TOM SMILOVITIS - LEADERSHIP & Personal Development
'connecting people to possibilities'
The very notion of considering a calling sounds way too mysterious for some and daunting for others. We don’t have to be the next Steve Jobs, who was foundational in changing...
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...
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...
Restoring order, harmony, peace, mental wellbeing in a person or society is greatly connected to nature. Wether you are a practicing Christian like me or any other faith or even an...
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...
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...
Life begins at fifty 1. With the benefit of hindsight, we realise how foolish we were to worry about so many things that didn’t matter Navigating through all the empty words,...
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...
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...
Absolutely it’s possible* (Conditions apply) The most dangerous politician of all is the one that is so ethical according to their own standards, procedures and policies that everyone else who doesn’t...
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...
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...
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...
‘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...
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...
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...
There are storms that strengthen our resolve and there are storms that take us on a different course. It’s hard to recognise which storms do what until the right storm comes...
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...
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....
A bully knows exactly what they are doing and their endgame is control. The following three attributes of a Bully can be easily avoided if you know their motive. 1. They...
1. Influencers engage the heart not just the mind History records some of the greatest influencers talked in story form or parables a. Story telling opens up the imagination b. Story...
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...
Ancient Proverb ‘All roads lead to Rome’ or all paths lead to the same goal. The sickest souls on earth are those who fight against their conscience in order to gain...
The delusion that being busy is being effective. Wether it’s a world pandemic or personal crisis, we all end up against the wall of self reflection. More often than not we...
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....
Here’s a couple of books from my ever dwindling library. (I can’t think of how many books I’ve given away) Having strong republican friends and knowing the Clinton’s are quite polarising,...
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...
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...
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 raced my dog on a track and field and he didn’t stay in his lane, he just raced all over the field having fun. Then the thought occurred to me...
LOVE IS A CHOICE I just think a lot of men just need to be that – MEN and chase your lady till the day you have breath no more. ...
While travelling in India, one of my favorite teachings came to life while walking through a fishing village. Jesus the itinerant and his first message I was reminded of the first...
