After a couple of pages, I felt myself relaxing, really getting into the story. After a chapter or two, I decided to treat myself to an ice cream… but there were none in the house. The shop was only a couple of blocks away, so off I went.

With my head still completely in my book, lost in the story, I stepped off the pavement.

And then it happened.

An oncoming car hooted loudly, screaming at me of its existence.

My state of calm was shattered in an instant.

My heart rate and blood pressure shot up. I was instantly alert, looking for ways to combat this danger, my breathing changed dramatically, short, sharp, and shallow, as I jumped back onto the pavement.

When I finally calmed down and my breathing returned to normal, I realised something important—the hooting of that car, just a simple warning, had shifted my entire state instantly from rest and digest (parasympathetic) to fight or flight mode (sympathetic state).

And I noticed the difference.

When we enter fight or flight mode, everything other than what’s needed to help us avert danger shuts down. Our focus, creativity, digestion, executive functioning skills, reasoning, and memory—they all take a back seat while our heart pumps blood through our veins and adrenaline floods our system.

However, both states are important for us to survive.

Yet due to increased workloads, deadlines, global uncertainty, and constant demands, etc., we’re residing more and more in fight or flight mode. This doesn’t just shut down the systems we need most—it also increases blood pressure, heart rate, and leads to stress and anxiety.

For your staff, students, and entrepreneurs,  this isn’t just a personal wellness issue—it’s an organisational performance issue, and detrimental to overall wellbeing.

When people are stuck in fight or flight, their creativity suffers, their decision-making suffers, their ability to collaborate and problem-solve suffers, and their general well-being takes a toll.

The good news?

Our bodies react more to our breathing than to our minds.

Change your breathing, and you can begin to shift your state.

Long, slow exhalations send a message to the vagus nerve and nervous system that all is okay, which begins the process of the body returning to normal.

There’s a saying: “When in doubt, breathe out.”

Here’s a simple technique that can start the shift back to rest and digest:

1. Take a long inhalation through your nose
2. Pause, then take another “top up” inhalation (so you’ve taken 2 breaths—one long, one shorter)
3. Let it all out through your mouth—just like a sigh!
4. Repeat a few times until you feel relaxed

If you’re interested in exploring how breathwork can support wellbeing and performance for you or your organisation, reach out directly and let’s chat further about your specific needs.

Happy breathing,

Gary

Sleep difficulties are no longer a niche problem — they are a global health issue. In Why We Sleep, neuroscientist Matthew Walker presents compelling evidence that a large portion of adults in modern society consistently fail to get the recommended 7–9 hours of sleep per night. The consequences of chronic sleep loss are significant and wide-ranging: impaired memory and concentration, reduced immune function, emotional instability, increased risk of cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, burnout, and a shortened lifespan.

One of Walker’s most important messages is this: sleep is not a luxury — it is a non-negotiable biological necessity. It is the most powerful, natural recovery process available to the human brain and body.

And yet, in today’s fast-paced world, many people feel “wired but tired” at night. Long workdays, constant digital stimulation, caffeine, stress, anxiety, and irregular schedules all combine to keep the nervous system in a state of alertness long after the day has ended. The body may be exhausted — but the mind refuses to switch off.

This is where breathwork becomes such a powerful ally.

Not as a replacement for sleep science — but as a practical bridge between a stressed nervous system and the body’s natural ability to rest.

The Science: What Sleep Research Tells Us About the Nervous System

In Why We Sleep, Walker explains that sleep is deeply intertwined with the autonomic nervous system — the system that automatically regulates heart rate, breathing, digestion, and stress responses.

This system has two main branches:

• The sympathetic nervous system, often called the “fight or flight” system
• The parasympathetic nervous system, known as the “rest and digest” system

During the day, the sympathetic system helps us function, focus, and respond to challenges. But at night, that system needs to quiet down so the parasympathetic system can take the lead. Deep, restorative sleep depends on this shift.

Here’s the problem:
For many people, the stress system never really switches off.

Walker describes how:

• Elevated stress hormones like cortisol interfere with sleep onset
• Chronic stress and poor sleep reinforce each other
• Overactivation of the sympathetic system fragments sleep and reduces its quality

In simple terms:

A nervous system that feels under threat will resist sleep — even when the body is exhausted.

Walker also explains two key biological forces that regulate sleep:

1. Circadian rhythm – your internal 24-hour body clock
2. Sleep pressure – the build-up of adenosine in the brain that creates the sensation of sleepiness

When these systems are aligned, and the nervous system is calm, sleep happens more easily and more deeply. When stress dominates, the whole system becomes disrupted.

This is where breathwork fits in — not as a sleep “hack,” but as a direct way to influence the stress side of the equation.

How Breathwork Supports Better Sleep (Without Overstating the Science)

Breathwork does not create sleep cycles, regulate melatonin directly, or replace the brain’s natural sleep architecture. But what it does do is profoundly important:

It helps shift the nervous system out of chronic alert mode and into a state where sleep can occur naturally.

Here’s how:

1. Breathwork Reduces the Stress Response

Slow, conscious breathing lowers heart rate, reduces muscle tension, and dampens stress-hormone output. This interrupts the biological loop where stress fuels poor sleep, and poor sleep fuels more stress.

2. Breathwork Supports Parasympathetic Activation

When you slow your exhale and breathe through the nose, you stimulate the vagus nerve — a key pathway of the parasympathetic nervous system. This creates the physiological conditions associated with rest, digestion, emotional regulation, and sleep readiness.

3. Breathwork Calms the Racing Mind

Walker identifies mental rumination and emotional hyper-arousal as major contributors to insomnia. Breathwork naturally anchors attention in the present moment, reducing overthinking and easing the transition from mental activity to mental stillness.

4. Breathwork Helps the Body Respond to Natural Sleep Signals

Breathwork does not replace circadian rhythm or sleep pressure — but it helps remove the internal resistance that often blocks them. When the nervous system is calm, the brain can respond more easily to its own biological cues for rest.

The Solution: A Simple, Effective Bedtime Breathwork Practice

This practice is designed to support your sleep hygiene — not replace it.

1. Prepare the Environment

Dim the lights, reduce stimulation, and step away from screens. Walker explains that artificial light in the evening suppresses melatonin and delays sleep onset. Your breathing practice works best in a calm, low-light space.

2. Use a 4–6 Breathing Rhythm

• Inhale through the nose for 4 counts
• Exhale slowly through the mouth for 6 counts
• Repeat for 5–10 minutes

The longer exhale gently signals safety to the nervous system and encourages parasympathetic dominance.

3. Pair It With Consistency

Walker emphasises that the brain thrives on routine. Doing your breathwork at the same time each night builds a powerful “sleep cue” that conditions your nervous system to downregulate more quickly.

4. Keep Your Attention on the Breath

When the mind wanders into worries or to-do lists, gently return your focus to the sensation of breathing. This is not about forcing the mind to go quiet — it’s about giving it something simple and steady to rest on.

Why Simplicity Matters More Than Ever

One of Walker’s strongest warnings is that lost sleep cannot truly be recovered later. Weekend lie-ins and occasional early nights do not undo the cumulative effects of chronic sleep deprivation. That makes nightly wind-down practices essential.

Breathwork is:

• Free
• Always available
• Travel-proof
• Equipment-free
• Instantly accessible under real-life stress

Most importantly, it addresses the real root problem for many poor sleepers: an overactive nervous system.

Final Thoughts: Where Science and Practice Meet

Why We Sleep makes one message unmistakably clear:
Sleep is the foundation of health, performance, emotional balance, creativity, and long-term wellbeing.

Breathwork does not replace sleep science — it supports it. By calming the stress response, activating the parasympathetic system, and quieting the mind, conscious breathing creates the internal conditions that allow your natural sleep biology to function as it was designed to.

As a breathwork coach, this is where I see the most profound transformations:
Not by chasing perfect sleep — but by teaching the nervous system how to feel safe enough to rest.

