Personal

How I stay productive and go through my tasks

25 January 2024 ·

I received a text message from a former colleague and friend about how I stay productive and avoid procrastination. This colleague is not the first to notice my strengths in this area and ask for tips, tricks, and book recommendations. So here I go.

First things first, there is no silver bullet to doing things right. Many things that work for me might or might not work for you. Ultimately, you need to design a system that works for you. Staying productive in my work and private life comes down to building habits, being consistent, and optimizing what needs improvement.

Ready for 2024

31 December 2023 ·

My tiny sabbatical ‘in between jobs’ is almost over. I’m finishing this unique period with a short family holiday break on the island of Lanzarote.

Per 2024, I will start with a US-based Product and Tech company and look forward to the journey ahead. My role will be based in the Netherlands, and similar to my previous role, it involves quite some travel due to working with an international team.

For the next step in my career, I wished to experience what working for a British or US-based company would be about, and I’m happy that it worked out like that. I believe I will benefit from my previous experience working with teams in EMEA, APAC, and LATAM, and I look forward to putting what I have learned into practice in this new environment.

It was an absolute joy to have some time off from work. It gave me time to reflect and to be a good friend, husband, father, and son. I’ve enjoyed the ‘me’ time by visiting some brilliant museums, reading lots of books, running 4-5 times a week, working with my hands, and planning to return to work.

I’m ready for 2024 and feel happy and fortunate to have good mental and physical health. I wish you the same. 🍀

De boeken die ik las in 2023

31 December 2023 ·

Een overzicht van de boeken die ik las in 2023. 2023 was een jaar met veel crime verhalen.

In de ‘Munch & Krüger’ serie las ik:

Ik reis alleen – ⭐⭐⭐⭐
De doodsvogel – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
De jongen in de sneeuw – ⭐⭐⭐
Sneeuwwit – ⭐⭐⭐⭐
De terugkeer van Mia – ⭐⭐⭐⭐

In de ‘Robert Hunter’ serie las ik de eerste vier, naar het Nederlands vertaalde, boeken:

Handtekening van het kwaad – ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Gezicht van het kwaad – ⭐⭐⭐
Jager in de nacht – ⭐⭐⭐⭐
De beeldhouwer – ⭐⭐⭐⭐

In de ‘Harry Hole’ serie van Jo Nesbø, las ik het nieuwste en voorlopig laatste boek:

Bloedmaan – ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Andere boeken die las:

Help, ik heb een puber! – ⭐⭐
De overlevenden – ⭐⭐⭐⭐
De hulp – ⭐⭐
De lessen van meneer Picquier – ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Het Koninklijk Huis – ⭐⭐⭐
De spion en de verrader – ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
De zeven vinkjes – ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Nirwana – ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Strategic ambiguity

25 August 2023 ·

I heard a good reflection on the ambiguity that employees experience regarding the company’s direction/strategy.

As a manager, you are often confronted with employees who say they do not understand the business strategy. Your manager’s default reaction is to clarify the strategy again through a 1:1 explanation or by creating the next version of your strategic PowerPoint, which you then put on the agenda in a team meeting.

Usually, the problem is much simpler.

The employee understands the company’s long-term direction but does not know how they can contribute to it today.

Don’t forget, as a manager, it is often better to focus on the following action(s) for the employee (and yourself) instead of returning to work on the next version of your strategic plan.