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The official magazine of Proteus Enterprises P/L Does It Really Matter What People Think and Say About You? By Des Penny proteus edition 3 2025 Fail Faster, Grow Bigger By AIMME Time for a Leadership Stocktake By Richard DoreThe Proteuslife Team Editor: Des Penny Production: Leanne Keillor Advertising: Joe Stuart Design: Javier Marmol For all enquiries: 1300 219 903 ABN: 30 092 276 358 proteusleadership.com An Important Message SUBSCRIBE Proteuslife welcomes editorial submissions from a diverse range of people and industries. The information printed is intended to inform and illustrate and should not be taken as professional advice without first checking with appropriate legal or industrial experts. We do not necessarily endorse the views, statements, claims, strategies or ideas put forward by contributors of the magazine. Proteuslife is merely relaying experiences and information. Proteuslife is not liable for any personal or professional loss you may have incurred as a result of reading this magazine. No material may be reproduced in part or whole without written consent from the editor. Advertisements in Proteuslife will be accepted only if they meet all relevant laws and will not give rise to any legal claims or liability and they reflect the culture and purpose of the magazine. proteus The official magazine of Proteus Enterprises P/L John C. Maxwell Remember: Sometimes we win and sometimes we learn. 2 proteuslife 2 proteuslife Subscribe to Proteuslife MagazineDes Penny Every minute we spend complaining about what's happening is a minute we take away from making things better. Hi everyone, Every edition of ProteusLife is a reminder for me that leadership is not just a role - it’s a daily practice, a choice, and a privilege. As I’ve read through the articles in this edition, I’ve been struck by a common thread running through them all: leadership today is less about position and more about presence. It’s about how we show up when things get tough, when feedback stings, when comfort feels tempting, and when it would be easier to play small rather than step fully into our potential. In my lead article, Does It Really Matter What People Think and Say About You? , I share why our ability to rise above criticism - not ignore it entirely, but recognise, reflect, and refocus - is one of the most important skills we can develop. When we take back the steering wheel of our own lives, we stop letting every voice in the crowd become our compass. Across these pages, you’ll find powerful insights from Richard Dore on revisiting the Powerful principles of Patty McCord and Reed Hastings’ Netflix Culture Deck, and AIMME’s thought-provoking takes on failing faster, leading as a lifestyle, becoming uncomfortable on purpose, and building momentum over motivation. Each piece is designed to challenge you, but also to equip you with practical strategies for your leadership journey. Our Professional Development Schedule is once again packed with programs to help you take that next step - whether it’s refining your communication, leading people and culture, or developing emerging leaders in your organisation. And yes, we’ve still got room for inspiration, creativity, and even a bit of fun, from Gadgets for Geeks to recipes you’ll want to try as soon as you turn the page. Leadership isn’t about getting it perfect - it’s about showing up with clarity, courage, and consistency, especially when it’s inconvenient. My hope is that this edition not only inspires you, but also reminds you of the impact you have every day, whether you’re leading a team, a project, a family, or simply yourself. So, take a deep breath, dive into the pages, and remember - your leadership matters more than you know. Please enjoy! Des Penny - Editor editor's proteusleadership.com/linkedin/des proteusleadership.com/lets-go-lets- grow-podcast-with-des-penny/ proteusleadership.com/des-penny-blog Connect with Des! Let's Go - Let's Grow podcast with Des Penny Taking Back the Wheel 3 proteuslife06 Does It Really Matter What People Think And Say About You? By Des Penny 3 Editorial 6 Does It Really Matter What People Think And Say About You? By Des Penny 10 Time For A Leadership Stocktake By Richard Dore 14 Fail Faster, Grow Bigger By AIMME 16 What Our Clients Are Saying 18 Leadership Is A Lifestyle, Not A Job Title By AIMME 20 2025 Professional Development Schedule 22 The Power Of Becoming Uncomfortable On Purpose By AIMME contents The Power Of Becoming Uncomfortable On Purpose By AIMME 22 Fail Faster, Grow Bigger By AIMME 14 4 proteuslife10 Time For A Leadership Stocktake By Richard Dore 24 The Complete Leader Certificate 26 Self-Discovery Isn’t Selfish By AIMME 28 The Power Of Laughter By Des Penny 30 Proteus Events 32 The Cost Of Playing Small By AIMME 36 Your Title Doesn’t Make You A Leader, These 10 Traits Do 38 Momentum Over Motivation By AIMME 40 Food With Sarah Pound 44 Gadgets For Geeks By Joe Stuart 46 Proteus Team 48 Book Review