TOM SMILOVITIS
'Unlocking Potential'
I sent a message to about fifty of my business friends and associates, wishing them a blessed Easter. I received an interesting response by one of them who is a high...
Is Corporate Chaplaincy going to be the next best thing? We know Corporate Social Responsibly Policies (CSR) are often a cover up for No Social Responsibility. Who, in our sphere of...
Welcome to a new episode of TOMCAST , ‘The moment we stop leading our own life, the cracks begin to appear’. As a young person, the very thought of getting old...
Welcome to another episode of TOMCAST. Don’t forget to subscribe to my blog and follow my podcast. Forgiveness is raw subject and many struggle to talk about it, yet the need...
In a world addicted to social media and marketing gimmicks; too many of us spend endless amounts of time producing so little from our efforts. Jesus, the ultimate social media expert....
How many would close a business because it’s going too well? Hardly, however there are some things more important than popularity. For me, it’s the validation of authenticity and no one...
Personal Development is not what you think it is As we come out of the Industrial Age of school classrooms, herd teaching and the promise of prosperity if we have the...
We live in a day and age where anxiety is at an all time high rather than the ability believe. Belief & Anxiety are always battling for the same platform. Belief...
The ability to momentarily reflect on things that matter can save years of agony. Human beings are terrible at thinking deeply or considering a better way of living. We are victims...
Human beings love the idea of escaping the rat race and living a life of harmony. The over simplified meaning of rat race according to Wikipedia; A rat race is an...
Leadership : The art of motivating a group of people or individuals to achieve an objective. Why use the term ‘Wholesome’ ~ The following words describe aspects of wholesomeness : Considerate,...
Human beings have a fascination with the existence of God, the after life and the meaning of life beyond instinct. In ancient times, even the great Pharaohs, the heads of state...
In a world that is bent on self destruction through violence, control and supremacy, there is still an art to winning over your enemy without a battle. A quote from Sun...
The world is changing rapidly when it comes to the value of labour. From the Industrial Age that created the fastest labour force in history, individuals have had a $ dollar...
Team: A group of players forming one side in a competitive game or sport, is the simplest definition. Wether it’s in sport, the corporate world or the not for profit sector,...
Kindness : The quality of being friendly, generous, and considerate. Kindness is not being astute, calculating and intentional in order to win or have an advantage; kindness wins by having a...
The simplest term in the Ancient Greek used in the Lord’s Prayer. Part of the prayer goes ‘Forgive us our debts as we forgive them indebted to us’ We all know...
Many of us have come across this quote “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, but expecting different results.” The very idea of good intentions, being hard working...
I’ve had the privilege of working with many different individuals holding leadership roles. It’s fascinating how only a few of these leaders seem to glue their projects together with minimal effort,...
When we talk about thinking outside the box; rarely is the concept adopted because we have to risk what we think we already know. There is nothing more comforting than knowing...
The idea that a CEO, MD or Head of a department encouraging open conversation sounds noble, to see it played out is rare, why? Unless the Leader exemplifies open conversation to...
The world has never been more equiped to build stronger networks but human nature keeps breaking them down When we build gangs rather than create networks, the opportunities start to dwindle...
Imagine someone calling you the light of the world, honouring you with such a heavy burden, what would you do? Many of us struggle to accept that we carry much light...
If we are to make impact in uncharted territory, we need to have the right team It’s the leaders role to know the destination, not necessarily the whole process of getting...
Nature teaches us so much if we are open to it. When we look at a natural forrest, it develops an eco system where all sorts of living creatures survive as...
It’s interesting how the ancient word Evangelist has been adopted by technology companies with a simple definition of what a Technology Evangelist does ‘A technology evangelist is a person who builds...
Even the beggar will get a return on their time invested on the streets, asking for a handout, why wouldn’t you succeed if you have a solution for someone. I’ve marvelled...
Humans are brilliantly resilient, but when we no longer believe, the death cycle starts. Believe in what? Believe that people can change, including us Believe in unexpected opportunities Believe we can...
I attended a women’s lunch recently held in a vineyard, surrounded by tall trees, grass and grapevines. The ladies were dressed beautifully with soft music playing in the background by a...
We are not meant to know and do everything A great sign of leadership maturity and humility is knowing our own limitations Creating that magic team starts by reaching out for...
Over 2.45 Billion users log onto Facebook monthly, to travel the digital highway. With all that activity, very few go outside their tribe. Wether it’s Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, Twitter, Snapchat,...