Tonight, take sleep seriously — as Walker urges us all to do.
And give your body the calm it needs to follow through.

Slow your breath.
Soften your system.
And let your biology do what it was built to do.

For the last while, from a business point of view, it seemed that at every turn I was hitting a brick wall.
A couple of my coaching and training proposals were rejected, people weren’t returning my calls, and my emails were being met with silence. Combined with all the public holidays and the wintry weather on its way, the peaks and troughs associated with entrepreneurial life had slid into a deep, grey trough.

If you’ve read my posts or newsletters, you’ll know that as a Coach and a Trainer, a lot that I preach about is personal leadership and development, the need to play as it promotes creative inspiration, and breathwork as it contributes to our wellbeing.

During this time, my morning ritual of breathwork, meditation, and calisthenics remained the same, but it was while in my office where I failed to heed my own advice.
I would go through my daily agenda, making calls, sending emails, posting the odd post, but the worst part was that I couldn’t leave my desk and disengage from my laptop.
Between making a call or typing an email, I’d start surfing YouTube for random entertainment stuff. I’d look at movie reviews, sports pundits talking about weekend football results, some random historical video about a time gone by, or a clip from a cooking show. In between the clips, I’d go back to Outlook, Gmail, and WhatsApp to see if there any messages, and if not, I’d go back to surfing.

I couldn’t leave my desk while addicted to the hope that a positive message would come through, and the longer I sat there surfing, the more hooked I became on the overstimulation.
Not only was this confined to my office. My stormy mood seeped under the door and into my home life. I was ratty, disengaged, and on edge as I climbed further into my head, which was drowning in bite-sized online content.
And this is the person who preaches to get up and walk, doodle, write, do a bit of DIY, anything that will promote a feeling of ease and relaxation where creative ideas can flow, or take a few breaths to feel better.

This lasted for about 10 days, and it was late at night, while in bed, staring at the ceiling, when I realised 2 things.
1. I’d become afraid to confront my fear that was related to my diminishing workload. Because of this I needed external stimulation so that my mind was kept busy, alleviating the frustration of what I was experiencing. And the longer I sat taking in all the external stimulation, the less space there was for creative inspiration – my brainwaves just weren’t functioning at the vibration needed for idea generation.
2. The second point was that my internal feeling of achievement was diminishing, and it was affecting my self-confidence while increasing my level of desperation. I was focusing totally on the external factors, with my sense of achievement totally dependent on the next message that I hoped would be a positive response.
So, what to do?

Knowing that I had to swim away from this ever-increasing treading of water, I realised I had to change my thought patterns and my actions.
And I started with my actions.

First goal – for 7 days – no scrolling at all. And to make that easier, I became accountable to my partner Helene Marie. Every day at lunch (we both work from home) and every dinner, she would quiz me about my morning and afternoons, and what scrolling I’d done, if at all.

My second goal was to go back to practicing what I’d been preaching – get up, get outside, and play some more.
And what did I do?
I decided to build a collapsible meditation bench for myself.
And why?
Because it would shift my focus from doing something with my head to doing something with my hands. And secondly, by making this simple stool, I’d reinvigorate the feeling of achievement to be my life raft.

I’m not a builder, carpenter, or a DIY guru, but I know where to buy a plank of wood, two hinges and screws, I could measure it up, cut it to size, and I could screw in the hinges correctly. More importantly, the act of making this bench forced me away from my desk, visiting the building store, engaging with different people, while taking my headspace away from my laptop screen.
This simple act, which took a few days to complete, reignited some fun, my love for new learnings, and a present headspace.

I realise that what led me to take this course of action wasn’t massive in the grand scheme of things, but it was big enough for me to feel the need to take action.

This experience reinforced a truth I had always known but hadn’t fully lived: resilience isn’t just about pushing forward—it’s about recognising when to reset. Entrepreneurship, leadership, and life itself all come with ebbs and flows. The peaks bring momentum and confidence, while the troughs can erode our sense of direction if we let them.
What matters most is how we respond when things don’t go our way. Do we sit in frustration, clinging to external validation? Or do we shift our energy, take meaningful action, and find fulfilment in creating rather than waiting?

The collapsible meditation bench I built wasn’t just a project—it was a shift in mindset, a return to what I know works: movement, engagement, and play. If I’m willing to preach the importance of creative inspiration, balance, and personal leadership, I need to commit to practicing it myself, especially when the road feels uncertain.
So, if you ever find yourself stuck in a loop of overconsumption and frustration, remind yourself of this: Step away. Create something—anything. Trust that achievement, however small, will reignite your confidence and open the door for fresh ideas.
Because in the end, practicing what we preach isn’t just advice—it’s the foundation of real leadership.

Every time we went up to bat, whether we hit a home run or not we’d vocally exclaim that we had. As practice went on, we became louder and louder in our achievements but not so loud as to disturb the parents sitting around watching and waiting for our teammates.

By the end of our practice, Darren and I were equal in our home runs of twenty-five even though we’d each only batted about 8 times. But then again, we were only 10 and had active imaginations.

When I got into the car where my father was waiting the first thing, he said to me was, “You shouldn’t speak about yourself like that, people don’t really like it,” as he referred to Darren and me boasting about our imaginary achievements.

To this day I’m not sure if I understood it incorrectly, but ever since then, I’ve never felt comfortable when it comes to speaking about myself.

Even when I give public talks, it’s always the part about myself that creates the most angst in me.

However, here’s the thing.

We all have stories related to our journeys, and those journeys have thrown up achievements, challenges, and lessons –  all of which have contributed to our experiences and experience that have benefited us and those around us.

They are also what makes us unique because they’re related to our beliefs, values, and choices.

If we keep our stories to ourselves then others never get to understand us fully and the value that we can offer.

Recently I was invited onto a podcast titled , The Lunchtime Series, hosted by Kevin Brits. The topic of the podcast was about creativity and innovation- the similarities, the differences, how to promote and develop them and the safety nets needed for us to feel safe enough to be creative and innovative.

It was while I was looking at my notes that I realised that even though creativity and innovation are both fluid, there is a technical aspect to it, and my notes were quite technical. I thought that If I went on this podcast with just these notes, the audience would disengage after the first 3 minutes.

As I was the invited subject matter expert on the podcast, I needed to share personal stories to highlight the subject as well as verify my credentials as a Coach and a trainer who works in areas of creativity and innovation, among other fields.

So, I’m going to be sharing three personal stories with you that not only highlight my journey which has contributed to my experiences and experience, but also highlight how creativity and innovation are misinterpreted, and showcase why we are all  creative

Story 1

In 1998/1999 I was finishing my training as a photographer by assisting international photographers who came out to Cape Town to photograph fashion catalogues and campaigns. As you can imagine back then was before the age of digital photography, so everything was shot on film. At the end of each (long) day – we were starting around 6am and getting back to the hotel around 7pm – the photographer would drop the film at one of the labs, which weren’t a 1-hour lab, but a professional lab processing specific kinds of film.

The photographer would ask for the film to be clipped, meaning that only 1-1/2 frames of each roll of film would be processed of the anything from 10 to 100 rolls of shot film per day. Once the film was clipped the photographer needed to see the results and then instruct the lab to process the rest of all the rolls according to what they have seen and instruct any changes if necessary. The challenge was that during peak season there were a lot of photographers processing their film so the turnaround time for the clips to be ready could be anything from a few hours onwards. As the photographers liked to view the clips before going to sleep, they needed the film to be delivered to their hotels.

However, because the labs were so busy, they couldn’t afford to lose any of the staff to do the deliveries, so they were delivering them after they closed sometimes at 12 am, 1am, 2am – too late for the photographers.

I saw a problem that needed to be solved – which is an aspect of creativity – solving a problem.

I put forward a proposal to the labs, and to the production companies who were facilitating the shoots, that I would be on call to deliver the film on the lab’s behalf and the production companies agreed to use my service and pay the delivery fees.

