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How A Sticky Note On My Bathroom Mirror Massively Impacted My Life

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Focus is a hard thing to obtain. There are just so many things buzzing around in our heads. It’s the digital age we live in.

I thought I’d have a go at focusing on one thing.

At 8 am one morning before work, I got out a yellow posted note and wrote the following:

I, Tim Denning, will become a famous writer.

As I read these words right now, I still feel a bit stupid. How could a posted note with something like this on it massively impact my life?

I didn’t believe for a second that the posted note was my savior either.

The simplest of practices often go unnoticed or dismissed as being too ‘easy.’

After sticking that posted note on my bathroom mirror, I thought nothing of it. Each day I’d walk into the bathroom, go to the toilet and brush my teeth. During these moments of nothingness, I’d stare at the mirror.

I couldn’t help but notice this bright shiny posted note staring right at me.

It was hard not to see it’s sun-like goodness.

So, each time I went to the bathroom, I’d read what was on the posted note.
The message seemed insignificant.


After placing that posted note on my mirror, without even thinking, I’d write something on my computer each time I read what was on the posted note. For a guy that drinks a lot of water, this meant lots of trips to the bathroom and even more exposure to this tiny, little, yellow posted note.

Some days it was a few written comments on LinkedIn.

Other days it was 100–200 words as an answer to a question on Quora.

On days when I had lots of energy or had something on my mind, the writing took the form of long posts on Medium.com

It didn’t matter where I was writing; it just mattered that I was writing at every chance I got.

When I read the posted note and then wrote something, I felt good.

Each time I followed my one single instruction to myself on the posted note, it made me feel a sense of achievement.

“Even if I’d achieved nothing else for the day, doing what I ‘d committed to on the posted note made everything else worth it”

Before I wrote anything on that little yellow posted note and put it on my bathroom mirror, I had conflicting priorities. There was gym, public speaking practice, research on digital marketing and 101 books to read. It was a constant struggle of willpower to work out what to focus on.

Spare time became a war in my head against conflicting priorities. The posted note on my bathroom mirror ended that war once and for all.

One thing. Clearly written. So simple, anyone could understand it.


The POINT.

All sounds good, doesn’t it?

Well, there’s a point to this story. A surprise some would say.

In the same month as I stuck this posted note on my bathroom mirror and began the practice of saying “I, Tim Denning, will become a famous writer” a surprising email made its way into my inbox.

The email read “You Are A LinkedIn Top Voice”

Some people may have no idea what this award and that’s okay.

For someone trying to become a famous writer and inspire the world through entrepreneurship and personal development, it shows a significant amount of progress towards attaining that goal.

This award meant that I was reaching millions of people every month with my writing.


That sticky note on my mirror could be described as an affirmation, a goal, an area of focus — there’s a thousand different ways to describe it.

I don’t think the name for this practice matters. What’s important about the sticky note on my mirror is that it’s a daily practice and it focuses my busy mind on one thing.

Many of you reading this have not been able to achieve that one thing in your life that you’ve always wanted because you haven’t deliberately worked towards it each day. Through no fault of your own, your mind has become distracted — partly due to the internet — and so all the other tasks in your life have got in the way.

Like me, you’ve probably thought that small practices like placing sticky notes on your mirror are stupid and so you’ve never tried it.

I’m living proof that a sticky note on your bathroom mirror can massively impact your life.

Deliberate practice and focus works and automates the process of achieving your goals.

Automate the change you’re seeking.

<<<>>>

If you want to increase your productivity and learn some more valuable life hacks, then join my private mailing list on timdenning.net

Aussie Blogger with 500M+ views — Writer for CNBC & Business Insider. Inspiring the world through Personal Development and Entrepreneurship You can connect with Tim through his website www.timdenning.com

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Success Advice

Why One-Size-Fits-All Leadership Will Always Fail (and What Works Instead)

The surprising truth about leadership styles that can make or break your team’s success.

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Why one-size-fits-all leadership doesn’t work
Image Credit: Midjourney

Leadership has always been as much about people as it is about performance. Ken Blanchard, in his influential book, “The One Minute Manager”, put it simply: different strokes for different folks. (more…)

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Success Advice

What Every New CEO Must Do in Their First 100 Days (or Risk Failure)

Your first 100 days as CEO could define your entire legacy, here’s how to make every move count

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When Tim Cook took over from Steve Jobs at Apple, the world watched with bated breath. Jobs wasn’t just a CEO; he was a visionary, an icon, and a legend of innovative leadership. (more…)

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Entrepreneurs

The Leadership Shift Every Company Needs in 2025

Struggling to keep your team engaged? Here’s how leaders can turn frustrated employees into loyal advocates.