Possessive, insecure, fearful, resentful, angry, an overwhelming sense of potential loss of relationship or possession Jealousy reveals itself in the most unusual settings and it doesn’t discriminate against kin or foe...
The words we speak or don’t speak are not static, they carry life or death With our words we can disarm a volatile situation or inflame it 1. Practice speaking life...
When the teachers thought you were the least likely to succeed When you were overlooked for that promotion or job opportunity When you’ve failed at numerous attempts to start a lucrative...
Luck’s simplest definition : success or failure apparently brought by chance rather than through one’s own actions. Wether we want to call it luck, favour or blessing, the very idea that...
It’s difficult to find the person who coined this phrase, ‘Lead, follow or get out of the way’. I’ll guarantee they were decisive and not double minded. Lead If we ever...
Discipline is definitely a key to progress, until our disciplines lock us up We all know those people who won’t break routine. Their routine has become their good luck charm and...
Anger is one of those emotions that needs to be preserved and used with absolute discretion 1. No one loses the temper, they simply direct it When someone tells you they...
How do we influence society to do the best they can without enforcing too many rules 1. The devil is not in the detail, the devil is in the lack of...
I remember decades ago, hearing a great message on the art of leadership. The key comment that stood out to me as a young man ‘Stick around long enough and watch...
Leadership Development is an unseen process. We’ve heard the phrase ‘Fake it till you make it’ which is another way of admitting, not everything you see is authentic. 1. Who wants...
There is a huge difference between training others and using them A Position Hog? They use their position to get their way and leave little room for others to grow 1....
I grew up in family businesses, from a bakery, fast foods and restaurants. They all revolved around repetitive processes. Each person was appointed to their own unique pole position to make...
We attract who we are, not who we claim we are It doesn’t take long to recognise the motives in people once the acid is applied The origin of the ACID...
A futurist in the simplest way, sees the future based on conditions applied. Some conditions may be intervened, some may have to be accepted. A futurist lives in the thousand shades...
It’s the most painful experiences that enlighten the most beautiful hearts When we are living the high life, it’s often difficult to recognise authentic relationships, opportunities and our capacity How could...
No matter how much we try to mind our own business, there will always be someone that will meddle with our business, why? I can’t even begin to tell you how...
The term ‘thou shalt not covet’ was carved in stone thousands of years ago for a reason. It was never meant to be replaced by another law. It was not open...
Why use the term WHOLESOME Leadership & Mentoring? Before we choose the Leadership & Personal Development process, choose the person who walks the walk and talks the talk. In the ancient...
I’m confident that there isn’t a person on earth that believes they are perfect; then why are we so hard on ourselves? 1. We can’t be in control of what is...
Those who continue to exist and live in spite of danger and hardship 1. They accept the conditions around them, they don’t accept defeat Part of the survival journey is acknowledging...
Everyone carries a certain energy about them. Some are so negative, like a black hole in space, they dim the atmosphere in every room they walk in and… 1. People in...
The world has gone mad with an overstimulation of info, many can’t see the Forrest for the trees. Becoming a Mentor doesn’t have to be official. It is simply helping someone...
Society has brilliantly elevated individuals and groups to the status of the gods projecting perfection as an achievable goal. The reality is, all human beings are as fragile as a clay...
A young man that I know noticed his elderly neighbour had a broken down car and felt inspired to go out and buy her a car that day. The neighbour had...
‘Change is inevitable, growth is optional’ ~ John Maxwell Every generation strives for a better and less burdensome life. The challenge is often mental and emotional to accept the new way...
It’s often admirable when we hear that someone is focused, they have a one track mind, they are like a dog on a bone. The idea of focus and discipline denotes...
The term RESET isn’t necessarily positive or negative. In the following blog, it’s an opportunity to free our mind and life from false expectations we have of ourselves and life’s circumstances....
You can’t escape your calling and you will never find peace until you surrender to it. Wether you’re an artist, engineer, soldier, teacher or nurse, these titles aren’t your calling. Your...
The idea of virtual is not limited to the software world, it is as old as time. VIRTUAL – Something that exists in the mind and there’s an attempt to make...
Nothing worse than seeing someone step into roles they’re not suited to. It’s often the case when someone gets that promotion and they become miserable. To some, a promotion may end...
In a robotic world, it will be those with a high EQ that will take the new jobs and lead. Human beings are exhausted mentally and a new form of work...
It’s an art to keep key people motivated and on task. It’s an accomplishment when key people give a greater return than projected KPI’s Who are the Key People? 1. Key...
