July 2026 – The Optimistic Cynic

It should be simple

We know we should keep it simple. Even the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius said “Ask yourself at every moment – is this necessary?” Knowing it and doing it are two different things though. Had a great coffee catch up yesterday with a team who have been successful for well over 15 years using a veryContinue reading “It should be simple”

It is who I am

Lately I’ve taken the unusual step of adding humorous memes to some of my posts on LinkedIn (generally involving coffee). Now I understand that some people may see these as more suited to Facebook than LinkedIn. After all, LinkedIn is a serious, professional platform. Sometimes life is too serious not laugh at For me though,Continue reading “It is who I am”

The old bloke is going high tech…

Really looking forward to starting the AI for Charities course tomorrow. Up until now I haven’t paid too much attention to how AI can be used in the sector, mainly because writing, thinking and researching are things I enjoy doing. Now it’s time to broaden my horizons…and become young again (well that’s my plan)

It’s not complicated

A sounding board is a relatively new concept but it makes a lot of sense. It gives you the opportunity to slow down, think clearly and ultimately make better decisions. No judgement. No being sold to. Simply helping you to work things through. Find out what a sounding board can do for you david@theoptimisticcynic.co.nz

Think S for Growth

I’m no academic nor an economist but I do understand how some models and theories can be used to illustrate real world issues. So much advice is around saying that leaders need to work on their business, not just in it. LinkedIn is full of this mantra. Are we doing this though, and if so,Continue reading “Think S for Growth”

It will never be everything

I had another fantastic coffee catch up today – having been head down for three years, I really did miss these mental stimulation opportunities. One of the many topics we discussed was AI and once again I was reminded that no matter how clever it is, it definitely has limitations. AI is really an amazingContinue reading “It will never be everything”

We need to end fragmentation

In case you didn’t notice, it’s hard out there. Increasing number of organisations applying for a smaller pool of donations. New contracts are almost unheard of while compliance is a never ending beast. If we want a thriving charitable sector, we need to be smarter. We can’t keep on setting up new organisations in theContinue reading “We need to end fragmentation”

My cup runs over…

Coffee and a chat is a great foundation for discovery and learning. A gentle 30 minute walk on a clear frosty morning makes to doubly so. Yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting a small business owner and finding out more about her enterprise. What I loved was how simple it was and yet itContinue reading “My cup runs over…”