04.06.2025

The 2 Pence Problem | Attention | Effortless

Hello there! Welcome to my weekly LEAPS. 

You’re receiving this email because you subscribed to my weekly Wednesday feature or our mailing list. Every Wednesday, I share 5 things using our LEAPS approach: 

Learn: something new or an idea
Energy: an energy (good or bad) word and it’s meaning
Action: something to do
Processing: a question to consider
Shout out: something or someone that I want to celebrate or acknowledge

LEARN
Something Worth Sharing

The 2 Pence Problem

Have you noticed how easy it is to become all consumed by the small stuff - to end up deep in the weeds and lose sight of what matters and what is important?

When I ran our family’s manufacturing business, we used to talk about the ‘2 Pence Problem’ - this was our shorthand for highlighting how silly it was to waste time trying to save a ridiculously small amount of money (2 pence = less than 10 cents). As you’ll know, the cost of time to save 2 pence is way more than 2 pence!

While money is one example of wasting time and money fighting to save such a small amount of money, we do this with many other things. We can argue with loved ones about silly things that are far less valuable than the upset then caused. We can refuse to let someone in to traffic and block everything - meaning we can’t progress on our journey. These are just a couple more examples of ‘the 2 pence problem’.

• Know your priorities

• Get out of the weeds

• Find perspective

• Let go of the non-important stuff

• Consider what you’re saving and the costs

ENERGY
Focusing on an emotion or energy; a stand-out word / s

Attention

Attention can so easily be lost!

The word is directly from Latin ATTENDERE meaning "give heed to" literally "to stretch toward". It is formed from AD "to, toward" + tendere "stretch".

PROCESSING
A question to think about and consider (you can discuss this with someone or write your thoughts down)

“What were you taught about hard work / working hard?”

From an early age, what were the beliefs you formed about working hard and hard work - through those around you? Does this impact what you think, feel and do in terms of ‘hard work’ now?

I’d love for you to send me your own stories / thoughts about this. Drop me a line with your answer / thoughts on this question

SHOUT OUT
Who / what I think deserves recognition, my gratitude or to be celebrated.

A Tidy Desk

My ‘go-to’ activity when feeling overwhelmed is to tidy my desk - and wider office if needed. Sorting, arranging, and tidying physical items helps to tidy one’s mind. Shout out to this simple and very effective activity!

BONUS GIFT FOR YOU
This week’s little extra for you - from me

This week I my gift for you is a visual for Effortless by Greg McKeown. This is an incredibly powerful book that helps to consider working smarter not harder! This is the updated visual.

The visual piece (below) is available to you for free (for 7 days) using the code: ACHIEVEWITHEASE when you check out.

Access is via the link below.

Please note that if you miss the 7 day offer, we can not extend this for you. You can, however always access the download for a nominal charge.

The artwork featured in this section is all copyrighted and for private use only. If you wish to use these online, in blogs / features or in presentations etc - we are happy to discuss licences. Please get in touch. The downloads do not have watermarks.

If you’d like to discuss having your ideas, business or culture captured visually - you can also let me know via email.

LEAPS is a process used by our team and clients all the time - and even my own family on a daily basis. 

I’ll be sharing a set of LEAPS each week with you and encourage you to do your own version:

• L: what have you learned?

• E: what’s your energy / feeling word

• A: what’s one thing you need to do?

• P: what are you thinking / processing?

• S: who or what can you shout out?