I registered a company and set it all up for R10 000. At the time I had a little bakkie, I had a mobile phone (the old Nokia) all I needed were personalised delivery books.

And off I went – delivering film at night from the labs to the local hotels where the photographers were staying.

The film production industry is a very fast paced industry where problems need to be solved quickly. Why international photographers and fashion catalogue clients come to Cape Town is, among other things, the beautiful locations,  the beaches, the wine farms, the mountains etc. Because of the early morning sunrise light, the production crew leave early to get to location which can be anything from 20 minutes to 60+minutes away. If something is forgotten behind it’s a problem to drive back to town because of the traffic – which even then was heavy.

While I was promoting my new business to the production companies, I was asked if I delivered during the day and what I could deliver. “Props, lighting gear, emergency deliveries, anything,” was my response. I even mentioned that I can collect things the day before, store them in my secure lock-up facilities, which was my garage, and I could deliver them early in the morning to be on set on time, and collect them later to take them back to the suppliers.

Without going into all the challenges, learning,  stumbling blocks, sleepless nights, and ups and downs, 7 years later by which time I had 5 vehicles, 13 staff, and was transporting goods for the film industry, art galleries, interior décor stores, and the likes, I sold the company for a healthy profit.

The creative aspect of this story is that I found a problem that needed to be solved that would offer value to others. I thought that I’d be delivering the film at night but ended up with so much more. This I believe is one of the key aspects when pursuing a creative venture – we just don’t know how far it can go, if we have the courage to embark on the journey.

Story 2

In the late 1990’s I was at a friend’s house for dinner. She was a single mom, and she let her daughter watch cartoon network on tv. I noticed how quickly this young girl became completely zoned out by the cartoons – it was as if the world around her completely disappeared – it was just her and the tv program.

I got into a conversation with my friend about the effects of too much tv on a young child’s imagination, and we both agreed that TOO much tv probably stunts the growth of a young person’s imagination. However, my friend did go on to say that as a single mom who leads a busy life , it was easy and convenient to, at times, keep her child occupied with watching tv.

I thought about this for a while and decided to do something about it. So, I wrote a story. The story is about a brother and a sister who while on their way to school meet their imagination – as a character, and it explains to them about this gift that we all possess, our imagination.

Throughout the story, I included 9, “fun time,” activities where the reader would get to, draw a picture, tell a story, make a puppet, etc., and the idea for the story was that instead of leaving the child to watch tv, a parent could read to them a short section of the story and then leave them to play with one of the fun time activities.

People loved the story, and someone suggested that I should try and get it published. Cool idea, I thought, and with impending fame and riches in mind, off I went in search of a publisher.

For three years I sent my manuscript out and for three years I received one rejection after the next. Finally, a publisher contacted me and told me they wanted to publish the story…and I was ecstatic.

An illustrator was commissioned, all the legalities hashed out and about 6 months later just as I was about to send the final manuscript and illustrations to the publisher, they once again contacted me to tell me that they were going out of business and that they could no longer publish my book.

If you would have known me then you would have seen a grown man cry…

After a few days/weeks of feeling very sorry for myself, I realised that I couldn’t continue that way and realised that I had one of three choices to make.

1. I could give up on the idea completely, and live life almost being a published author.
2. I could look for another publisher – but after the amount of rejection letters I’d received, I didn’t think my ego could handle any more rejection.

OR

3. I had the manuscript and the illustrations, and I had the confidence knowing that someone had wanted to publish my story…I could self-publish my story.

And that is what I decided to do.

There was just one very small problem…

I knew absolutely nothing about the world of self-publishing, nothing, nada, niks.

However, I felt that this story offered value so I set a goal for myself, and that was, in 18 months from that time I would walk into a bookstore and see a copy of my book on the shelves.

From that moment on I went into finding out everything about the world of independent publishing. I met with authors, designers, publishers, printers, distributors, librarians, bookstore owners, editors, indeed, anyone who could give me any advice, feedback, or information related to my personal quest, and the best part of this story is that so, so, so many people helped me, asking for nothing in return.

18 months later, I walked into  Wordsworth Garden Centre, and there was the Magic that’s Ours,  on the shelves… and once again I had a tear in my eye.

However, there is more to this story.

When we set (big) goals for ourselves and we have the courage to pursue certain things that happen along the way.

1. We get to learn about the specific subject. With all my research, overcoming obstacles, and learning how the world of self-publishing works, I became something of an expert on the subject. People started to come to me and ask me questions related to their self-publishing journey – to which I always helped where I could.
2. We learn about ourselves. On my journey, I learned about my strengths, got to understand my limitations, and all the in betweens. And, because of my success – of realising a dream it affected my self confidence and belief in a positive way.

The combination of the two led me to publish 4 more books, two of which are photographic coffee-table books.

When the subject of me being an author comes up in a conversation, people have said to me that I’m so creative because I’m an author. I tend to disagree with them, as the journey of self-publishing the book has the same elements of creativity that writing a story does. There are problems to be solved, and decisions to make. The need to be brave knowing that at times we’ll be wrong, and corrections will need to be implemented – all of which are creative actions.

Even though my name is written on the cover of the book, there were so many collaborations and so many people who helped me along the journey – quite often asking for nothing in return.  A gentle reminder to myself that very seldom, if at all, are our achievements achieved solely.

Story 3

In 2005, when I was working as a professional photographer, Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company (TMACC) asked me to photograph their annual maintenance shutdown. Two of the massive cables that pull the cable cars up and down the mountain needed to be replaced, and they wanted to create a project manual with photographs. This job was ideal for me as a documentary photographer.

On the first day of the two-week shutdown, I arrived at the lower cable station, and was confronted with containers full of machinery, crane trucks, rolls of massive cable and workers in overalls going about their work. I realised that this was bigger than just a production manual. Besides the job that I was commissioned for I went about capturing this engineering feat in a very unique environment

At the end of the shoot, I handed over the photos for the project manual and the other photos I’d captured. The marketing team was so blown away that they’ve commissioned me every year since then to photograph their maintenance work.

In 2019 TMACC celebrated its 90^th anniversary and as part of the celebration 20 of my photos were to be exhibited in a major gallery in Cape Town in early 2020

The opening night was amazing with suppliers, friends, staff, and the media attending,  all looking at my photos.  I felt like the king of the mountain experiencing something that I never wanted to end.

2 days into the exhibition South Africa went into its first hard lockdown and my photos hung silently in the dark, empty, gallery.

It was during lockdown that I realised that these photos needed to be seen. As I am the only photographer who has been commissioned to photograph TMACC’s shutdown consistently and in-depth, these are the only photos in the world about maintaining the biggest cable car system in Africa. I wanted them exhibited, not only for me but also to show the work that goes on behind the scenes to ensure the tourist’s safety.

So, my next adventure began.

I contacted anyone and everyone that I thought would be interested in exhibiting these photos. Galleries were shut in South Africa, so they were a no-go.

However, the cable car system was manufactured by a Swiss company, the cables are from Switzerland, and the engineers that come out to do the work are Swiss. I contacted all of them, galleries in Switzerland, and the Swiss Tourism department. NO one was interested in the photos, but Swiss Tourism suggested I contact the Swiss Museum of Transport in Lucerne…which I did. I now have 32 photos permanently exhibited in the museum, the most visited museum in Switzerland.

But the story doesn’t end here.

The Director of the museum mentioned the launch date and suggested I be there for the opening and to give a talk. They had paid me some money for the photos but that had long gone due to the financial vacuum cleaner that was Covid. I needed to raise the funds to get to the opening.

Hello crowdfunding…

I reached out publicly to ask people to pay for me to go to Switzerland, so that I could see my photos hanging on a wall in some museum. It wasn’t a comfortable ask as we were right in the middle of the pandemic, people were struggling, and I was asking them to help me, me, me!

And people did, and I got to go to the museum to experience the opening day, something that I’ll never forget.

