The Bonus Button
from
The Viaduct View
Things that catch our eye
#17 - 17/05/25
A bit more beyond
Behind the scenes
01
The Pope, the President or the Premier League
We are so advanced and so backward in equal measure.
With Pope Leo in position,
I was reflecting on Pope Francis's funeral.
And it frustrates me.
Where are the women?
I know the obvious reasons.
The only women I saw were 'plus ones'.
No one batted an eyelid.
It's not normal.
The world is full of capable, brilliant women, heaven forbid they would be able to lead positions 'tradition' and 'society' (or men), dictate can only be men.
We are educated capable beings.
yet it feels inconceivable in my lifetime that
cultures will evolve for gender parity everywhere.
You, Me and Us will play its part.
Imagine a world where parity ruled the roost.
Imagine a future where we had:
1, A female Pope,
2, Female Premier League Managers.
3, A female President of the USA and the leader of the free world.
What a wonderful world.
Which one do you think will see first:
1, 2 or 3?
02
Tomorrow is here, what's coming next?
What's your earliest tech memory?
It's a question that defines generations.
My answer would be the ZX Spectrum.
- Rubber keys.
- 6 or 7 mins to load a game.
- 16kb (not even megabytes!).
In tech years, the spectrum feels like the stone age.
AI and machine learning has been around in various forms for a long time.
A day doesn't go by without AI getting a mention.
Companies showcasing the capability, and potential.
Folk, young and old sharing experiences or how they use it.
I wonder what the future will bring, because it feels like tomorrow is already here.
Game-changing moments:
1876 - Telephones invented.
1906 - The first public radio broadcast.
1929 - The first UK terrestrial TV broadcast.
1989 - The World Wide Web emerged.
1997 - WIFI first introduced.
2007 - The iPhone arrived.
2024 - ChatGPT and other tools hit the mainstream.
I wonder what will be normal in 2045?
#16 - 03/05/25
A bit more beyond
Behind the scenes
01
Magical Muppets
'Sunny Day...'
I remember them fondly.
Are they universally liked?
I've not met folk who don't like them.
The Muppets shared character and life lessons from Sesame Street.
I'm a big believer that Kindness Wins.
You'll know by now my definition of kindness is the:
- Willingness to be true.
- Openness to listen.
- Courage to trust.
- Desire to learn and succeed together.
I realised this week it aligns closely to Kermit and his friends.
I saw a TV show recently where they created themselves as Muppets using AI.
I was curious.
How realistic would my Muppet be?
You can see for yourself above!
Could this inspire the next social media trend?
02
It's a sign
On Monday I caught up with a friend
I first met 36 years ago.
A welcome tonic.
We discussed You, Me and Us.
I'm buoyed by how much support there is from the community for You, Me and Us.
I want to get a wriggle on so I can get you all involved and we can start impacting.
The vision
To have a network of volunteers up and down the country being positive role models and hosting conversations around the You, Me and Us framework.
To get us to that point, I'm hosting a small in-person planning day in the summer, with the aim of running some pilots before the year is out.
It's a sign
On leaving dinner, my friend pointed up and said 'It's a sign Ken*'.
Literally and metaphorically.
Not all signs are spot on, but this was pretty close.
*Ken, a nickname since secondary school. That's a story for another time.
#15 - 19/04/25
A bit more beyond
Behind the scenes
01
What folk said
From #1 to #15
Thinking back to late September '24 when I first shared The Viaduct View, to imagine a few months I'd receive this feedback is awesome:
90% of you, have or would recommend The Viaduct View.
80% of you read every time I press send.
You value and enjoy the ponders, perspective and provocations.
I am grateful for your support.
Some would like links to deeper insight.
Others want to be connected to the community.
It will come.
If I can you can
I know some of you want to start your own updates - I still find saying newsletter uncomfortable.
Don't let doubt win.
We can all go beyond what we believe our limits are.
Small and Big
There was a request to know how big or small the readership is.
