Happy 10th Birthday to The Leader’s Digest

Ten years ago yesterday, stomach in knots and feeling like a fraud, I pressed ‘publish’ on my first blog for The Leader’s Digest.

And so began one of the best endeavours of my professional life.

Writing this blog has improved my writing skills. It paved the way for me to write my bestselling book, Beyond Burnout. It has brought clarity and rigour to my thinking around leadership. And the discipline of having to write several posts a month, year after year (at times when I’d rather not tbh) has, ironically, fuelled my passion for creativity.

Perhaps most importantly, it has helped me connect with so many people and have many insightful conversations about leadership.

So, here’s my first-ever post below. When I first decided to share this post, I thought it needed an update – and I still cringe slightly when I read it. Let’s just say I have ‘found my voice’ a bit more since then! But I decided to leave it be. It’s more authentic this way and it was a reflection of where I was and what I was thinking in that moment.

Using the Difficulty – How to Transform a Challenge into an Opportunity

A big thank you to my friend Amy Cunningham, who suggested I write a blog in the first place - to which I replied gushingly, “That’s a great idea!... What’s a blog?”

And most of all, a big thank you to you, dear reader. You have given me feedback, added your pearls of wisdom and walked alongside me on this leadership blogging journey. You too, keep showing up and doing the work to become a better leader. My celebration is also your celebration.

To say thank you, I want to give ten people a copy of my book Beyond Burnout. Given my first blog post was about using the difficulty, to go into the draw to win:

Read the post - and simply comment below, or when I share this post on social media, and tell us about a time when you have used your difficulty and transformed a challenge into opportunity.

I’m off for a celebratory piece of cake and a glass of champagne.