Coaching The Elephant

This article is a personal piece on the birth of children and the importance of deep presence over the "busyness" of life.

This post is a reminder to seek alignment and presence in daily life rather than building a lifestyle that requires escape.

This article is an illustration of how belief and inner ownership drive team performance, using a scene from the film Invictus.

This episode is a discussion on the emotional challenges of succession, specifically when a founder struggles to relinquish authority.

This article is an analysis of how a leader's exit style shapes organizational stability and the success of their successor.

This post is an exploration of why adaptability and embodied practice are more vital than strategy in high-pressure situations.

This episode is a New Year’s reflection on the inevitability of failed plans and finding courage in moments of feeling lost.

This post is an encouragement to lower the threshold for joy by finding pleasure in small, everyday moments rather than waiting for big successes.

This episode is a reflection on how true possibility comes from releasing old identities and making space for new growth.

This post is an inquiry into the practice of authenticity and the necessity of setting boundaries instead of editing oneself for others.

This article is an examination of the discipline of truly living rather than merely existing, inspired by James Bond and Jack London.

This post is a warning against the trap of postponing satisfaction until goals are met, emphasizing the importance of showing up daily.

This article is a discussion on how letting go of material comfort and making personal sacrifices can unlock focus and a deeper sense of purpose.

This post is an exploration of inner steadiness and the quiet power of self-belief, using the metaphor of a tiny twig holding a massive rock.

This article is a reflection on finding clarity through action rather than planning, inspired by a recent walk with my daughter.

This post discusses the dangers of defining oneself by external roles and titles, arguing that such a fragile identity can lead to a sense of being lost when those things are gone. It introduces the Core Identity Model, which advocates for building a resilient sense of self based on one's core values, rather than on performance or labels.

This article explores grief not just as a response to death, but to any profound loss that shatters a person's sense of identity. It uses the Kübler-Ross Change Curve as a non-linear map to navigate loss, emphasizing that healing is about walking alongside others in pain, not about finding a quick fix.

This article discusses how caring for others can feel overwhelming, a phenomenon known as "empathic distress." It distinguishes between empathy, which is feeling another's pain and can lead to burnout, and compassion, which is about being present with someone's suffering without being consumed by it. The article concludes that true healing comes not from trying to fix a person's pain but from the...

This article analyzes the story of Nightbirde, a contestant on America's Got Talent, to explore the core idea of choosing your emotional state amid hardship. It argues that happiness is not something to wait for after a struggle is over, but an active choice that can be made even when facing immense difficulty. The author concludes that true resilience is not about getting through the storm, but a...

This article explains that the stories people tell themselves shape their identity and choices. It discusses how some of these narratives are empowering while others are quietly limiting, often driven by inner saboteurs. The article offers insights and practical steps to help readers recognize their own stories and choose a new, more positive way forward.

This article explains that many conflicts seem to arise from minor events but are actually a reactivation of older, unresolved issues. It argues that seemingly insignificant disagreements are often signals of underlying tensions, unaddressed fears, or recurring behavioral patterns that must be understood rather than avoided.

This article presents a thought experiment for leaders to consider what would happen to their business and family if they were suddenly gone. The exercise is a practical tool for assessing a leader's true legacy by revealing hidden dependencies and encouraging the building of systems that empower others.

This piece explores the paradox of founders who cling too tightly to leadership. While being indispensable might feel like loyalty, it undermines future success and legacy. René argues that letting go, with trust and intentional succession, enables long-term viability and health of a family enterprise.

René reframes resilience not as a fixed trait but as a conscious choice and ongoing practice. Using a story about a client engagement collapsing, he illustrates how true strength emerges in adversity, not by avoiding it, but by standing firm within it. It’s a guide to cultivating inner presence when everything falls apart.

Drawing on Tim Gallwey’s The Inner Game of Tennis, René highlights the internal dialogue that sabotages peak performance. He teaches that mastering attention and quieting self-doubt enables the “body to take over” and perform at its best, whether on the field or in the boardroom.