By Richard Dore 50 STOP Model By Des Penny 18 Leadership Is A Lifestyle, Not A Job Title By AIMME 5 proteuslifeLet me ask you this: Have you ever had an idea, a goal, or a vision you were excited about - only to have someone shoot it down with a comment, a look, or even silence, or even worse - indifference? Have you ever been misunderstood, misrepresented, or messed around by someone who didn’t really know your heart - but thought they knew your story? Let me tell you, if you’re doing anything of value in this life - if you’re showing up authentically, building something meaningful, or leading people toward change - then criticism is not just likely - It’s inevitable. You will be talked about. You will be questioned. And you will be judged - often unfairly, sometimes harshly, and most times by people who don’t have the full story. But here’s the leadership truth: It’s not what they say that defines you - it’s how you respond that sets the course for your future. And responding starts with clarity: Clarity about who you are, what you stand for, and what your purpose is. Because when you’re clear, the noise of others fades into the background. So, Does It Really Matter What People Think and Say About You? The short answer is – YES, but the long answer is - Only sometimes and it depends on who they are and what their motives might be. Let me explain. People’s thoughts and words about you can matter when they come from a place of care, wisdom, or mentorship. Feedback from people who know you, who want the best for you, who are walking the journey with you - that kind of feedback is gold . It’s something we should always welcome and pay attention to. But here’s the flip side... If we allow everyone’s opinions to hold weight - especially those who aren’t walking in our shoes, and don’t share our values, or those who are simply trying to tear down what they don’t understand - then we hand over the reins of our life to the crowd. And let me tell you, true leadership doesn’t work like that. You can’t let every voice in the crowd become your compass. Warren Buffett put it perfectly when he said: “You will continue to suffer if you have an emotional reaction to everything that is said to you. True power is sitting back and observing things with logic. True power is restraint. If words control you, that means everyone else can control you. Breathe and allow things to pass.” That quote is all about life wisdom - It’s emotional intelligence 101. It’s about taking back the controls. True leadership is responding with thought, not reacting with emotion. I love that line in Warren Buffet’s quote where he says: “If words control you, that means everyone else can control you.” If you’re constantly triggered by what others say or don’t say… then you’re handing them the steering wheel of your life. I don’t know about you - but I want to be the driver of my own life, not the passenger. So, How Do We Combat Negative Comments and Feedback? Let’s talk strategy here… The moment you step out, the moment you dare to be different or put yourself out there - you WILL get feedback. It is a gift that keeps on giving! Some of it will be well-meaning. Some of it will sting. Some of it will be flat-out wrong. So, how do we deal with it without letting it derail us? I want to introduce you to what is called the “Triple R” Method. The first R in the method is: 1️ RECOGNISE the Source Not all feedback is created equal. When you hear a negative comment or feel the sting of criticism, pause and ask: • Who is this coming from? • What’s their relationship to me? • Do they know the full story - or just a small part of it? • Are they speaking from experience… or from their own insecurity? • What is their intent? Because we’ve all received feedback from someone who wasn’t really in the arena . They weren’t in the trenches with us. They weren’t building or growing or leading anything themselves - but they had plenty By Des Penny 6 proteuslife- Warren Buffet If words control you, that means everyone else can control you. 7 proteuslifeto say. So, why would I take notice of them when their comments are not to build the situation up but to create doubt. So, recognise the voice and where it is coming from and ask yourself - is this someone worth listening to? Because taking criticism from someone you wouldn’t trade places with is a fast track to self-doubt and confusion. In fact, there are some people you don’t want to agree with you. Because when they don’t - you know you are on the right track. The second R in the method is: 2️ REFLECT Before You React Reflecting identifies one of the most underrated leadership superpowers: The pause. In our fast-paced world, reacting is easy. You hear something that offends you, and boom - you want to snap back, explain yourself, go into defence mode, which usually makes things worse. But what if we paused? What if we gave ourselves the space to respond instead of reacting? That’s restraint. That’s maturity. That’s power. And so, we need to take