Perspective is everything.
I started with zero,
got to double figures.
then more.
We are on our way to 200 good folk.
All with limited promotion.
One day, we will remember together,
where we started,
and how far we have come.
I'm appreciate you for being here.
03
The magic of water
You never regret a swim.
I say these words when I don't fancy it.
And they have never not been true.
Swimming outdoors is special.
This series deep in the iPlayer is a wonderful insight into the magic of water.
The places, the people and the peace it brings.
A lovely watch.
02
Lead Equally
I saw a post on Linkedin where someone had shared a photo of Burnley FC players together.
Their men's and women's team share the canteen, the same support staff.
It's a positive step. For the weird and wonderful world of football, it isn't normal.
It reminded me to shout louder about being an 'owner' of Lewes FC. The first club in the world, where men and women are paid equally.
Role models for better.
Learn more about Lewes FC and perhaps even join me in owning a football club!
04
A non-update update
You, Me and Us
One side project emerging on the side of side projects is Project Normal, now You, Me and Us.
It's evolving
I'm hoping we can run a pilot before the end of the year.
There's a few steps before that and I'll be coming back to you soon to jump online for an update.
#14 - 05/04/25
A bit more beyond
Behind the scenes
01
Introducing my web of wonder.
On the bonus button of The Viaduct View #2, I mentioned my web of wonder.
I thought I'd share a bit more insight.
Overtime, more will come.
You, Me and Us is the updated name for Project Normal.
It's nudging along.
Thank you to those who are asking, supporting, guiding.
The web energises me.
If I let you into a secret,
I am not fully convinced by the term,
my web of wonder.
But I also quite like it.
Preferable to 'business plan'.
Excitement behind the projects that are incoming.
Interconnected and independent.
Impactful is the hope.
The web helps me be me.
What helps you be you?
02
A busy fortnight
It's been a mad 14 days.
Limited capacity to notice and share.
Only the one 'real' bonus button 'extra' this week:
My web of wonder.
I've finished a Samaritans shift,
this time 3am-8am.
Energy and perspective in spades.
Then went out with my lovely dog Nell,
to my local swimming spot,
before a restful day ahead.
It looks inviting. I'll be in again soon.
Spring is upon us.
A reminder that calm comes,
when we breath.
Joy is how we see, as well as how we feel.
Enjoy your day.
#13 - 22/3/25
A bit more beyond
Behind the scenes
01
Me in 3.
What's my tone?
This is me:
I care.
I want folk to fly.
I enjoy supporting folk find a way.
I'm playful.
We learn best with a smile.
I help folk play.
I pursue continued betterment*.
We can all improve.
I support the best be even better.
Once described as an adaptive perfectionist,
I enjoy exploring the subtle, or not so subtle, improvements:
The shortest way.
The optimal environment.
Improving, developing, betterment.
*Before I break the internet, I know.
I set the task at three words.
Perhaps I could have stopped at Betterment,
but I didn't ;-)
Words that almost made it:
Community, consistency,
practice, kindness,
equity.
What words make your triangle?
02
Southgate supports Project Normal...
This is a a headline I hope comes true one day.
Gareth delivered the Richard Dimbleby Lecture.
It is worth a watch.
His message aligns closely to the ideas we are evolving for Project Normal.
He will make a great collaborator for Project Normal.
I will ask.
Project Normal is bubbling, slowly.
The next session is incoming.
Life is busy,
but we will get there.
I'm practicing patience.
#12 - 8/3/25
A bit more beyond
Behind the scenes
01
Three unlikely places where I enjoy calm when in London.
Visits to London on work time can feel squeezed.
A short visit to one of these three,
bring me joy:
I'm not religious, but a sit down in this space is lovely. Set back from the busy of Victoria Street, I enjoy the contrast of solitude and stillness inside. I'm flabbergasted at how many bricks built this place too.
2, The Wellcome Trust Museum shop.
