Despite best intentions, most individuals fail to make substantial, long-term changes—with only 20-30% succeeding in achieving their personal goals—while the rest struggle and often give up.

Doubt is an emotion that often traps us, causing fear, imposter syndrome, and sometimes failure without us ever realising it's a crucial part of the journey to self-belief.

The common and outdated stereotype that labels women as 'too emotional' still prevails in New Zealand's business circles.

I've noticed that many Kiwis, about 30 per cent, have experienced the painful reality of family estrangement. This often happens between parents and children or siblings, and it can last for decades or sometimes never be resolved.

Presenting the SCHOOL Tool

The best compliment of my life came two years ago from my Mum. She said, "Simone, I have never seen anyone develop at the pace you can." It shouldn’t have felt like a compliment because personal development is what I do, but her recognition meant the world to me.

The recent report from the Education Review Office, which starkly highlights New Zealand's challenging school behaviours, should serve as a wake-up call.

Reflecting on my journey as a personal transformation strategist and the driving force behind Genius You, I've become familiar with many men's silent struggles.

I want to dive into a topic that might resonate with many high achievers. You know that constant itch to find the 'next big thing'? It turns out that it might not be as simple as it seems, and there's a deeper issue at play.

As a high performer the workplace has been a rewarding, thrilling and awful place for me. I have epic tales that are simply the result of a lack of understanding regarding my differences, and of how to get the best out of me. For years I turned these epic tales into experiences of shame and regret.

Workplace Conflict Through My Eyes: High Performers Acting Out or Simply Misunderstood?

While developed for everyone, Genius You is particularly powerful for a certain group that I'm currently learning to identify.

Navigating the realm of high performers here in New Zealand, I've observed a fascinating and concerning pattern. Many high-performing Kiwis, me included, have faced the pitfalls of burnout and an unsettling urge to change jobs frequently.

Stephen Martin, from Virtual Innovation www.virtualinnovation.co.nz, has been helping people with Neurodiversity for a long time! His podcast, The Truth about Dyslexia and all the work that he does is commendable, because it means for the ones who are following behind, Stephen has already forged a path.

That's more than 3,000 days that my mind has been obsessed with creating this programme. That's over 400 people that I've worked with and 17 iterations of the process that I've developed. All with the same purpose – to create a programme that allows people to be as brilliant as they wish.

As someone diagnosed with ADHD later in life, I understand the importance of realising that the diagnosis is just the beginning of a transformative journey. Now I see it as part of my mission to help individuals who discover their ADHD well into adulthood, because I know firsthand that the diagnosis is not the end of the road. It is the starting point.

The sign of a great interview is asking questions that the interviewee must think about.

Kate Nankivell from Force of Nature, https://forceofnature.co.nz/ is fantastic at this, which is why Friday Fascination is the perfect name for her recent series of LinkedIn lives.

My favourite question was, what was my proudest milestone?……

Burnout is at an all-time high, even among us New Zealanders. I've recently come across a global survey conducted by Future Forum, and it's revealed a distressing trend. Many of us are overworking ourselves and striving to achieve lofty ambitions, only to fall short in the end.

In the area of leadership and public responsibility, instances of individuals succumbing to moments of intense emotion are not isolated incidents. The pressures and expectations placed upon those in such roles can often lead to expressions of anger and frustration.

As a parent, I understand how confronting and disempowering it can be when a child refuses to follow our instructions or those of their teachers. Most of us tend to revert to some form of punishment to get compliance. However, I believe that there is another way to approach this situation. Instead of seeing a child's defiance as a bad thing, we can view it as a legitimate form of learning for the child.

Male suicide and depression rates could be drastically reduced—and men could get more out of their relationships—if they were permitted to use their emotions the same way as women. Men are twice as likely
to commit suicide as women, and that needs to change.