Ian Walton
@thecathode.bsky.social
Writer, ghostwriter, thinker, leader, leadership coach.
Learning every day, and sharing whatever I can.
thecathode.substack.com
Learning every day, and sharing whatever I can.
thecathode.substack.com
Your two-point daily check:
- Did I make progress today?
- Was I kind today?
If it's two 'yes'es, it was a good day. Anything beyond that is a bonus.
If you're not sure, don't worry, there's always tomorrow. Start your good habits with this check and you won't go far wrong.
- Did I make progress today?
- Was I kind today?
If it's two 'yes'es, it was a good day. Anything beyond that is a bonus.
If you're not sure, don't worry, there's always tomorrow. Start your good habits with this check and you won't go far wrong.
May 1, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Your two-point daily check:
- Did I make progress today?
- Was I kind today?
If it's two 'yes'es, it was a good day. Anything beyond that is a bonus.
If you're not sure, don't worry, there's always tomorrow. Start your good habits with this check and you won't go far wrong.
- Did I make progress today?
- Was I kind today?
If it's two 'yes'es, it was a good day. Anything beyond that is a bonus.
If you're not sure, don't worry, there's always tomorrow. Start your good habits with this check and you won't go far wrong.
If you want to do better at work, I can help. Try my new, free email course to become more effective at work, whatever your role, in just 7 days.
Unsubscribe at any time if it's not for you. Or stick around for a week to start investing in yourself the way you deserve.
Thecathode.life
Unsubscribe at any time if it's not for you. Or stick around for a week to start investing in yourself the way you deserve.
Thecathode.life
April 26, 2025 at 10:45 AM
If you want to do better at work, I can help. Try my new, free email course to become more effective at work, whatever your role, in just 7 days.
Unsubscribe at any time if it's not for you. Or stick around for a week to start investing in yourself the way you deserve.
Thecathode.life
Unsubscribe at any time if it's not for you. Or stick around for a week to start investing in yourself the way you deserve.
Thecathode.life
One of the best things about this time of year is that you can see the whole day - the sunrise and the sunset - and be outside to appreciate it. Something about that makes you feel like you've got more out of life today, even if you didn't get as much done as you'd hoped.
April 9, 2025 at 6:12 AM
One of the best things about this time of year is that you can see the whole day - the sunrise and the sunset - and be outside to appreciate it. Something about that makes you feel like you've got more out of life today, even if you didn't get as much done as you'd hoped.
The more jobs I've done, the more it's become apparent that people make a job, not the work. Great bosses can make the most tedious work fun, and awful colleagues can ruin a dream job.
So be the colleague that makes a job great.
And don't settle for a bad boss. You deserve better.
So be the colleague that makes a job great.
And don't settle for a bad boss. You deserve better.
April 8, 2025 at 5:26 PM
The more jobs I've done, the more it's become apparent that people make a job, not the work. Great bosses can make the most tedious work fun, and awful colleagues can ruin a dream job.
So be the colleague that makes a job great.
And don't settle for a bad boss. You deserve better.
So be the colleague that makes a job great.
And don't settle for a bad boss. You deserve better.
Don't bother looking at your productivity until you're sure you're working on the right stuff. No-one gets anywhere by doing trivia well.
April 6, 2025 at 12:01 PM
Don't bother looking at your productivity until you're sure you're working on the right stuff. No-one gets anywhere by doing trivia well.
I've pretty much read all the leadership books, done all the courses, run every kind of team and project, and almost everything about success just boils down to this:
- Work hard, consistently
- Take responsibility
- Be kind
Everything else is just a variation on that theme.
- Work hard, consistently
- Take responsibility
- Be kind
Everything else is just a variation on that theme.
March 16, 2025 at 10:12 AM
I've pretty much read all the leadership books, done all the courses, run every kind of team and project, and almost everything about success just boils down to this:
- Work hard, consistently
- Take responsibility
- Be kind
Everything else is just a variation on that theme.
- Work hard, consistently
- Take responsibility
- Be kind
Everything else is just a variation on that theme.
The one, single reason why I still have an account on X. Can only be days now until the Barkley Marathons...
March 14, 2025 at 5:22 PM
The one, single reason why I still have an account on X. Can only be days now until the Barkley Marathons...
Although my Substack is mostly about getting more out of life and work, I've also written a dozen articles about running. Training tips and recommendations, and general musings on running distance and trails.
You can find them all here:
thecathode.substack.com/t/running
You can find them all here:
thecathode.substack.com/t/running
March 13, 2025 at 7:31 AM
Although my Substack is mostly about getting more out of life and work, I've also written a dozen articles about running. Training tips and recommendations, and general musings on running distance and trails.
You can find them all here:
thecathode.substack.com/t/running
You can find them all here:
thecathode.substack.com/t/running
No writing is ever wasted.
Anything you ever create is part of your portfolio, a seed for a different idea or a way of organising your view on something.
At worst, it's something you can review and edit to make yourself a better writer.
Everything you write is taking you forwards.
Just write.
Anything you ever create is part of your portfolio, a seed for a different idea or a way of organising your view on something.
At worst, it's something you can review and edit to make yourself a better writer.
Everything you write is taking you forwards.
Just write.
February 23, 2025 at 1:00 PM
No writing is ever wasted.
Anything you ever create is part of your portfolio, a seed for a different idea or a way of organising your view on something.
At worst, it's something you can review and edit to make yourself a better writer.
Everything you write is taking you forwards.
Just write.
Anything you ever create is part of your portfolio, a seed for a different idea or a way of organising your view on something.