When something is illegitimate, it is the result of the wrong decision or decisions made. Authority by definition rubs most of society the wrong way ‘The power or right to give...
No one had a clue how bad things would get I had just flown back to Australia from India in February 2020 going through four airports. Every authority had different ideas...
Three lies that trap us An ancient king has one wish in a difficult season “I wish I had wings like a dove, so I could fly far away and be...
I woke up to a dream this morning where the question was asked about true riches? The answer was given like an impression rather than a voice “Having the freedom to...
Just before you commit to that relationship or make that big purchase and all hell breaks loose, you begin to see the wisdom of life right before you. I’ve often pondered...
Admitting my depression or despair didn’t kill me and it wont kill you. Acknowledgement and owning our state of heart and mind is the beginning of renewal. My fast paced world...
I met a man who had all the trappings this world had to offer and he looked at me saying “Tom, I can’t even taste food any more” The man lost...
All to often when growing an enterprise we neglect our audience and get distracted by the crowd. What’s the difference between a crowd and an audience? A crowd A crowd stands...
In a world that corners itself and nothing gets done or someone just loses out, learn the art of influence and diplomacy. Wether it’s dealing with government or negotiating a business...
When you know what you want, nothing else matters. The beauty of youth is the romance we have about life because we’re so naive. We dream big and we make a...
My mum in her ageing wisdom warned me about the middle years. She said ~ “Some irrational thinking starts to develop and you start to rethink all sorts of things and...
Humility A simple description of humility ‘a quality of having a modest or low view of one’s importance’ Authority A simple description of authority ‘the power or right to give orders,...
Three things are vital when preparing for the launch of a new idea. 1. Muster all the fuel you can get The first three to six months takes up so much...
Freedom comes at a cost, it’s all possible but it comes at a cost Knowing how to obey the laws of ethics rather than rules voted in by the democratic process...
Quiet seasons don’t necessarily mean calm seasons Quiet seasons can often stir up mixed emotions of uncertainty, being the opposite of feeling calm or tranquil. Calmness is that sense of peace...
Peace and war are in the power o the tongue With sayings like “Watch your mouth, put a zip in it, shut your trap, if you haven’t got anything good to...
Even ancient kings looked for meaning in their work. In this day and age of work / life balance, we are forever in our search for meaning, we are no better...
The problem with achieving too much of the wrong reward too early, it becomes a weight around our ankles, hindering our potential. Potential ~ having or showing the capacity to develop...
Striving for perfect moments While perfection is just an illusion, human beings strive for that moment where everything aligns. It’s in our DNA to achieve, progress and renew A young couple...
Reaching a peak others fear to tread may not be your peak. At this point you may give yourself consent that you have no need to go further. Three reasons to...
‘Stick to your knitting’ a term I heard dozens of times by an old boss, when he felt we were straying from our core strengths. Anyone that has grown up with...
Unhealthy habits begin when we get stifled and we look for immediate gratification Long term goals can get exhausting, like planning for your retirement at 30 years of age; or your...
When it’s too quiet, we doubt ourselves, 3 thoughts why? 1. Most get motivated through hardship, flight or fight mode This is where bright ideas come to us and we act...
When I visited one of my closest friends in hospital, it wasn’t long before my friend pleaded with the nurse to make me leave. I made him laugh too much and...
HOW SHALLOW HAVE WE BECONE TO APPRECIATE A GENERATED HAPPY BIRTHDAY OR COMPLIMENT BY A MACHINE Technology & School Canteens Technology cannot replace the comfort of being heard and appreciated by...
An Ancient Eastern Proverb – It is useless for you to work so hard from early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat; for God gives rest...
The success of one generation is often the hinderance of the next because they won’t hand over the wheel. I’ve come across way to many successful individuals that struggle to pass...
Everyone needs personal space to flourish, so to be left alone from time to time is not all bad. People that end up feeling lonely often place a hedge around their...
Fire breathing and starting a business is always risky, you have to juggle between attracting an audience and staying alive. 1. They both must bedazzle the audience Fire breathers are conscious...
Some people remind me of balloons, you can pump them up easily but they deflate just as easy, why? We’ve been trapped by marketing trends and the expectations of others, rather...
The teacher made me run a race I didn’t want to run. In my high school days I was made to do athletics. I hated it, so I turned up on...
From the kindergarten playground to the grave, politics is a way of life. Most people are happy to mind their own business until their business gets disrupted. This is when we...
