Topics
The blog, sorted by what it is about. All of it is on the blog, newest first.
Seeing projects differently
Posts on the ideas in Delivering the Impossible.
- Every Book on Project Management is a Lie the Author Knows They're Telling17th April 2026Every book on project management is a lie the author knows they're telling.
- Multiple Points of View8th April 2026The idea for my book, Delivering the Impossible, is a whole bunch of different points of view — different ways of seeing project management.
- Negative Capability2nd April 2026I was replying to a comment on LinkedIn yesterday about what's involved in being a project manager.
- Every Project is a Romance31st March 2026David Foster Wallace was attributed with saying that every love story is a ghost story.
- On not doing much26th February 2026In my book - "Delivering the Impossible" - I warned about something called "Agreed Activity".
Writing a book
What I have learned writing one, and what the show is about.
- The Shitty First Draft27th March 2026Anne Lamott talks about the shitty first draft in her book "Bird by Bird." Here's mine.
- Fooling Somebody20th March 2026I read Anne Lamott's book Bird by Bird - and this is what I learned.
- You Are Not Paul McCartney29th March 2026So, I had this friend who was passionate about music, loved music, and wanted to learn the guitar.
- No Mirrors, Only Prisms28th March 2026My new show — You Can Write a Book — is about writing a book.
- Tell Me a Story18th April 2026I went to an event at a local bookshop where a published author and an agent were going to review first lines from people's books.
- Powerlessness is Part of Progress11th April 2026I heard that my fellow Yorkshireman Patrick Stewart — Sir Patrick Stewart, I think it is — said about acting that the real job is getting humiliated at auditions.
- Shuddering to a Halt10th April 2026So, should I be doing this?
- Grammar for People Who Aren't Twats3rd April 2026I had this idea for a book show called "Grammar for People Who Aren't Twats." I got the idea because I went to a talk by Gyles Brandreth, who'd written a book called Have You Eaten, Grandma?
Making the show
From the Fringe listing to the night one person came.
- Why the Show is Called "You Can Write a Book"27th March 2026Here's the basic situation.
- You Can Write a Book — London Shows9th April 2026I'm doing two (at least) work in progress shows in London before I go up to perform at the Fringe.
- You Can Now Book a Ticket1st April 2026The Edinburgh Fringe listing for You Can Write a Book is live.
- The daftest marketing idea I've ever had - and it involves work!30th April 2026I wrote a book.
- Everything Begins With S15th August 2026Tomorrow I go to Edinburgh.
- The mother of all sulks is the reason I'm doing the show26th August 2026I was walking along the street in Edinburgh on my way back from doing the show — and I had a queasy realisation.
- One person came26th August 2026Monday's show had an audience of one.