And this brings us to the end of my stories.

However, this post is meant to be more than what I have achieved.

This post is about creativity.

I’m not more creative than anyone else because I’m an author, or a photographer, or an entrepreneur, these are all skills that can be learned.

It’s what we do with them and the adventures that we go on that will include:

1. Stepping outside of our comfort zone
2. Trying new things
3. Being prepared to be wrong
4. Being curios
5. Collaborating
6. Solving a problem
7. Making a connection
8. And being persistent

that make us all creative.

The secret involves finding the journeys that resonate with us enough so that we’ll have the courage and persistence to creatively deal with what we encounter along the way until we reach our desired destination.

The suggestion is to look in the rearview to acknowledge your own adventures, own them, and when need be, share them.

These have been my journeys and I’m sure you have had your own or are wanting to embark on a new one. If so, good luck, enjoy the ride, and if you feel the need to talk to someone about it, need help, or an accountability partner, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Thank you for taking the time to hear me out.

Best

Gary

But it wasn’t all that pleasant…to begin with.

An organised silent dance gathering is a group of people dancing in nature, usually on a beach or in a park,  listening to music through headphones. So as cool as it is to the partakers, it can look incredibly strange to passersby who, while not hearing the music, are confronted with wiggling and contorting bodies.

7.30 am – the windless morning was sunny and calm and about 80 of us switched on our headphones and started to jive around the beach on the edge of the calm, blue ocean.

There was music in my ears and I was bopping to the rhythm, really enjoying the serenity and the aloneness – I could just close my eyes and dance to the music, just by myself – exactly how I wanted it to be.

But then, a voice came through the earphones, “now you’re going to meet some of your fellow dancers.”

And my heart sank as the feeling of anxiousness drowned my body… I didn’t want this, I just wanted to be in my world.

“First up you’re going to high five the closest people to you.”

Tentatively I stretched out my hand and engaged with the first five people I saw. Some were smiling, some were comfortable with this, and some, like me, just went through the motions.

All my buttons were being pushed in the wrong way.

I felt insecure

I felt judged

I was judging

And I felt vulnerable

“Now that you’ve engaged with a few people, now I want you to hip bump 10 people,” came the next instruction.”

And my sinking feeling of dread rose.

But I did it anyway.

Just when I thought it was all over, the next command came through, “make a funny face for the next people to bump into.”

That was almost the last straw as my insecurities reached a new level. However,  when a young teenager pulled the funniest of faces at me, I burst out laughing. She smiled back at me before moving onto the next person.

And then it hit me.

Why was I being so uptight?

Here I was, in the most beautiful setting, music in my ears, moving to a tune, and everything that was being asked of me was in no way threatening my being.

Here I was engaging with an act of play, and the only thing that was standing in my way of enjoyment was me…my insecurities and my self-consciousness!!!

As a coach and a trainer, I focus on the act of play a lot, as it’s both good for creative inspiration and our wellbeing, and right then I wasn’t practicing what I preached, I was an imposter, a fraud, until I decided to change it.

And I did,

There was no extra energy, or money, or effort needed to change my outlook and actions, but just by stepping outside of my comfort zone, engaging more and playing, everything changed.

I started to smile more

My dancing became more enthusiastic – uncoordinated maybe, but enthusiastic.

I started noticing the other people in my tribe.

And the whole experience became more fun.

I’ve always said that if nothing changes then everything stays the same, and for change, or play, or creativity, we need to take a step outside of our comfort zones.

Easier said than done because there are certain needs to be met, but most of which we have control over.

• We need to feel Physically safe – free from harm’s way,
• Psychologically safe – Feeling we won’t feel judged or criticised,
• Self-Belief – Understanding that the judgement of the outcome isn’t a reflection of our abilities.
• It needs Bravery – Freedom from the consequences of mistakes and achievements.
• Need to overcome vulnerability – Being ok with the outcome and learning from the process.

Subconsciously I realised that all the needs were met, and the only thing that I needed to implement the change was a bit of bravery.

I was in a physically safe space, there was no imminent danger nearby.

Psychological safety wasn’t an issue because I was in a like-minded tribe that I wanted to be in.

My self-belief was intact as I realised that if anyone did judge me it was their stuff and not mine…and I wouldn’t know about it which is often the case.

Initially I did feel slightly vulnerable – as my dance moves aren’t the best , but something I could overcome

And the combination of all the needs created enough bravery for me to take the next step outwards, smiling,  engaging, while having fun.

As I did, suddenly, the experience shifted completely, it became easier and lighter with the next few instructions, a breeze to follow through with.

That can be the thing about wanting to step outside of our comfort zones, the thought of it can weigh so heavy on our minds, with the assumptions and fears making up the biggest load. But when we do, we usually look back  and think to ourselves, “why didn’t I do this earlier?”

And all of this happened, not only my shift, but also signing up for the next silent sunrise, just because a young girl pulled a funny face.

Play or innovation exercises are not easy for all due to the reasons I’ve written about in my previous blog posts.

But it’s outside of our comfort zones where the change, development, and creativity reside. And that makes stepping outside so important.

Playfulness promotes creativity, and it’s been proven that having a bit of fun before brainstorming and problem-solving sessions contributes to a larger variety of suggestions and solutions. However, again it requires a trip outside of our comfort zones.

What to do?

To end this post, here are 7 suggestions and tips on how to take the first step much easier.

• Create a judgement-free environment: We can feel judged, when we judge. Don’t judge others.
• Start Small: Break challenges into minor, manageable actions and celebrate each small success.
•   Stay Playful: Approach new situations with fun and curiosity, using humor to ease anxiety.
•  Embrace Vulnerability: Recognise yours and others’ feelings, practice self-compassion, and see discomfort as a growth opportunity.
•  Build Support: Surround yourself with encouraging people and a safe environment to boost confidence.
• Set Clear Goals: Define achievable steps and visualise success to guide your progress.
• Practice Mindfulness: Use techniques like deep breathing to stay present and reduce anxiety during new experiences.

When was the last time you played just for the joy of it? In our fast-paced world, play often feels like a luxury rather than a necessity. But what if it were the key to creativity, well-being, and productivity?

In previous blog posts, I’ve written about the benefits of play in Executive Function development, problem-solving, brainstorming, and creative inspiration. Today, I want to share how to make engaging with play—both personally and professionally—more attractive and accessible.

The Juxtaposition of Play and Purpose

Play is a fundamental human activity that transcends age. It is often characterized by its lack of a specific purpose or goal; we engage in it simply because we can. However, in a world dominated by screens and responsibilities, creating intentional spaces for play can provide significant benefits.

Interestingly, while we may introduce play to reduce screen time and foster deeper connections, its core essence remains—doing something purely for the joy of it.

The Rise of Offline Clubs and Gatherings

To counteract screen fatigue and encourage real-world interactions, various offline clubs and gatherings have emerged. These include:

• Offline Clubs: Spaces where individuals can engage in different activities at their own pace. Attendees bring board games, paint, meditate, do yoga, read, or simply sit under a tree and observe the clouds. The environment fosters creativity and connection without a strict agenda.
• Silent Book Clubs: People gather to read quietly in the company of others, followed by optional discussions or social interactions.
• Group Dinners with Strangers: Phoneless dinners that bring together friends and strangers, encouraging face-to-face conversations and new friendships.

Even some airline companies have started promoting knitting, crocheting, and colouring books in lounges, encouraging passengers to engage in creative, playful activities instead of staring at screens.

These spaces make us feel safe, surrounded by like-minded people, and open to engaging in activities without judgment. They help us reconnect with what we did best as children—play, have fun, collaborate, and be creative.

The Three Key Benefits of Play

1. Enhances Well-Being – Play helps reduce stress, improves mood, and boosts overall mental health.
2. Sparks Creative Inspiration – Play fosters out-of-the-box thinking, leading to new ideas and perspectives.
3. Encourages Learning – Children primarily learn through play, and adults can also absorb new skills in a more engaging way.