The vote has already been predetermined and committees legitimise and hide the strongest influencers. let’s be honest and reinvent the value of a committee Leadership is the prerequisite of any movement...
When we hold on too hard, everything can become weighty and rigid. I’ve heard the saying ‘Let go and let God’ and it’s probably a neat way of saying ‘LIVE’ The...
A philanthropic friend has told me on many occasions that he gives because he’s selfish, it makes him feel good. That’s an interesting way to view the act of giving. 1....
Mankind has a bazar obsession with individuality. It’s become a trend to speak out, speak up and be contrary. With the rise of social media in a democracy, everyone can have...
If you don’t know where you’re going, you’re probably going in circles. 1. Moving through terrains, it’s wise to be prepared I often marvel at professionals that are decisive and make...
Independent thinking to create cohesion and freedom The term Maverick is said to derive from a Sam Maverick (1803-1870), a prominent Texan landowner who despite intense pressure from other cattle farmers,...
Proverb ‘You are only as strong as your weakest link’ Wether it’s a toxic relationship or an unhealthy habit, it’s the weak links that keep us from achieving our end goal....
Don’t eat all the seed in your hand To those that have more will be given and to those that don’t have, even the little that they have will be taken...
Growth develops in uncomfortable settings During lockdown rules of Covid19, societies have had to adapt to a new way of living. Most will miss the opportunity to grow during this season...
When setting on a new path, it’s wise to remember where you’ve come from. An old Italian Business Man in his nineties shared with a board room full of young people....
Wether it’s a Business Chamber, Sports Association, Tree Hugging Society or Faith Group, there is an art to creating a sustainable community. In September 2019, I was asked to be the...
Five motivation killers and one motivation rule to extinguish them! 1. The criticism of those that have not invested in you. 2. Work that is meaningless. 3. Answering to those that...
If our friends don’t grow us and add to community, they are hidden weeds, not wholesome friends. I’ve cleared a patch of good soil in my front yard, preparing for a...
If your message solves problems, they’ll come looking for you in the wilderness. He would’ve been in his late twenties to thirty years of age and he unlocked so many minds....
In the space of a few short weeks, individuals are drawn down to their last pennies, some companies are pushed to the wall, faith groups and other community enterprises such as...
Bigger, Bolder, Brighter Every now and again you have to change directions, wipe the slate clean and reset. Our journey is long, our quest is noble, our loyalties are fixed. We...
Unless you’ve been here, you’ll never appreciate the sweet sweet taste of life’s beauty unraveled by the oddest people we meet. Here’s just one glimpse that will last a lifetime. 1987,...
What are we trying to produce? Getting the soil conditions fertile so the seed can prosper and multiply is foundational to any long lasting productivity. Raising a family, schooling and workplace...
“Who’s your Master?” He said (a comment made to me by a client) For though I am free from all me, I have made myself a servant to all, that I...
They accused him of associating too much with the Scum Of The Earth. Who did and why did they accuse him? Lawyers & Do-gooders Individuals that just see with shallow eyes...
Longmore, Riverbank juvenile prisons among others was the main topic of discussion with John, who’s now retired after decades of serving our youth. Retirement should be eliminated from our vocab, the...
Plan like you’ll live forever, live like it’s your last breath. It may sound morbid but I’ve always been fascinated by funerals, even taking photos with my vintage Agfa 35mm Camera...
I was privileged to speak to about fifty young men aged between eighteen and thirty in a Perth prison along with prison officers and the prison director. I also had a...
Let’s build the smartest cultural city in the world with the aim of making Perth the gateway to Australia. Smart City Perth is an idea to connect leaders with leaders. It’s...
The perfectionist struggles to experience growth for fear of failure. Always planning and seeking 99.9% in their theoretical results which makes them fail to launch in the real world. By seeking...
We don’t have to be rich to practice philanthropy It was 4am and I had a McDonalds breakfast in a bag hoping to find a hungry soul, breakfast in exchange for...
They show potential and the blood thirst of the economy must be fed so small business is encouraged at all costs. Modern-Day Gladiators, practicing their skills when no one is watching,...
The moment we start writing our CV, we begin to define ourselves. I assure you that you are better than your CV, no matter how exaggerated it is. Often a CV...
I pray you go through life with minimal regrets. I’ve thought of ten standout life regrets that have helped define my new found passion and renewal of life. They are forever...
Looking for significance rather than job security. I’ve known Chris for over two decades and our paths have passed in recent years through the amazing world of social media. For years...