time to ask: • Is there a grain of truth in this? • Could I grow from this feedback? • Or, is this just noise that I need to discard? Responding doesn’t mean being passive. It means choosing a response that aligns with your values, your purpose, your intent and your bigger picture. The third R is: 3 REFOCUS on What Matters After you’ve filtered the feedback—refocus. Because what you focus on, you magnify. If you spend your energy stewing over what someone said or how unfair it was, you’re giving away precious real estate in your mind to something that doesn’t serve you. So, instead shift your focus back to your: • Purpose • Vision • Values • The Impact you want to make In other words - Go back to your “why.” Because the loudest voice in your life shouldn’t be the most critical one - it should be the one that calls you forward. So, How Can We Better Focus on the GOOD in Situations in our lives? Let’s be honest, it can be tough to do this. We’re bombarded daily with bad news, unrealistic expectations, and emotional curveballs. And if we’re not careful, we can start to see the bad in every situation before we even consider the good. But here’s what I’ve learned from making mistakes right through my life: Focusing on the good is not a personality trait. It’s a practice. Something we must train ourselves to do over a period of time. Let me say that again: Positivity is a practice - not a personality. You can train your brain to look for good – not bad. You can learn to reframe situations and not get caught in the mud. You can build the habit of hope – not constant despair. Here’s how: Firstly - Start a Daily Gratitude Ritual – (Hugh Van Cuylenberg speaks a lot about this in his wonderful book - ’The Resilience Project’) where he reminds us that we must constantly focus on what we are grateful for). Just recently I had the privilege of having a breakfast with all of my family (my children and partners and grandchildren) – As I looked around the table, I was full of gratitude and pride and couldn’t stop thinking about how grateful I was to have such special people around me and how I needed to do more to foster the relationships. Every morning - or every evening - write down three things you are grateful for. They don’t have to be profound. It could be the hot coffee in your hand. The email of encouragement you got yesterday. The fact that your kids are healthy. That you made it through a tough meeting without losing your cool. The key is to focus on the good not the bad. Gratitude rewires your brain to see possibility instead of problems and to be thankful for who you are and what you have. And the more you practice it, the more naturally it flows. Secondly - Choose Your Narrative We don’t always get to choose our circumstances, but we do get to choose the story we tell about them. Ask yourself: • Am I the victim in this story, or the hero? • Is this a dead end - or a detour? • Is this failure - or a stepping stone? What you call something matters. So name it with hope. Frame it with positivity. Thirdly - Spend Time with Hope-Filled People Negativity is contagious - but so is hope! Surround yourself with people who speak HOPE into your life. People who remind you of your worth and that you are enough. People who see you - not just your mistakes. People who challenge you to grow - not stay stuck and stagnant. Because who you surround yourself with will determine what you believe is possible – so choose wisely! You know, a simple concept that I have discovered through all the highs and lows of leadership is that: We are the authors of our own lives – so it is up to us the type of story we write and live. But too many of us have let other people ghostwrite our stories. We’ve let their opinions become chapters of our life. We’ve let fear write the plot and stop us from achieving. We’ve let silence fill the pages that were meant for greatness. It’s time to take back the pen and write some new chapters. Because you are not here to blend in. You are here to lead. To grow. To shine. To stand tall. To Influence. So, don’t let criticism dim your light. Let it clarify your direction. • Life doesn’t just happen - we make it happen • Action precedes clarity • And we don’t know what we don’t know - until we go find out! What people think and say about us does not define who we are - only you can do that! Until next edition of Proteuslife - breathe, observe, respond, and keep moving toward the life and leadership you were born for. Des Penny Co-CEO - Founder / Director Sales / Marketing / Events Proteus Leadership 8 proteuslifeDes Penny If you're looking for a podcast that will help you become a better leader and grow your business, we highly recommend Let's Go - Let's Grow with Des Penny. So, why not give them a listen today and subscribe by clicking on the QR Code above? Last podcast: Saying YES to Growth: Why Stretching Yourself is Non-Negotiable Subscribe now Co-CEO - Founder / Director Sales / Marketing / Events Proteus Leadership 9 proteuslifeNext >