Why Do We Stop Playing?

Our journey away from play often begins in our teen years, when peer pressure and concerns about being “cool” take precedence. We fear looking silly or getting things wrong, making us play less.

As we grow older, responsibilities take over, and time feels scarce. We forget how much fun play once was, but the perception of “not having time” can shift by setting personal boundaries and prioritising play in small ways.

How to Re-Engage with Play

According to research, there are various play personalities and types of play. Finding what resonates with us can make play more enjoyable and sustainable.

Play Personalities

• Joker
• Kinesthete
• Explorer
• Competitor
• Director
• Collector
• Artist/Creator
• Storyteller

Types of Play

• Movement Play: Running, dancing, cycling, swimming, sports.
• Object Play: Building with Lego, crafting, working with clay.
• Imaginative Play: Storytelling, creative writing, role-playing.
• Social Play: Group games, hiking, board games.
• Celebratory Play: Festivals, birthdays, weddings, dancing.
• Hobby Play: Painting, model-building, DIY projects.

Creating a Safe Space for Play

For play to be effective, we need to feel safe—both physically and psychologically.

• Physical Safety: Indoor play is naturally safer, but outdoor play should be done in secure environments, either with groups or in familiar spaces.
• Psychological Safety: Play should happen in environments where we feel free from judgment or criticism. Surrounding ourselves with supportive people encourages uninhibited engagement.

Making Play a Habit: The Power of Commitment

Even though play is spontaneous, making time for it requires commitment. It’s easy to substitute play with screen time, but prioritising play leads to long-term benefits.

Joining play-based groups or clubs can make the commitment easier by providing structured opportunities to engage in playful activities.

Integrating Play into the Workplace

Playing in our personal lives is easier than incorporating it into the workplace. Some organisations still fear that play will be a distraction rather than a productivity booster. However, forward-thinking companies recognize the value of play in fostering creativity, collaboration, and employee engagement.

How Companies Are Incorporating Play:

1. Physical Play Spaces: Screen-free areas with games, puzzles, and creative outlets.
2. Team-Building Activities: Escape rooms, improv workshops, and team challenges.
3. Innovation Labs: Play-driven brainstorming sessions, like those at IDEO and Pixar.
4. Wellness & Mindfulness Programs: Playful activities such as dancing, breathwork, yoga, and music therapy to reduce stress.
5. Flexible Work Environments: Themed meeting rooms, outdoor collaboration spaces, and playful office designs.

 Final Thoughts

Reintegrating play into our lives—both personally and professionally—is not just about having fun. It’s about enhancing well-being, fostering creativity, and improving our ability to connect with others.

Whether through movement, social activities, or creative outlets, play offers endless benefits. It’s time to rediscover the joy of playing—not just because we have to, but because we can.

So, what’s your play personality? And how will you reintroduce play into your daily life?

To find out more about introducing play into your life please feel free to reach out.

And it was here that I got to experience the rhythm of calmness and realising how important it is to us.

This happened during a guided rock art tour.

Abi, our guide was explaining that even though the tools that were used to create the rock art were carbon dated to 10 000 years ago, the artworks may even be older. The artworks were created  by The San,  an indigenous group of nomadic hunter-gatherers from Southern Africa who are the oldest surviving culture in the region.

We were standing in one of the caves that was sitting slightly above a river estuary and hidden by trees and bushes. We were totally surrounded by nature. It was quiet, except for the soft flowing water,  the chirping of the local birds and insects- creating a natural, melodic, rhythm.

I felt an overwhelming sense of calm. I became more aware of my surroundings, taking it  in with  my senses – looking, listening, smelling, and touching. For me it was a moment of absolute presence – something that I have experienced during my over 30 years of meditation practice, but more heightened.

I tried to imagine the tribe of San, sitting there in this naturally quiet and beautiful space, and wondered what the pace of their lives were compared to ours, and if they experienced the levels of stress, anxiousness, loneliness, and depression that are on the rise in our modern world.

Later in the day, I started to think about the ever-increasing speed of the world, the effect it will have on us,  and what we can do to increase our levels of calmness and its benefits.

One thing that I can imagine is that the San people were in tune with the rhythm of nature. The sounds that they heard were of nature and they were aware of what was friend and the sounds of foe. They knew where animals would be and when,  and they knew where and when their medicinal plants would be available.

They were also in tune with their circadian rhythm – the physical, mental, and behavioural changes that occur in a 24-hour cycle. They slept shortly after sunset, and they woke shortly after sunrise. They slept in caves, and close to nature.

In Mathew Walker’s book Why we sleep, he mentions that the invention of the light bulb began a journey of sleep disruption that will continue to be a disruption as it effects or circadian rhythm.

A disrupted Circadian rhythm can be linked to a number of health issues including depression, and insomnia.

During my time in the Cedarberg mountains, I didn’t have my laptop. I don’t have emails on my phone, and the area we were in had very limited Wi-Fi access. So, my scroll time was much less. Even though we’re being told that the continuous technological advancements will make our lives easier, it has also sped up expectation levels of producing  to an unprecedented level. And now that the AI revolution is well on its way, I expect the level of productive expectations to reach new heights.

If used incorrectly the advancement of technology has had an effect on our calmness.

In the one hand we have the calmness of nature with its natural rhythms which we form part of. However, in a modern world, for many, it’s too slow, it’s boring, and the appreciation and stimulation takes much longer than the lightning-fast hits we can get from our screens. In nature we have to look, smell, hear and feel our surroundings, we have to become present, and in the technological world we are fed information by scrolling that instantly stimulates us…or not.

I’m not against the advancement of technology but I do believe that as it progresses and speeds things up, the adverse effects increase too.

We need to get from one place to the next quicker.

We have less time and space to engage with others on a personal level.

We work later, wake up earlier,  so sleep less and leads to exhaustion and all the other ailments that are caused when we’re out of our circadian rhythm.

As the world speed up we have to be able to balance it with activities that are calming, playful and creative –for the betterment our wellbeing, creativity, and relationships.

It’s very easy to say that we have to be calm or embrace calmness, but the challenge is that it takes work to become calm.

We have to have the strength and conviction to be able to take time out from our busy everyday lives.

It takes time  to be able to spend time in nature.

It takes discipline to start meditating.

It requires commitment to meet up with friends and family.

And it takes real effort to disengage from the need to scroll.

The good news is that we do have a choice and with a few tweaks we are able to enjoy the positive effects of being calm.

When we invite calmness into our lives, it promotes.

Mental and Emotional Benefits

1. Reduced Stress: Calmness helps lower levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, leading to a more relaxed state of mind.
2. Improved Focus: A calm mind can concentrate better, enhancing productivity and efficiency in tasks.
3. Emotional Regulation: Being calm helps manage emotions more effectively, reducing the likelihood of emotional outbursts or irrational decisions.
4. Enhanced Problem-Solving: Calmness fosters clearer thinking and better decision-making, which are crucial for solving problems effectively.
5. Greater Resilience: A calm disposition aids in coping with adversity, making it easier to bounce back from setbacks.

Health Benefits

1. Lower Blood Pressure: Calmness can lead to reduced blood pressure, decreasing the risk of heart disease and stroke.
2. Improved Sleep: A calm state of mind promotes better sleep quality, which is essential for overall health.
3. Enhanced Immune Function: Reduced stress and anxiety boost the immune system, making the body more resistant to illnesses.
4. Better Digestion: Calmness can positively affect digestion, reducing issues like stomach ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome.
5. Pain Management: Being calm can reduce the perception of pain and help manage chronic pain conditions more effectively.

Social and Interpersonal Benefits

1. Improved Relationships: Calmness enables better communication, empathy, and understanding in relationships, fostering stronger connections.
2. Conflict Resolution: A calm demeanour helps in resolving conflicts more peacefully and constructively.
3. Leadership and Influence: Calm individuals are often seen as more reliable and competent leaders, enhancing their ability to influence and inspire others.