This place has a sense of bustle balanced with tranquillity. I love the variety of books, which inevitably means I don't leave empty handed. The café has some serious treats! If time on your side, you may want to visit the museum too.
Perhaps a more obvious choice, in any urban sprawl, a walk through nature nourishes my soul.
02
Great art: Brilliant and True.
I want to own this one day.
Whether it's Trump or another loud and confident human, this piece by Bob and Eve is one of my favourites.
Enjoy browsing their shop. Their art brings a smile.
03
I hope you never need this.
I learnt this last weekend.
Launched in 2002 the make yourself heard campaign explains how to get help when calling 999, if it might not be safe to speak when calling.
#11 - 22/2/25
A bit more beyond
Behind the scenes
01
Evolving Project Normal.
Please join me on 27/2/25 for 45 mins.
What to expect:
-
A low key, informal meet up.
-
The latest evolution of Project Normal
-
There will be plenty of room for discussion and feedback.
-
An opportunity to meet other beyonders. They are good folk, like you.
-
You'll be an early adopter.
-
No more than 45 minutes.
-
A very grateful Keith - that you're curious to support a good thing grow.
02
4 steps to becoming a butterfly
Trustworthy training
The training to become a Samaritan is phenomenal.
All delivered by volunteers.
On completing initial training, newbies get assigned a mentor to navigate the next couple of stages. They shadow initially, before taking their first calls, supported by mentors in the wings.
We can't control the calls that come.
We don't let folk answer calls if they aren't ready.
They have the capability.
Then the confidence comes.
4 steps from my simple performance puzzle:
I use the pieces of the puzzle to support folk fly. Here's how I'm using it with my mentee.
1, Preparation
In this case, a pre call chat:
Gentle reminders the knowledge is in the bank. All the tools and resources (including me) are close by.
2, Doing - in real time
Practicing the practice:
There's jeopardy, because we care.
Trust your preparation - It will be ok.
Perspective matters (rarely clearer, than when your a listening volunteer).
3, Pause - review fairly.
Celebrate the good.
Understand why the good was helpful.
Identify some appropriate improvements - then explore how they will compliment the good.
4, Teletubby Time - again again.
Another opportunity to practice 1-3:
The Prep; The Doing; The Review. Again.
Each call adds a layer of experience for my mentee.
Like layers of rock creating the cliff.
Opportunities to refine and be even more ready.
The flutters of confidence emerging.
The fledgling will soon be able to fly.
#10 - 8/2/25
#10 - 8/2/25
A bit more beyond
Behind the scenes
01
An ask from me
I have a vision.
It's getting clearer.
Putting markers in the road helps me.
Please could you join me on 27/2/25 for 45 mins.
We continue to evolve Project Normal,
because normalness isn't normal.
02
Passions and community matter.
Passion can be simple.
Pure joy for something or someone.
Where passion lies, complexity grows.
A camera takes pictures.
Simple.
An individual with a passion for photography,
a camera is not enough.
Lighting, exposure, aperture,
pixels, framing, shutter speed.
Complexity to the uninitiated.
Community creates culture.
Rituals born.
This is a wonderful film:
A bunch of amateurs
Illustrating where passion and community collide.
03
The end of the hot water bottle.
Last time I shared the fuel arrow (25/1/25)
Examples of knowledge hiding in plain site.
This time it's the hot water bottle.
I didn't know they have expiry dates.
Here's how to decipher the code:
1 - Look for the number in the circle.
That's the year.
2 - Count the petals with dots in.
These are the months.
3 - Now count the dots.
These, the weeks.
Magical communication.
You will see from the photo you will get:
22, 7, 1.
This hot water bottle expired on 1/7/22
Learning is everywhere.
Time to invest a new one ☺️
#9 - 25/1/25
A bit more beyond
Behind the scenes
01
Moments create memories
Moments happen.
We then remember them.
Memories created.
Maurice and Marilyn certainly created memories.
