http://www.toddytalks.com/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.toddytalks.com en-us Tue, 21 Apr 2026 12:52:23 +1200 Rocketspark http://www.toddytalks.com/blog/post/159864/ai-and-chat-dgt/ AI is transforming how we work, think, and create value.Its ability to process vast amounts of information, recognise patterns, and automate complex tasks is extraordinary.Used well, AI can sharpen decision-making, improve efficiency, and unlock new opportunities across business and life. Ignoring it would be short-sighted.Upskilling yourself and your people in AI is no longer optional - perhaps it is a strategic necessity.Yet, for all its power, AI does not replace the most important differenti... Wed, 04 Feb 2026 18:18:15 +1300 http://www.toddytalks.com/blog/#post159864 http://www.toddytalks.com/blog/post/155568/is-it-about-you-or-your-customer/ Receiving some unsolicited feedback from a recent event got me thinking.So often when we interact with others we are interested to know, or we reflect on, how it went. That can typically result in the creation of a mutual admiration society.If both parties feel that things went well then that is probably what we are aiming at.My observation would be that often we are more, perhaps too, interested in our own “performance” than the outcome that was achieved for the other party.To provide some ... Mon, 03 Nov 2025 20:11:18 +1300 http://www.toddytalks.com/blog/#post155568 http://www.toddytalks.com/blog/post/149855/the-adventure-mindset/ This year, I’ve done three things that might seem completely unrelated:Sailed across open ocean from New Zealand to Fiji.Shared a fine-dining experience with my family at Blue Duck Station, deep in New Zealand’s back country.Had my appendix out unexpectedly, and learned what it feels like to go from full throttle to full stop.As a Speaker, MC, and sales trainer, these three moments have further shaped how I show up for audiences - and why I believe lived experience matters on stage and in th... Mon, 04 Aug 2025 16:03:00 +1200 http://www.toddytalks.com/blog/#post149855 http://www.toddytalks.com/blog/post/142550/lessons-from-the-basin/ In February I was fortunate, as part of the Ocean Beach Country Cricket Club, to have the opportunity to play cricket at New Zealand’s “home of cricket”, The Basin Reserve, in Wellington.There’s a back story to that – perhaps for another time. Suffice it to say it was “kindred” cricket – not a test match!Having now had time to reflect on it there are a few lessons from this experience that apply not only in that setting but to life in general.Plan aheadThe date for this fixture w... Wed, 05 Mar 2025 12:00:51 +1300 http://www.toddytalks.com/blog/#post142550 http://www.toddytalks.com/blog/post/138150/what-gifts-have-you-given-or-been-given/ 2024 has no doubt provided us all challenges and rewards – so far. Sometimes they come at us out of the blue. Other times we see them coming or, in the case of rewards, we work towards them. Recently I attended the opening of a new multi sports facility at a former school of mine. The occasion was marked with a wonderful mix of formality and light heartedness. In the process, over many years, of reaching the milestone of opening the building there has no doubt been a healthy mix of challe... Wed, 20 Nov 2024 10:36:27 +1300 http://www.toddytalks.com/blog/#post138150 http://www.toddytalks.com/blog/post/131782/lucky-13/ Are you superstitious? I’m not. The investigation I’ve done into “why is 13 considered unlucky” essentially reveals that it’s not. Unless you think it is. Enough postulation.Why is "Lucky 13" the topic of this? “Toddy Talks” is 13. Woop woop.Here are 13 things to think about that you might be able to apply and or learn from. I have. 1)        Stuff happens. Deal with it. “This too shall pass”.2)      &nb... Fri, 12 Jul 2024 10:37:35 +1200 http://www.toddytalks.com/blog/#post131782 http://www.toddytalks.com/blog/post/125588/whats-in-your-cva/ Recently I dropped my vehicle off for its warrant of fitness. A routine procedure. “Give me an hour and it’ll be done” the service manager said.Half an hour later my phone rang. “It’s failed” he said. “There’s a chip in your CVA”.“Where?” I said.“In your CVA. You’ll need to get it fixed before we can give you warrant”.Not wishing to appear ignorant I hung up and went to collect my vehicle with its chipped CVA. I assumed it would have something to do with the windscree... Wed, 13 Mar 2024 20:32:47 +1300 http://www.toddytalks.com/blog/#post125588 http://www.toddytalks.com/blog/post/113967/context-and-perspective/ Have you noticed that if an opposing view is shared on an online platform it is more than likely to get a barrage of commentary along the lines of “how could you?” Or “get back in your box”.An opposing view doesn’t necessarily make it wrong. It is simply different and in most cases comes from the perspective of the person holding the view. Their context creates their perspective.Context doesn't change a fact - it can’t. The fact is absolute. What context does do, is alter the way tha... Sun, 19 Nov 2023 12:01:33 +1300 http://www.toddytalks.com/blog/#post113967 http://www.toddytalks.com/blog/post/105539/the-book-or-the-movie/ Given the choice would you rather read the book or watch the movie? We all have our preference for the way we take in information. Some of us like the detail that a book provides while others prefer the more animated, perhaps highlights reel, version provided by the movie. Today I'm offering you the "email or the podcast". Recently I was invited, by the Team at Rabobank, to record a podcast with a focus on resilience. It's a big topic and one that a 29 minute chat provides the opp... Thu, 08 Jun 2023 13:54:08 +1200 http://www.toddytalks.com/blog/#post105539 http://www.toddytalks.com/blog/post/94507/be-there-and---------lose-your-phone/ If the events of the past 2-3 years have done nothing else, they have reinforced how much we as humans crave interpersonal contact. When we were all locked down what did we crave? Being able to get out and see people. When there were limits on the size of gatherings that could be held what did we want? To be able to have gatherings of as many people as we could. When we were joining meetings on online platforms, and to some extent we still are, what were we looking forward to? Having those same ... Fri, 18 Nov 2022 09:14:18 +1300 http://www.toddytalks.com/blog/#post94507