Cognitive Benefits

1. Enhanced Memory: Reduced stress and anxiety improve memory retention and recall.
2. Increased Creativity: A calm mind is more open to creative thoughts and innovative solutions.
3. Better Learning: Calmness aids in better absorption and understanding of new information.

Overall Well-being

1. Greater Happiness: Calm individuals tend to experience higher levels of overall happiness and life satisfaction.
2. Mindfulness and Presence: Calmness encourages mindfulness, allowing individuals to be more present in the moment and appreciate life more fully.

 And what are the ways that we can promote calmness in our busy everyday lives?

Mental Practices

1. Mindfulness Meditation: Practicing mindfulness or meditation can help you stay present and reduce anxiety.
2. Deep Breathing Exercises: Techniques can activate the body’s relaxation response.
3. Journaling: Writing out what takes up the space in our minds
4. Visualisation: Imagining a peaceful scene can help relax your mind and body.

Physical Practices

1. Regular Exercise: Physical activity releases endorphins, which can improve mood and reduce stress.
2. Progressive Muscle Relaxation: This involves tensing and then slowly releasing each muscle group to reduce physical tension.
3. Adequate Sleep: Ensuring you get enough restful sleep is crucial for managing stress and promoting calmness.
4. Healthy Diet: Eating a balanced diet with plenty of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains can support overall well-being.

 Environmental Adjustments

1. Declutter Your Space: A clean and organised environment can reduce feelings of overwhelm and promote a sense of calm.
2. Soothing Sounds: Listening to calming music, nature sounds, or white noise can create a peaceful atmosphere.
3. Aromatherapy: Essential oils like lavender, chamomile, and eucalyptus can have a calming effect when used in a diffuser or as a room spray.
4. Nature Exposure: Spending time in nature or even looking at pictures of natural scenes can lower stress levels.

Lifestyle Changes

1. Set Boundaries: Learning to say no and setting boundaries can prevent burnout and reduce stress.
2. Time Management: Organising your time and prioritizing tasks can prevent feelings of being overwhelmed.
3. Social Connections: Maintaining healthy relationships and seeking support from friends and family can provide emotional relief.
4. Hobbies: Engaging in activities you enjoy can be a great way to relax and unwind.
5. Play: Doing something with no purpose – just because you can.

Professional Support

1. Therapy or Counselling: Talking to a professional can provide strategies and support for managing stress and promoting calmness.
2. Coaching: Working with a coach can help you develop personalized strategies to enhance your well-being and reduce stress.

Taking the time out to promote our wellbeing is a choice, which will require sacrifices, but the benefits far outweigh the consequences if we don’t act.

While recently doing some research for one of my coaching clients who has slightly diminished executive functioning skills, I came to realise how much play can contribute to the development of these skills – among other life skills.

What really stood out for me is that we can have fun while we’re developing skills, it doesn’t have to be related to a test, or lectures or a Q&A session but rather just by playing and having fun.

I realise that in a professional environment we can’t (always) kick a ball around in the office and the likes, but there are fun activities that can be shared via our computers,  and there are activities that can be facilitated during training sessions that are not only fun and energising, but they’re also developmental.

But back to how play can help develop Executive Function Skills.

What are Executive Functioning Skills?

Executive Function skills are needed so that we can,  plan ahead and meet goals, display self-control, follow multiple-step directions even when interrupted, and stay focused despite distractions, among other things. They are crucial for both personal and professional relationships. They include:

• Working Memory – a cognitive system that temporarily holds and manipulates information for tasks like reasoning, learning, and comprehension.
• Cognitive Flexibility – the mental ability to switch between thinking about two different concepts or to adapt behaviour in response to changing goals or environmental stimuli.
• Inhibition Control – the ability to suppress impulsive responses and resist distractions in order to stay focused on a task.
• Emotional Control – the ability to manage and regulate one’s emotions, particularly in stressful or challenging situations.
• Planning Prioritising – including goal setting.
• Task Initiation – the ability to start a task or activity independently and without procrastination.
• Organisation – including time management.

What causes Executive Skills Dysfunction?

Among other influencers like Autism and ADHD, previous research has found that executive functioning is negatively associated with problematic social media use (PSMU) – such as lack of; inhibitory control, decision-making, working memory, and  an inability to control how much time we scroll – prioritising it over other activities,

PSMU has also been associated with a number of poor mental outcomes, including.

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Decreased well-being.
• Lower self-esteem
• ADHD
• OCD
• Social anxiety

From a medical perspective, a common cause of executive function issues is ADHD, but other causes can include dementia, depression, schizophrenia, autism, and traumatic injuries to the brain- some we have more control over than other causes.

Play as a tool to develop Executive Function skills.

The reason play is such an important tool when developing Executive Function Skills, is because it’s fun, and creates a feeling of anticipation over the dread related to an arduous task we have to get through. For most of us the act of play also conjures up happy memories – usually from our childhood which includes a feeling of ease.

Children learn while they play, so why should we not learn the same way. Even though we have grown up, we played for a big part of our lives, so it’s not something that has to be taught to us. It actually comes naturally to us.

However, there is a big BUT here! And that is as adults we spend quite a bit of time at work. However, there are ways that we can develop Executive Function Skills while we’re at work. After all, we are allowed to have fun at work, aren’t we?

What I’ve done is broken down two lists of play related activities; one for leisure time, and one that shows ideas where it can be implemented at work.

For the office/professional environment

By incorporating these play activities into the workplace, you can help employees develop essential executive functioning skills while also boosting morale and team cohesion.

 1. Strategy and Problem-Solving Games

• Puzzle Competitions: Organise team-based puzzle-solving contests with jigsaw puzzles, Sudoku, or logic puzzles.
• Escape Room Challenges: Create a mini escape room in the office or use a portable escape room kit. This promotes teamwork, problem-solving, and flexible thinking.

2. Team-Building Exercises

• Trust Exercises: Activities like trust falls or blindfolded navigations help build trust, improve communication, and enhance self-control.
• Human Knot: Teams work together to untangle themselves from a human knot, fostering communication and problem-solving.

3. Role-Playing and Scenario-Based Activities

• Mock Negotiations: Set up scenarios where employees role-play negotiations or conflict resolution situations. This develops strategic thinking, planning, and adaptability.

4. Creative Challenges

• Innovation Workshops: Host sessions where teams brainstorm and prototype new ideas or solutions to company challenges. This encourages creative thinking and collaboration.
• Art Projects: Collaborative art projects where teams create something together can boost creativity and team cohesion.

5. Physical and Movement Activities

• Office stress and stretch Breaks: Regularly scheduled sessions can improve focus, reduce stress, and enhance self-regulation.
• Deskercise Routines: Simple exercises or movement activities done at the desk to break up the workday and enhance physical and mental flexibility.

6. Interactive and Digital Games

• Brain Training Apps: Encourage use of apps like Lumosity or Elevate during breaks to boost cognitive skills.

7. Team Sports and Physical Games

• Scavenger Hunts: Create office scavenger hunts where teams must solve clues and find items, enhancing problem-solving and collaboration.

8. Mindfulness and Stress-Relief Activities

• Meditation/Breathing Sessions: Short, guided breaks to help employees manage stress and improve focus.

9. Storytelling and Presentation Games

• PechaKucha: Employees prepare quick, timed presentations on various topics, improving public speaking,  quick thinking, creativity, and cognitive flexibility.

10. Planning and Strategic Thinking Exercises

• Project Simulations: Simulate project planning and execution scenarios where teams must plan, adapt, and deliver results.

Implementing Play Activities at Work

To integrate these activities effectively:

• Schedule Regular Sessions: Set aside specific times during the week for these activities, such as during lunch breaks or team meetings.
• Encourage Participation: Make participation voluntary but encourage it through positive reinforcement and team-building incentives.
• Rotate Activities: Keep things fresh by rotating different types of activities to cater to various interests and skills.
• Create a Playful Environment: Foster a workplace culture that values creativity, flexibility, and playfulness as part of professional development.
• Arrange for a Coach or Trainer to assist with activities ideas and implementation.

