Donna McGeorge

07/02/2026

How do you stay focused and productive when the world feels like it’s on fire?

I reckon this piece nails a feeling a lot of people are carrying right now. There are so many distractions and even I'm struggling to figure out where to put my attention and where

What I liked about this article is that it doesn’t push hustle as the solution and gently reminds us that doing good work requires space to think.

Worth a read. And worth asking yourself what you could stop doing this week to protect your capacity.

https://www.fastcompany.com/91469209/how-to-stay-productive-as-the-world-burns
(may have a paywall)

If your team is busy but not focused, it’s time to remove a few red bricks.
Ask me how I can help.

If it seems impossible to focus on work right now, you’re not alone. Here’s what you can do to get through the day without being consumed by the news cycle.

02/02/2026

I won an award ... and it's not just any award, it was called the Mind Blown Award!

This is particularly special to me because of what it recognises: building a methodology that lives beyond a single keynote that people can take, use, and make their own.

Here’s what Michael Arnot from MainStage Speakers Academy had to say on the night:
"Those that really make it are the ones that come up with a keynote — something bigger than them. A philosophy or a methodology that people can buy and make it live and breathe in their organisations."

"There was one standout this year — not just out of this cohort, but possibly one of the best I’ve seen in 25 years as an event professional. That’s Donna McGeorge with Red Brick Thinking."

I mean… WHAT?!

To be recognised like that, by people who truly get it, is… well, it’s deeply humbling and also incredibly energising.

Thanks to the team who believed in this idea before I even had the words, and to the legends who’ve already jumped aboard the red brick revolution. We’re just getting started.

01/02/2026

You’re doing better than you think. No, really.

A neuroscientist just gave us 10 reasons to stop being so hard on ourselves and I’m here for it.

If you’ve ever looked at your to-do list and thought “I should be doing more,” let me offer an alternative: What if you're already doing all the things and there's no need for more?

Let’s normalise not filling every minute.

You’re doing better than you think so let that be your starting point.

What if the real struggle for lots of us isn’t how to be successful, but to actually feel successful?

30/01/2026

"There’s something profoundly reassuring about a book that tells you that doing less isn’t giving up. Instead, Donna McGeorge reframes removing things from our lives as a powerful way to reclaim our energy and purpose. Bravo to that, I say!

Donna's metaphor of red bricks is such a clear and helpful way to think about the things that weigh us down. The stories, the questions, and the gentle nudges all combine to offer practical wisdom wrapped in her deep insight, cultivated through her years working with organisations and her observations about the state of work.

This book will speak to anyone who’s been caught in the rhythm of doing too much, for too long. It invites us to ask better questions and to choose what really matters."

Maree McPherson OAM, Author of the 2022 Australian Business Book Awards short-listed title, Worthy, and Cutting Through the Grass Ceiling (2017), leadership development specialist and confidante to CEOs, helping them think

23/01/2026

Nothing says “you’ve made it” like seeing your book larger than life in an airport unless, of course, it’s sharing the limelight with a fellow author and legend like .1

Our books, Red Brick Thinking and Story Intelligence, have teamed up for some summer reading glory across major Australian airports.

If you’re travelling and spot us on your way to baggage claim or your boarding gate, we want to see!

Snap a selfie with the ad and tag us — we’ll be living vicariously through your travel.
Because productivity + storytelling = the power combo we all need this summer, and if we’re being honest, a cheeky airport book billboard is basically the universal sign of ‘I’m going places’.

21/01/2026

It's always good when a couple of kindred spirits jump on a podcast episode and have an awesome yak.

There just wasn't enough time for Alena Bennett and I to get through everything so we might have to have a Part 2 soon.

Donna McGeorge, a sought-after international speaker and bestselling author, discusses time management and decision-making in the context of business. The co...

16/01/2026

15/01/2026

Even Winnie the Pooh knows the wisdom of Red Bricking his world.

“Pooh,” said Piglet softly, “how do you know when it’s time to step away from things that make you sad?”

Pooh thought about this very carefully, because it was a question that touched both the heart and the tummy, and those were the most important sorts of questions. “Well, Piglet,” he said, “sometimes you notice that certain places or certain thoughts feel too heavy, like carrying too many honey pots all at once. And then you remember—it’s all right to set some of them down.”

Piglet tilted his head. “But isn’t that leaving things behind?”

Pooh shook his head gently. “Not leaving, Piglet. Just choosing. Choosing to keep what makes you warm inside and putting down what makes your paws ache. Because even in the Hundred Acre Wood, not every path is meant for every day. Some paths lead to sunshine, and some only to thistles.”

Piglet gave a little sigh of relief. “So self-care is knowing which path to walk?”

“Exactly,” said Pooh. “It’s remembering that it’s not selfish to take care of your heart. Because when your heart is lighter, you have more to share with the friends who need you most.”

And with that, Pooh leaned back against the log, flower in hand, tea steaming beside him, and decided that the best kind of strength wasn’t carrying everything, but knowing when to carry less.

13/01/2026

Red Brick Thinking is like decluttering for your mind and your business. It’s the reminder we all need: you don’t need to do more to grow, you need to do less, better. This book helped me see that clarity doesn’t come from adding more to your plate, it comes from knowing what to let go of. Game changer.

Olivia Carr - Founder & CEO, Shhh Silk

27/12/2025

Can we not?

Can we not kick off another year with a list of things we should do?

Can we not pretend that January is some magical time where everything resets and we finally become the organised, hydrated, calm versions of ourselves?

Can we not keep clinging to lives we’ve outgrown, just because they once fit?

Can we not keep saying yes to what drains us, while the things that light us up sit patiently on the shelf, gathering dust?

Can we not feel the urge to reinvent our lives just because the date changes?

I’ve been around long enough now to know that most “new year, new me” energy wears off by mid-January, right around the time the gym is too busy and the salad feels punitive.

I’m not interested in becoming smaller, stricter or more controlled. I’ve tried that and what interests me now is subtraction.

Growth is less about adding goals, effort or pressure and more about stopping the things that drain joy, energy and attention.

So, instead of asking what I’m starting, I’m paying attention to what I’m done with.

23/12/2025

When you see your book in a promo video. 🥰