Almost inconceivable.
Alone at sea,
with each other for company.
This is their fascinating story.
How would you cope?
02
Obviously obvious
You don't know what you don't know.
I've heard this phrase for a number of years.
It's true.
Wordsmiths may disagree with me:
Obviously is an obsolete word.
It assumes you know.
Obviously, no need to say whatever it is,
unless it isn't.
Learning is everywhere.
Learning about things in our every day,
often suddenly make sense when you know.
It baffles me, like they have been hiding in plain site.
For years when driving hire cars, I'd frantically hope to see a similar model on the way to the petrol station.
I'd forget to check which side the petrol cap was.
Fuel hoses were shorter then,
they didn't reach both sides of the car.
Then I learnt about the arrow.
A triangle that changed everything.
It was now so obvious.
It indicates which side the cap is.
In case you didn't know,
I've circled it in yellow.
Only obvious if you know.
Let me know your favourite hiding in plain site 'obvious' things.
#8 - 11/1/25
A bit more beyond
Behind the scenes
01
Clarity is an institution
The Shipping Forecast.
A functional, informative tool for sea folk.
And a much loved national institution for many,
who will rarely ever be at sea.
2025 is its centenary.
It's communication at its best.
Structurally sound.
Minor tweaks.
Clarity always.
Concise wins.
This is a wonderful 30 mins indulgence celebrating The Shipping Forecast.
Grab a cuppa and enjoy.
02
Introducing Project Normal
I have an idea.
It needs work.
It won't fly alone.
It can make a difference.
I'm sharing it here,
because it will bring momentum.
I want to grow a community, who want it to be normal.
Normal for boys and men to be respectful and equitable to girls and women. For everyone to be able to share their normal.
A community of role models who are increasing awareness and understanding of our experiences in the world.
Help me
On 23rd January at 6.30pm I trying something new.
I'll share the ideas I have.
I'd love it if you could join me to help shake them.
I'd welcome feedback and advice.
You could be the seedling that helps the acorn grow.
What you can expect:
-
A low key, informal meet up.
-
I'll share my hope for Project Normal
-
There will be plenty of room for discussion and feedback.
-
A first community moment for 25beyond.
-
No more than 45 minutes.
-
A very grateful Keith - that you're curious to support a good thing grow.
If you would like to join me, reserve your free spot here.
You'll be able to say you were there at the very start of Project Normal - My hope is that becomes a pretty cool thing to say.
03
A stop between scrolls
If you are on Instagram, picture 5 in this post. Well, any of them really.
This page is a valuable follow.
Occasionally you may require some translation, but that is ok.
A great page.
#7 - 28/12/24
A bit more beyond
Behind the scenes
01
One of my favourite pictures of the year
This picture wasn't a set up.
It's a random coincidence.
I spent the weekend with a lifelong friend recently.
Without sharing,
we seemed to be matching.
Alignment of 40 years of friendship, illustrated in outfits.
Bizarre, but bizarrely beautiful.
02
The power of responsibility
Responsibility grows.
I imagine you have heard of Desert Island Discs.
The gateway to a lifetime of solitude.
Reflecting on your path to this point.
It's a format that has worked for 82 years.
The latest guest, rightly attracted a lot of attention.
Gareth Southgate is a worthy listen.
Perhaps less celebrated is this episode:
An emotional story, which involves three qualities I hold dear.
Care, kindness and responsibility.
03
Discover the archive...
Apparently it's never too early.
A kind reader pointed out I should archive The Viaduct View.
I'm happy to oblige.
We started the journey on 28/09/24.
We continue.
We grow.
You can revisit previous Viaduct Views here.
Let's go - Thank you for your support.
#6 - 14/11/24
A bit more beyond
Behind the scenes
01
Some exciting 25beyond news!
Milan Incoming...
It's been in the pipeline for a while.
It was confirmed yesterday.
I've been invited to close a week long conference in the Spring.