For the home/personal environment

As we are all different there are various options of the types of play for adults and the list below includes a variety of choices.

Strategy Board Games

• There are numerous strategy board games like, Risk Settlers of Catan and Pandemic.
• Chess: Improves strategic planning, foresight, and decision-making.

2. Card Games

• Bridge and Poker: Requires strategic thinking, planning, and teamwork.
• Spades: Involves planning and adapting strategies based on opponents’ actions.

3. Video Games

• StarCraft: Requires strategic planning, resource management, and adapting to opponents.
• The Legend of Zelda: Combines puzzle-solving with strategic planning and resource management.

4. Puzzles and Brain Teasers

• Escape Rooms: Promote teamwork, problem-solving, and flexible thinking under time constraints.
• Sudoku: Improves logical thinking and planning.
• Crosswords: Enhance vocabulary, memory, and problem-solving skills.

5. Role-Playing Games (RPGs)

• Dungeons & Dragons: Encourages strategic planning, creative thinking, and teamwork.
• Improv Exercises: Improve flexible thinking, quick decision-making, and social skills.

6. Physical and Movement Activities

• Dance Classes: Learning routines enhances memory, coordination, and flexibility in thinking.
• Martial Arts: Develops discipline, self-control, and strategic planning through learning and practicing techniques.

7. Group Activities and Team-Building Exercises

• Team Sports: Basketball, soccer, or volleyball promote teamwork, strategic planning, and adapting to dynamic situations.
• Scavenger Hunts: Enhance problem-solving, planning, and teamwork.

8. Creative Activities

• Art Projects: Working on collaborative art projects or tackling new mediums fosters creativity, planning, and flexibility.
• Storytelling or Creative Writing: Writing stories or participating in storytelling circles can improve cognitive flexibility and creative thinking.

9. Mindfulness and Meditation Practices

• Guided Meditation/Breathing : Practices focusing on mindfulness and self-control.

10. Interactive Apps and Digital Tools

• Brain Training Apps: Lumosity, Peak, Elevate and DailyGogen.

The key to implementing these play activities is.

• Schedule regular game time – as repetition is key.
• Do it with friends or create a group – whether on line or live – as interaction adds fun.
• Set personal challenges – to gradually increase the difficulty.
• Integrate mindful practices – preferably on a daily basis.

Conclusion

The benefits of play when it comes to developing Executive Function skills, in fact all life skills, including leadership have been well noted. It just takes a bit of time, effort, and a shift in mindset – as having fun while we learn  something new is a foreign concept. (Remember School classrooms?)

But what a better way to learn – by having fun. Not only is it beneficial, but it’s also something to look forward to- as it’s not something we have to pass, or avoid failing, it’s just something to have fun with.

About the Author

Gary Hirson’s diverse experiences and expertise make him a valuable partner for creative, leadership, or interpersonal communication skills development. His coaching and programs incorporate elements of play, creativity, and personal leadership, aimed at fostering growth and development in both personal and professional contexts.

He is a COMENSA registered Coach and a SAQA certified Trainer.

Over the last while I’ve watched two documentaries. The first one titled The Battered Bastards of Baseball, is about a minor league baseball team that became so successful that they were bought out for $206 000 as opposed to the normal $ 25 000.
The second one titled The Comeback, is about a professional baseball team that hadn’t won the world series tournament in 86 years, and who recently went on to do so.The fact that both are baseball teams is irrelevant, it’s the similarities in what they did and how they performed to become successful is what caught my attention.

To give a bit of context about each team without giving too much away about the movies, let’s begin with The Battered Bastards in Baseball.

Bing Russel, an ex-Hollywood actor and passionate lover of baseball, wanted to create an A level minor league Team in Portland Oregon and he went about doing so creating a team call Portland’s Mavericks. Instead of trying to get the professional teams to farm their young potential players to him, he had open tryouts where anyone and everyone who believed they could play baseball were welcome. And what he did was create a team with people who had nothing to lose and who just loved playing baseball. These players were from all walks of life and who were going to be playing against teams whose players were potentially good enough to be future players for big money, professional teams, like The New York Yankees, LA Dodgers etc.

The second documentary, The Comeback, is about the Boston Red Sox. The last time they won the World Series pennant was in 1918. Two years after that they sold Babe Ruth – one of the greatest batters of all times, and whose nickname was “The Babe.” Since selling him, and never having won another world series title since 1918, the club and its fans have always said that selling Babe Ruth, created a curse called “The Curse of the Bambino,” which hung over the club and resulted in them not winning the pennant for 86 years, and more importantly, consistently losing to their biggest rivals, the New York Yankees in the knock out stages of the playoffs even though they had come close to winning from time to time.

So now that we have the gist of the stories without giving too much away about the movies which I urge you to watch as they are both fun, here are the points that I picked up that I feel made them successful.

1. Leadership
The Maverick’s owner was a charismatic ex Hollywood star who was passionate about baseball. He created something different by having tryouts which created interest in the whole city and among the fans. He had a major connection with the players who loved and respected him, and the feelings were mutual.
He had a vision of creating a team that could win the league by playing entertaining baseball that the fans could enjoy, and he got the players and the fans to buy into it.

The Boston Red Sox – which is a well-funded major league baseball team had recently been sold to a new organisation who went on to employ the youngest general manager in the history of baseball. Theo Epstein was only 28 years old; he had bought into a new system of analysing and valuing a player’s potential which went totally against the “normal,” way players were recruited in the major league set up. He also had complete trust from the owners, and, as he mentioned in the documentary, he knew he needed to make bold decisions if he was to realise his and the club’s vision of winning the world series.

• Both leaders were Mavericks in their own right, bold, visionary, and not being afraid to be different.

2. Adversity
Both of these teams faced and overcame adversity. One team faced the curse of coming close to winning but just not getting over the hurdle. The other team faced the challenges of limited funds, being the only team in the league that wasn’t linked to a professional club, and a league organisation that wasn’t receptive to what they were doing.

• Both teams were considered the underdogs and had to overcome adversity which even though tough at the time brought them closer together.

3. They connected with their fanbase

In baseball, teams often play each other twice or more in succession calling it a double header or a series. When one team wins all the games in the double header or the series it’s called a Sweep. When the Mavericks won a sweep, one of the players – Jo Garza, jumped onto the roof of the dugout in front of all the fans and swept the roof. Shortly after that ritual began all the fans started to bring cut off brooms to the games so that they could sweep along with him.

The Boston Red Sox players who equate to sporting gods in their city, after winning a home game- still fully dressed in their uniforms- went into a local bar to have beers with their fans. Besides, it created fun- chaos in the streets outside of the bar, never before had a professional team ever done this, which resulted in the fans being able to have a drink with their superstars, creating a bond with the team.
• They broke the divide of, “them and us.” The fans felt closer to the team realizing that they were human.

4. They did things differently.
Before one series one of the Boston Red Sox players shaved off his and his whole team’s hair. For the Mavericks, their pre-game locker room rituals and warmups were nothing like any of the professional teams’ rituals. It was light, funny, playful, and orthodox.
• They played, kept it light, and had creative fun.

5. There was a higher purpose
For both teams they knew how much the fans wanted them to win. The Red Sox fans had 86 years of dashed hopes and frustrations. For the Maverick’s fans, the team had brought winning baseball back to the city and the fans were engaging and loving it.
• It was more than about the team – it included what they contributed to others.

6. They created a “buzz” word
The year before their first win in 86 years the Red Sox lost in the playoffs again. During a tv interview one of the players said, “we’ve just got to cowboy up, and go again.” Cowboy Up became a slogan that not only the fans, but the city of Boston used and was displayed on billboards, bumper stickers and on buses to remind everyone to keep on going.
Jo Garza – was the player who actioned the physical sweep on the Maverick’s dugout roof. Yet the action – of sweeping the dugout roof, where all the fans got involved, was called a Jogarza. When ever it was shouted out the fans new exactly what it meant and how to act.
• Both teams created something unique, meaningful, and fun that fans could engage in.

