Blog posts

WIN-WIN: The Power of Flow

Submitted by Jack Milner on February 4, 2025

The other morning, after yet another Jurassic Park-style storm, I was taking my son to school. Roads were flooded, branches down, and parents were in full T-Rex (or Slade) “we’re all crazy now” mode — stressed, impatient, and desperate to get their little bundles of joy to school.   

Then we came to a T-junction. Total gridlock. Cars trying to go up the narrow lane, others squeezing down, and an AA truck with a BMW on its trailer, stuck with no way to reverse. I said to my son, “This is going to be a loooonnggg wait.”   

Are You Accidentally Sabotaging Your Feedback with Humour?

Submitted by Jack Milner on January 28, 2025

Have you ever given someone feedback, only to realize later they didn’t take it seriously—or worse, didn’t even realize they’d received any? Maybe you softened the message with a joke, thinking it would land better. But when nothing changed, frustration built, and when you finally told them directly, they said, “But you never told me!” Sound familiar?  

How (Small) Brands Use Humour to Compete Against Giants

Submitted by Jack Milner on January 14, 2025

I remember watching an episode of the Dragon’s Den, where the investors were pitched a new mobile phone brand.  It looked great but they all said no because it was just too difficult to compete against the Apples, Samsungs and Googles of this world.

I’m sure they were right. When you’re a small brand going toe-to-toe with industry giants, you need more than a good product. 

A Tale of Two Trees

Submitted by Jack Milner on December 13, 2024

Here’s a photo of me and my mate Charlie Curson in front of the Christmas tree at the Landmark Hotel. The trophy is the Titan Gold Award for Best B2B Event 2024, awarded for 'Leading with Laughter - A Stand-Up Approach to Strategic Leadership.' These workshops combined the power of strategic psychology (Charlie’s expertise) and humor to develop practical solutions to business problems. And it clearly worked: 89% of businesses reported improved team idea generation and problem-solving abilities.

"Talk with Your Hands: The Italian Secret to Zoom Success!"

Submitted by Jack Milner on August 28, 2024

Presenting virtually on Zoom or Teams can feel like talking to a wall—except the wall sometimes glitches, mutes itself, or asks if you’re still there. To keep your audience from falling into the dreaded “Zoom coma,” you’ve got to bring some pizzazz to your presentation, and one of the best ways to do that is with your hands. Think of yourself as starring in La Dolce Vita — arguing about food and love - your hands should be flying!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yemwISZiv9k

Advice on Impromptu Speaking!

Submitted by Jack Milner on July 30, 2024

(In the style of Raymond Chandler)

I was nursing a house merlot in the back row, in the back room of the swankiest book-shop in Leicester Square.

In came  a writer -  Philip Gwynne Jones, the man who had transformed Venice into a web of mystery.