Leading a session with 100 of their senior leaders to support their performance and culture in 2025 and beyond.
They've asked me to speak around 3 themes you've seen me write about a lot:
- Continued betterment
- Failing safe
- The benefits of normalness
Lovely.
02
Assumptions limit us
Role models matter.
Seeing is believing.
We all learn from somewhere.
Enjoy two minutes to watch this clip.
Notice as you do, what images come into your head.
Who would you draw instinctively?
This isn't new, it's an old clip.
It's still impactful.
Stereotypes, bias, assumptions.
Too many folk carry them.
How do you ensure you don't?
#5 - 30/11/24
A bit more beyond
Behind the scenes
01
Brands done well
02
This is good, but it shouldn't be
Talking of friendship
The best brands evoke the qualities of friendship.
Shared values, connection,
trust and loyalty.
Every year David Hieatt, a co-founder of Hiut Denim fame curates 'Do One Thing Well' list.
I've enjoyed it for 10 years.
It connects with me.
I'm curious to see what gets chosen.
I trust David's judgement.
I enjoy a good list.
Take a peak here.
Men, we need to be better.
Following the video I shared from Kick it Out (#1 - scroll down), this latest video from AFC Bournemouth recreates reality too well.
Credit to AFC Bournemouth shining a light on the female everyday.
It's unacceptable that, generally men, cause women to not feel safe.
I wrote about this a few weeks ago on LinkedIn.
It's not the dark women fear.
#4 - 16/11/24
A bit more beyond
Behind the scenes
01
4 Steps to Building Belief
'It's too cold, you won't be able to do it'.
How on earth are you going to get all in?
Hearing my brain work reminds me I can.
I retreated into the sauna.
The rest of group eager to immerse themselves.
Belief builds
These 4 steps help me build belief:
1, Panic not, big breaths.
Your breath is always with you.
Focusing on breathing connects you to the present moment, bringing perspective - I then say to myself 'it will be ok'.
2, Do you really want to?
You don't have to.
It's your choice.
Choice reframes challenge.
3, Is there precedent of safety?
Have most folk managed to do x and not die?!
This reality check gives me confidence.
reinforcing 'it will be ok'.
4, What's the first step to x?
Understand the first small step.
This breaks the situation into bite size chunks.
These 4 steps help unlock momentum.
And momentum is golden.
The first small step leads to the second and third and so on.
Come on Sharpe
On this occasion my first steps were:
a, pop in,
b,immerse in cold,
c, get out quickly.
I trust this process.
I then dash back into the warmth of the sauna in no time.
Continuous betterment
My mind seeks continual progress, always.
I consider my options for betterment.
There was an island in view.
I wonder if I could get to it,
May be round it?
I go again.
I get round the island - Really enjoying how the sauna protects from the cold.
Back in the warmth, I ponder.
Could I circle all three islands?
I trust myself. I can do this.
I'm loving it
Far from my initial cold ankles.
Reflecting to 45 minutes ago, I almost didn't go in.
I am properly proud I was enjoying a 3 island swim.
Trust and belief integral to action.
It was a lovely reminder:
We can.
We will.
We do.
Don't let the doubt win.
Small builds belief.
Go fly.
02
Podcasts are old, but I'm young.
Adventurer Sue Stockdale kindly asked if I would join her on the
Access to Inspiration podcast.
It's my first go at being on a podcast.
I am grateful for the experience.
I'd love to hear how you find it.
Could you gift me 30mins for a listen?
Doubt did it's initial dance
Podcasts offer perspective.
Thoughts to stimulate.
Not everyone will agree or enjoy.
What will folk think?
If you do listen,
I welcome you're feedback.
what worked, what didn't.
Never shy on feedback.
I'd love to hear from you.
03
The connection this week - belief builds.
We only get one go.
Today gives us 24 hours.
We don't get to replay them.
Back in January, if you said I'd have a website
(well a holding page and a bonus button),
a newsletter, a trade mark and a regular LinkedIn post-er.