7. They played for each other.
If you watch the documentaries, you’ll notice that players from each team had a unique bond that went beyond what was expected of them on the field. They knew they were all in it together and they connected, collaborated, and experienced life other than just baseball. They were authentic, down-to-earth people who were there for each other. Both teams consisted of bands of brothers and each of them meant more than just being teammates.

• They were authentic.

Conclusion
Even though these were sports teams that had fan bases, I believe that we can learn from what, why, and how why they achieved what they did. There was

• the vision,
• the leadership,
• the authenticity,
• the human connection,
• the higher contribution,
• the playfulness, and
• the creativity

which contributed to success for themselves and their teams.

If you’d like to have a conversation on how to develop yourself or your team further, please conact me via  gary@garyhirson.com

At times it feels overwhelming, as things are moving so quickly, there is so much information and so much choice that the need to adapt leaves me asking ,

“Why do I have to adapt?”

“Adapt to what?”

“How do I adapt?”

“By when do I have to adapt.”

To begin with there is a misconception about change.

We DON”T fear change.

Throughout our lives we’ve embraced change.

We crawled and then walked.

We adapted to new schools, friends, fashion, haircuts.

We learned to study differently – longer hours and more information.

We adapted to new relationships, ideas, values, jobs, neighbourhoods, cities, and for some, even countries.

Change is a  part of us.

It is not adapting the scares us. It’s just that in the past the need to adapt was less frequent, and it could talk longer.

We are comfortable with routine and find comfort in our comfort zones – it takes work to adapt. As we grow older, we become more risk averse, prefer our safety nets and the fear of being  wrong increases our levels of anxiousness and fear of change.

As times change, we do need to adapt as it helps us to move forward and grow both personally and professionally, and this includes the way we look at adapting as it doesn’t have to be this dramatic, or a fear-inducing-experience.

There are two influencers that I look at when it comes to the need of adapting. On is extrinsic and the other intrinsic.

1. Can I adapt the situation? Extrinsic.

If I have someone working for me in a specific department, and their strengths are not in line with the job requirements and they’re not producing the desired results. This is a situation I can adapt. I can replace that person and/or move them to another department.

2. Do I need to adapt to the situation? Intrinsic

This is the situation that affects us directly and the one that potentially increases our anxiousness as it involves us needing to adapt.

So how do we deal with it.

Let’s begin with “Why do I have to adapt?”

Why I have to adapt, and this could be related to a product line, or a marketing campaign, or systems change, or personally is because if nothing changes then everything stays the same and the world – our experiences, our customers, our relationships, move on…at times without us. Life is fluid and moves at an ever-increasing speed of advancement. If we don’t adapt, then there is the possibility that the world and everyone important to us, will leave us behind.

At times, the need to adapt could be a conscious decision for the want to change, or as we’ve recently experienced with Covid, we have to change to survive.

I work quite a bit in the film and photographic production industry facilitating international shoots that happen during the summer months in Cape Town. As I look back over the 20+ years I’ve been involved there have been  notable changes. At times, the need to adapt was more gradual with lots of warning, and other times it was an adapt now, or die scenario.

1. In the early 2000’s photographers were shooting on film during the day. After the days shoot, they’d then send their film to the labs who would process just a part of it so that it could be later checked by the photographer before giving the final go ahead to how all the roles of film should be processed. This whole process, which would take anything between 24-36 hours, included various trips to the labs and phone calls ensuring everything was processed correctly. During this time TV Commercials and photographic shoots were produced separately.
2. With the advent of digital photography – which was a gradual change, the labs fell away, businesses closed down, people lost jobs. However, it also created jobs because now we needed digital operators on set who could process the digital images from the photographer’s camera, straight onto the laptop. Those images were put onto a hard drive and taken with the photographer back to the clients in their offices – overseas. Photographers had to learn digital skills to be able to photograph. People who lost their jobs had to find new places of employment or start their own businesses. This change was gradual with lots of warning.
3. Digital photography sped up the process and increased the number of shots in a day. More clients and art directors would fly out from overseas and started to come on set so that the decision-making process could be quicker, and they could get the images straight onto their laptops.
4. Load shedding announced itself throwing us into the dark. A situation we couldn’t change. However, generators were introduced on set, which had to be loaded in the vans. Lighting companies introduced battery packs for their lighting gear.
5. As budget constraints took hold after 2008, the clients couldn’t be on set, so the digital operator would be uploading the images straight to a server so the clients could make an “in time,” decision straight away confirming or rejecting the shot from their office.
6. Covid arrived a lightning quick, dramatic, curveball. Production companies pivoted so that they could survive. Initially no one was traveling anymore so “remote shoots,” took place. Only the bare minimum of crew was on set, wearing masks. The shoots were being live streamed to the client’s office where they could experience the shoot and give feedback, in real time. This change was a, “do or die,” scenario for survival.
7. As budgets got tighter TV commercials and photo shoots started piggy backing off each other. In the past production companies specialised in either or, but now they were offering to facilitate both types of shoots on one set – because it increased their offering and made financial and logistical sense for the clients.

It involved more crew in the office and on set, but less production days, less costs but more logistical planning.

This timeline of 20 year in the production industry highlighted the question, “why do I have to adapt,” as it’s never set in stone.

At times it was because of technological advancement, other times it was purely for survival,  and other times it was to increase the benefits to the clients.

How to adapt

Now that we’ve discussed the “why,” do I have to adapt, and “by when,” let’s talk about the how part of it.

1. Have conversations around it.

Conversation is a good therapy; it allows us to express rather than bottle things up. Chatting with team members, loved ones, even clients I never a bad thing if it’s done correctly. Having conversation with  team members about ideas for organisational change, not only makes them feel included but it also affords the opportunity  to hear completely different viewpoints. Develop an environment for ideas sharing.

If done correctly, asking clients what their needs are and what they expect is also a good source of information.

2. It’s not a project it’s a process.

The need to adapt should be seen as a specific project with  success or failure mindset. It should be considered a PROCESS, small steps with consistent action. It won’t be seamless and there will be periods of trial and error. The later we leave the need to change, the more urgent it becomes, the need for it to be right increases, which in turn has an effect on our stress levels. Creativity flourishes when we feel physically safe and psychologically safe. The later we leave the need to adapt does affect our feeling of safety. Remembering that it is a process reduces the stress levels and contributes to our wellbeing.

3. Have a growth mindset.

Change should be seen as an opportunity as opposed to challenge. As tough as the journey might be, there will be lesson learned along the way.

4. Invest in training and development.

One can never have too many skills. Continuous learning is vital for both leaders and their teams. Invest in training programs that enhance adaptability skills, such as creative problem-solving, critical thinking, emotional intelligence, and executive functioning skills.

5. Limit your options.

Have you ever had a brainstorming session and you’ve produced numerous options and failed to act on any of them? Not uncommon. The reason is the more options we have decreases the chance of success  and increases the fear to begin. i.e. If we only have 2 choices the chance of success is 50%. If we have 3 choices, we only have 33.3% chance of success, if we have 4 choices, we now have only 25% chance of success. Mentally, more choice is not a good thing.

6. Stay true to yourself.

When there are a lot of options on offer, and you feel overwhelmed try not to venture too far from your core values, beliefs, and offerings. This helps the decision process, the action plan and your authenticity.

 Conclusion

Adaptability is the hallmark of effective, personal leadership in the modern world.

We don’t fear change, we just don’t like big, fast, dramatic change.

It is a process that we should incorporate into our lives as if nothing changes it leads to boredom, stagnation, and being left behind.

If you’d like to discuss anything further about adaptability – whether for personal or professional growth, please contact me via email gary@garyhirson.com