A Book Review of “Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things” by Adam Grant One of the best books I’ve read recently is Hidden Potential by Adam Grant. It’s sharp, well-researched, and full of ideas that challenge the way we think about talent, success, and how people actually grow—not just in business, but in…
There’s a quiet power in sitting down to write, even when the destination is unclear. I don’t write because I have all the answers — I write because I don’t.More often than not, it’s the act of writing that helps me figure out what I really think, as the words begin to take shape on…
Most of what I write on pauldobinson.com is grounded in the safe terrain of technology, sport, and business. But sometimes, something personal lingers long enough to demand reflection. This post is one of those. It’s different. And I hesitated to write it. Because it’s about fairness. About identity. About systems built with good intent, which—over…
From Team Lunches to Trust: Simple Ways to Boost Wellbeing & Drive Growth in 2025 📈 As an expat living in Australia with a background in the tech and Salesforce ecosystem—and a keen interest in sports psychology and team dynamics—the World Happiness Report 2025 immediately resonated with me. It offers a data-driven perspective on how…
“Where was the caring in leaving children without meals? Where was the excellence in serving food unfit for purpose?”
Just off a Qantas flight that felt more “Spirit of Squeezed Sardine” than “Spirit of Australia,” I couldn’t shake the disconnect between my lived experience and the airline’s stated values of safety, caring, integrity, and excellence.
As I’ve been reading Joe Aston’s The Chairman’s Lounge, that disconnect has come into sharper focus. The book doesn’t just explain what’s gone wrong—it reveals how the pursuit of EBITDA and adjusted earnings has gradually reshaped Qantas into something unrecognisable.
My review explores the flight, the facts, and the bigger question facing all businesses:
👉 What happens when financial metrics trump human experience?
💭 Read it now on pauldobinson.com.
🗣️ “Everyone had an opinion. And every opinion was the same: That will never work.” ~ Marc Randolph, That Will Never Work Marc Randolph’s That Will Never Work isn’t just a nostalgic trip down memory lane—it’s a raw, unfiltered chronicle of the chaotic and exhilarating birth of Netflix. For those of us immersed in the…
There’s a truth I’ve come to appreciate in my mid-forties—something I wasn’t fully prepared for: the passage of time brings with it unexpected losses. Last year, I lost a few friends—people I had been close to, shared memories with, and watched as they built lives full of hopes and dreams. Some were younger than me….
Rugby has always been my sport. Growing up cheering for England, there’s no doubt where my heart lies on game day. But as someone fortunate enough to claim Australia as my second home, I’ve found myself rooting for the Wallabies with increasing passion—especially during their recent autumn internationals. It’s been a tough few years for…
As a lifelong rugby fan married into an Afrikaans family, I approached Rassie: Stories of Life and Rugby with both curiosity and personal interest. Johan “Rassie” Erasmus is a figure who transcends the sport. His journey from a small town in Despatch to becoming one of the most influential leaders in world rugby offers valuable…
It’s the end of the month, and deals are being done against deadlines here at Salesforce. The energy is intense, as teams push to close those last few deals that will tip the scales in our favour. For those of us who’ve been in the game a while, this isn’t anything new—just another end-of-month crunch….
