View in browser Hi Reader How are you doing? I've been enjoying my first summer in Canada. Planning very carefully so that I can keep that balance between exploring the Island, connection and all those MBA assignments 🌿 In between all that, one recent conversation really stayed with me, an expert I interviewed for my MBA shared something about AI that made me pause… and reflect. Let’s be honest, talking to AI can feel safe. You ask a question. You get an answer. No judgment. No discomfort. No...
11 days ago • 1 min read
Hi Reader Oh boy, it seems that I keep forgetting to send the Book Club reminders 🫣 I'm still here, still reading books, still hosting the monthly Book Club Chat, it's just the e-mail I keep forgetting to send. So here I am! The book this month is 100% my thing - who could have guessed? 😅 It's valuable for anyone prone to procrastination or struggling to stick to one task. A MUST read! July 2025 In Hyperfocus, by Chris Bailey explores how the focus is not merely heightened awareness but a...
13 days ago • 1 min read
View in browser Hi ReaderBy now, you know walking is a big part of my life. It’s how my coaching journey started, by reconnecting with nature and, eventually, myself. Hence the name, a Backyard Hiker, if you didn't make that connection yet 😊 First, it was giraffes and acacia trees, and then walking alongside my coaching clients. A lot of magic happens when you move. This week, something happened that reminded me of the power of a walk. When walking on campus, I noticed a classmate a few...
18 days ago • 1 min read
View in browser Unlike many others, my coaching journey didn’t begin in a classroom. It began with dirt trails, sunrises, and unexpected clarity. Back in South Africa, I started going for a walk every single day. One day turned into two… which turned into a habit… which turned into a non-negotiable. Today marks Day 1888 of #walkingeverydamnday. And while those walks once included giraffes, zebras, and the occasional wildebeest (yep, really), these days, my wildlife encounters look a little...
25 days ago • 1 min read
View in browser Hi Reader How have you been? I'm about to embark on the second half of the second semester of my MBA, and I had a fantastic break! No, not a summer break, just a one-week break 😅 That summer is on hold as an MBA student at Vancouver Island University 😏 In the past few weeks, a topic that came up repeatedly was the need to start making connections! But you know what, as kids, we’re told not to talk to strangers. Don’t trust them. Don’t follow them. And definitely don’t tell...
about 1 month ago • 1 min read
View in browser Hi Reader I just received an email I had sent to myself a year ago. (Yep — I do that. And you can too, by the way: https://www.futureme.org/) Reading it inspired me to share this with you today. The letter applauded me. She (future me) celebrated the stamina, the trust that it would all work out, and the patience to embrace small steps — even when they didn’t feel glamorous. She thanked me for practicing what I preach: Choosing progress over perfection. Being a proud C student...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
View in browser Hi Reader As I mentioned last week, I like to ace my MBA. (Yes, probably some old beliefs popping up there — hey, I’m human too. That’s why I get coached as well 😏) But here’s the thing: In some areas, I’m perfectly fine being a C student. A few weeks ago, I went to an escape room with my teammates. We didn’t get out in time. (And no, they don’t leave you locked in forever. 😉) And you know what? I was okay with it. Because the goal wasn’t to win — it was to have fun. To bond....
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
View in browser Hi Reader I’m the kind of person who would love to do it all 🤷🏼♀️ (And I mean all) Grow my coaching business Get straight A’s in my MBA program Go on daily adventures Travel the world Try new hobbies Meet new people Host brunches Enroll in a million and one courses Volunteer Be there for my friends You get the picture. 😅 But then reality hits: There are only 24 hours in a day. I get cranky without enough sleep. So I have to choose. And you know what? They sometimes say, "you...
about 2 months ago • 1 min read
View in browser Hi Reader When I launched my very first e-commerce website (many moons ago), I poured everything into it. I had the most stunning design, professional product photos — and this was before the drag-and-drop era. Custom-coded, fancy, and yes… expensive. The moment it went live, I was thrilled. So I waited. And waited. I kept refreshing the page… expecting that first order to magically roll in. What I forgot was one tiny detail: Nobody knew about my beautiful website. 😅 I...
2 months ago • 1 min read