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Bridging the gap between employees and employers
Image Credit: Midjourney

In workplaces around the world, there’s a growing gap between employers and employees and between superiors and their teams. It’s a common refrain: “People don’t leave companies, they leave bad bosses.”

While there are, of course, cases where management could do better, this isn’t just a “bad boss” problem. The relationship between leaders and employees is complex. Instead of assigning blame, we should explore practical solutions to build stronger, healthier workplaces where everyone thrives.

Why This Gap Exists

Every workplace needs someone to guide, supervise, and provide feedback. That’s essential for productivity and performance. But because there are usually far more employees than managers, dissatisfaction, fair or not, spreads quickly.

What if, instead of focusing on blame, we focused on building trust, empathy, and communication? This is where modern leadership and human-centered management can make a difference.

Tools and Techniques to Bridge the Gap

Here are proven strategies leaders and employees can use to foster stronger relationships and create a workplace where people actually want to stay.

1. Practice Mutual Empathy

Both managers and employees need to recognize they are ultimately on the same team. Leaders have to balance people and performance, and often face intense pressure to hit targets. Employees who understand this reality are more likely to cooperate and problem-solve collaboratively.

2. Maintain Professional Boundaries

Superiors should separate personal issues from professional decision-making. Consistency, fairness, and integrity build trust, and trust is the foundation of a motivated team.

3. Follow the Golden Rule

Treat people how you would like to be treated. This simple principle encourages compassion and respect, two qualities every effective leader must demonstrate.

4. Avoid Micromanagement

Micromanaging stifles creativity and damages morale. Great leaders see themselves as partners, not just bosses, and treat their teams as collaborators working toward a shared goal.

5. Empower Employees to Grow

Empowerment means giving employees responsibility that matches their capacity, and then trusting them to deliver. Encourage them to take calculated risks, learn from mistakes, and problem-solve independently. If something goes wrong, turn it into a learning opportunity, not a reprimand.

6. Communicate in All Directions

Communication shouldn’t just be top-down. Invite feedback, create open channels for suggestions, and genuinely listen to what your people have to say. Healthy upward communication closes gaps before they become conflicts.

7. Overcome Insecurities

Many leaders secretly fear being outshone by younger, more tech-savvy employees. Instead of resisting, embrace the chance to learn from them. Humility earns respect and helps the team innovate faster.

8. Invest in Coaching and Mentorship

True leaders grow other leaders. Provide mentorship, career guidance, and stretch opportunities so employees can develop new skills. Leadership is learned through experience, but guided experience is even more powerful.

9. Eliminate Favoritism

Avoid cliques and office politics. Decisions should be based on facts and fairness, not gossip. Objective, transparent decision-making builds credibility.

10. Recognize Efforts Promptly

Recognition often matters more than rewards. Publicly appreciate employees’ contributions and do so consistently and fairly. A timely “thank you” can be more motivating than a quarterly bonus.

11. Conduct Thoughtful Exit Interviews

When employees leave, treat it as an opportunity to learn. Keep interviews confidential and use the insights to improve management practices and culture.

12. Provide Leadership Development

Train managers to lead, not just supervise. Leadership development programs help shift mindsets from “command and control” to “coach and empower.” This transformation has a direct impact on morale and retention.

13. Adopt Soft Leadership Principles

Today’s workforce, largely millennials and Gen Z, value collaboration over hierarchy. Soft leadership focuses on partnership, mutual respect, and shared purpose, rather than rigid top-down control.

The Bigger Picture: HR’s Role

Mercer’s global research highlights five key priorities for organizations:

  • Build diverse talent pipelines

  • Embrace flexible work models

  • Design compelling career paths

  • Simplify HR processes

  • Redefine the value HR brings

The challenge? Employers and employees often view these priorities differently. Bridging that perception gap is just as important as bridging the relational gap between leaders and staff.

Treat Employees Like Associates, Not Just Staff

When you treat employees like partners, they bring their best selves to work. HR leaders must develop strategies to keep talent engaged, empowered, and prepared for the future.

Organizational success starts with people, always. Build the relationship with your team first, and the results will follow.

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Entrepreneurs

What Makes an Entrepreneurial Leader? Traits of the World’s Best Innovators

Inside the mindset of entrepreneurial leaders who transform risk, passion, and vision into world-changing results.

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When you think of Richard Branson (Virgin Group), Bill Gates (Microsoft), Steve Jobs (Apple), Rupert Murdoch (News Corporation), and Ted Turner (CNN), one thing becomes clear: they are not just entrepreneurs, they are entrepreneurial leaders. (more…)

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