner for a Care Home can be tricky. As with all [...]
The Pandemic Crisis has disrupted business in many ways. Daily habits, schedules, thoughts and feelings have changed. Not only are sales teams working from home, but prospective buyers are too. Video conferencing has been effective for staying connected with teammates and it works particularly well, once some level of rapport has been established. But as [...]
In October 1982 my identity changed over-night, I was transformed from being ‘Andy Bourne the swimmer’ to simply ‘Andy Bourne’ and I had to adjust to this loss of special status and the psychological impacts of retiring from my sport. For a decade, I had dedicated myself to training before and after school and attending [...]
I'm delighted to announce my appointment as a Sundried brand ambassador. Here is a short interview I gave at the end of 2020. https://www.sundried.com/blogs/triathlon/andy-bourne-athlete-ambassador?_pos=1&_sid=435f12b2f&_ss=r Like so many people, I'm passionate about the planet and the environment and love the eco-friendly range of Sundried products. Check out their website for a full range of their [...]
Giving feedback Relax back in your chair and soften your tone Uncross your arms and adopt an open posture Be present and take a breath Give them a moment and give yourself a moment Recognise their emotion, “I see you’re angry and I hear what you’re saying. What’s really troubling you here?” Don’t feel under [...]
I'm delighted to announce my involvement with KitBrix. I've found that my KitBrix bag is superb for organising my triathlon kit. The system allows me to separate my wetsuit away from my dry kit and I can tuck my goggles away in one of the pockets to prevent them getting scratched. I recently used my [...]
Many of us don’t listen closely to our colleagues when they’re talking to us. We’re usually thinking about how we’re going to respond, or something entirely different. We have difficulty paying attention and we want to move on to the next order of business. And as a result, we miss much of what people are [...]