At worst, it's something you can review and edit to make yourself a better writer.
Everything you write is taking you forwards.
Just write.
There’s so much that I love about January – the simplicity, the quiet, the lack of social engagements, the lack of retail expectations. Simple aims like spending as little as possible this month, reading more, cooking. Being outside for a bit, but then the killer sofa + book + tea combo.
January 9, 2025 at 4:50 PM
There’s so much that I love about January – the simplicity, the quiet, the lack of social engagements, the lack of retail expectations. Simple aims like spending as little as possible this month, reading more, cooking. Being outside for a bit, but then the killer sofa + book + tea combo.
You know, you don’t actually have to set any resolutions at all. You don’t have to transform your life in January. You can just decide to relax, simplify, decompress and focus on a few simple things so you’re fully recharged for what 2025 has in store. Set a goal, or don’t, but own it either way.
January 7, 2025 at 11:47 AM
You know, you don’t actually have to set any resolutions at all. You don’t have to transform your life in January. You can just decide to relax, simplify, decompress and focus on a few simple things so you’re fully recharged for what 2025 has in store. Set a goal, or don’t, but own it either way.
If it’s your first day back at work today after a break, remember that most people feel just as unfocussed, tired, panicky and stressed as you do. Just get in, do your best, work through the things you need to do and don’t stare out the window. You've got this!
January 6, 2025 at 7:45 AM
If it’s your first day back at work today after a break, remember that most people feel just as unfocussed, tired, panicky and stressed as you do. Just get in, do your best, work through the things you need to do and don’t stare out the window. You've got this!
On New Year’s Day north Norway had one of the highest levels of solar activity in recent years. Unfortunately, it was also covered in thick fog. So instead of watching the aurora, we went sledging in the dark and -16. Sometimes you just need to change your plans and go with plan B...
January 5, 2025 at 6:06 PM
On New Year’s Day north Norway had one of the highest levels of solar activity in recent years. Unfortunately, it was also covered in thick fog. So instead of watching the aurora, we went sledging in the dark and -16. Sometimes you just need to change your plans and go with plan B...
Oh Duo, you don't know the half of it.
December 4, 2024 at 6:40 AM
Oh Duo, you don't know the half of it.
Reposted by Ian Walton
What's in your 2024 BlueSky BookStack? Heres mine - not as many books read as I'd like, it's been a busy one. And not too many new books in my pile either. My pick of the year is Richard Askwith's Feet In The Clouds, the classic exploration of fell-running.
November 24, 2024 at 8:55 AM
What's in your 2024 BlueSky BookStack? Heres mine - not as many books read as I'd like, it's been a busy one. And not too many new books in my pile either. My pick of the year is Richard Askwith's Feet In The Clouds, the classic exploration of fell-running.
Strangest thing. I'm still passively scrolling through content, yet somehow I don't feel intellectually or morally violated afterwards.
November 28, 2024 at 5:23 PM
Strangest thing. I'm still passively scrolling through content, yet somehow I don't feel intellectually or morally violated afterwards.
Don’t bring your whole self to work. Your whole self includes the parts of you that are lazy, selfish, inconsiderate and unkind. Your whole self is an arsehole. Bring your best self to work, the one that works hard, takes responsibility and is kind to everyone. The one your kids and your Mum know.
November 27, 2024 at 10:25 AM
Don’t bring your whole self to work. Your whole self includes the parts of you that are lazy, selfish, inconsiderate and unkind. Your whole self is an arsehole. Bring your best self to work, the one that works hard, takes responsibility and is kind to everyone. The one your kids and your Mum know.
If you want to look and be more effective at work, one of the best things you can do is be a competent user of IT. Sounds obvious? It is. But someone asking ‘how do I print?’ doesn’t look important, they look stupid. Never stop learning, no matter how senior, old or busy you are.
November 26, 2024 at 1:06 PM
If you want to look and be more effective at work, one of the best things you can do is be a competent user of IT. Sounds obvious? It is. But someone asking ‘how do I print?’ doesn’t look important, they look stupid. Never stop learning, no matter how senior, old or busy you are.
This week’s team hack: say ‘hello’ to everyone you see on your way into work, and ‘goodbye’ to everyone on your way out. Do it for a week. Sounds basic? It is. But it opens doors, starts conversations and shows you care about people. The first and last things you say shape people's opinions of you.
November 25, 2024 at 7:01 AM
This week’s team hack: say ‘hello’ to everyone you see on your way into work, and ‘goodbye’ to everyone on your way out. Do it for a week. Sounds basic? It is. But it opens doors, starts conversations and shows you care about people. The first and last things you say shape people's opinions of you.
There are 38 days left in 2024. If you're already on the downramp to 2025, don't give up on your goals just yet. Start that positive habit or project now and you'll be so much further ahead when everyone else starts on 1st January.
November 24, 2024 at 12:02 PM
There are 38 days left in 2024. If you're already on the downramp to 2025, don't give up on your goals just yet. Start that positive habit or project now and you'll be so much further ahead when everyone else starts on 1st January.
What's in your 2024 BlueSky BookStack? Heres mine - not as many books read as I'd like, it's been a busy one. And not too many new books in my pile either. My pick of the year is Richard Askwith's Feet In The Clouds, the classic exploration of fell-running.
November 24, 2024 at 8:55 AM
What's in your 2024 BlueSky BookStack? Heres mine - not as many books read as I'd like, it's been a busy one. And not too many new books in my pile either. My pick of the year is Richard Askwith's Feet In The Clouds, the classic exploration of fell-running.