I would have doubted it all.
We can go beyond what we believe.
Worry not.
Motion builds momentum.
Trust you can.
Belief builds with the more you do.
Folk feedback.
It helps.
Trust me.
If I can, you absolutely can.
What do you want to do?
I reckon you can...go fly.
I believe in you.
#3 - 2/11/24
A bit more beyond
Behind the scenes
01
A lost art?
Queue politeness
I visited Buckingham palace recently.
It reminded me, royal or not,
how much the Queen meant to some folk.
I was in the midst of posting a drawing a day on Instagram when the Queen died - inspiring one of my favourite drawings from the year.
Waiting to go into the Palace, the queue was orderly. A best practice queue! Many years ago I read Katie Fox's brilliant book about Watching the English - Explaining the oddities of culture. This included our extensive love of a queue.
We think we are queue adaptable
The polite principles remain true.
You are before me, I will wait my turn.
The bus stop or bar are the best examples.
The covid queue crew
I learnt this week younger folk are losing the art of queuing - Only knowing the covid queue.
Single file, respectful distances.
Apparently unable to adapt the principles to a non-linear queue.
We need to live and breathe culture to keep it alive. We can't assume folk know what to do.
Role models are required.
#learningiseverywhere
#culture
#team
#2 - 12/10/24
A bit more beyond
Behind the scenes
01
Why 25?
The 25 matters.
I'm fortunate to be beyond the age of 25.
The 25 is threefold:
1- The first nod, my sis.
Unfortunately she didn't get to 26.
One day she was here, the next she wasn't.
I was 22. We were becoming closer again.
Getting comfortable as adult siblings, rather than me being the younger annoying brother.
25 is a reminder that, hopefully, we can go beyond where we are.
Photo: Back in the day, as a four.
2 - The second nod, my work bank.
The experience I've banked before 25beyond launched.
25 years understanding elite performance environments.
Helping folk in teams and individually pursue continued betterment.
Changing cultures to allow folk to fly.
Valuing bigger purpose, choosing excellence and building successful communities.
3 - The third nod, a reminder.
To go beyond what we all believe our limits are.
02
Our first trade mark
Many folk tell me, focus on one thing.
My strength comes because I have more than one.
I call it my web of wonder.
Anything less wouldn't be me.
Variety wins.
There are 6 wonders in my web.
In no particular order, I will share.
I want to give you an insight behind what's what.
One by one.
This time, sharing news just in.
We have our first trademark.
It underpins much of my work, in particularly, my organisational work.
I enjoy supporting workplaces.
Helping organisations and teams be better.
By better, I mean:
Performing and being more purposeful.
More normal.
Normalness is underrated.
Too many folk don't thrive in work.
Allowing folk to bring their best self to work is my definition of normalness.
It leads to excellence.
How will 25beyond do this?
Through our recently trade marked:
The Periodic Table of Performance.
The elements work together to harness better.
Where good things grow.
#1 28/09/24
#1 - 28/09/24
Two things I've noticed this week
that got me thinking:
01
I am part of the problem
This could be disagreeable.
The problem is me(n).
The video below is a cracking campaign by launched recently by Kick It Out.
It highlights how +50% of women have experienced sexism at football matches.
The wider conversation about men in society is one I've been pondering for a while.
In the last few years*, I've come to realise I can help shape a solution.
I'm looking forward to sharing more about this in future Viaduct Views.
*I'm sorry it has taken me this long.
02
Move for your mind
This viral video resonates for many.
Including me.
It also got me thinking beyond the individual and how workplace culture is set up to help 'Move for your mind'.
People ask me how I find the time to write and post regularly on Linkedin, between my everyday.
My answer is because I don't do my best work at a desk.
It's while I am moving:
Walking, running, riding, occasionally swimming, but I find I have to concentrate to swim well.
And travelling (does that count as moving?!).
When do you do your best work?