http://www.pathwaystoperformance.co.za/

Pathways to Performance, 62 Henrietta Road, Johannesburg (2026)

09/05/2026

Discover card number 44
This card is taken and presented from my full set of 120 unique question cards designed for deepening reflection and storytelling. Crafted with love and care, the whole set is available as a digital PDF for your own printing. The set being sized to A6. Available on my Pathways to Performance website, www.pathwaystoperformance.co.za.

This is a card that explores our ability to align mind and heart into positive and impactful action. Reflecting the kind of leadership that is called for and yet is often in such lack in today's world. As Otto describes in the U-process ... the action that emerges the future involves an open mind (to possibilities). an open heart (to true understanding) and open will (to take action even when the act is not folly formed) ; Leadership today is called to live in complexity and chaos as a norm, and fear and absencing can completely block the power of working from presence.
This is a question that asks of you to reflect on how much of your essential self do you bring - particularly to challenging contexts and situations.

I add an extra step here (which were I working with you 1:1 or in a group - in the room) ..... is ..... notice was was present supporting the wholistic consciousness in action and how will you specifically nurture this ability going forward?

enjoy, reflect and connect

09/05/2026

The his is a powerful example of The U Process in action - before Otto developed this powerful approach to change

For decades, economists fought poverty from offices thousands of miles away.

They created theories. Built models. Made assumptions about what poor people needed based on data, projections, and educated guesses.

Then Abhijit Banerjee did something radical.

He went and asked them.

Born in Mumbai in 1961, Banerjee grew up surrounded by India's stark inequality. Extreme wealth next to crushing poverty. He watched well-meaning aid programs fail repeatedly.

Everyone had theories about why poverty persisted. Not enough education. Too many children. Lack of capital. Cultural problems.

But nobody was actually testing these theories scientifically.

Banerjee became an economist, but he refused to do economics the traditional way.

Instead of building models in an ivory tower, he took the tools of medical research—randomized controlled trials—and applied them to poverty.

The idea was simple but revolutionary: treat anti-poverty programs like drug trials.

Create a control group and a test group. Implement the program. Measure the actual results. See what actually works instead of what theoretically should work.

His first major study looked at school attendance in India.

The conventional wisdom said poor parents didn't value education. That's why their children skipped school.

Banerjee's research found something different.

Parents desperately wanted their children educated. But many kids had parasitic worm infections that made them too sick to attend regularly.

The solution wasn't lectures about the importance of education. It was deworming medication costing pennies per child.

One simple intervention. Massive increase in attendance.

This became his pattern: test assumptions, find simple solutions, prove what actually works.

He studied microfinance and found it wasn't the miracle cure many claimed. It helped some people, but not in the dramatic ways promised.

He studied free bed nets for malaria prevention. Conventional wisdom said people wouldn't value them if they were free. His research proved the opposite—free distribution worked better than subsidized sales.

He challenged the idea that poor people make irrational financial decisions. His research showed they're actually incredibly savvy—they just face impossible constraints.

In 2019, the Nobel Committee recognized what Banerjee, his wife Esther Duflo, and Michael Kremer had accomplished.

They hadn't just theorized about poverty. They'd created an entirely new way to fight it.

Evidence-based. Experimental. Focused on what actually works instead of what sounds good in policy papers.

Their approach has been replicated worldwide. Governments and NGOs now run randomized trials before implementing programs.

Millions of people have benefited from programs redesigned based on their research.

But here's what makes Banerjee's work truly radical:

He proved that fighting poverty isn't about grand theories or ideological debates.

It's about listening to poor people, testing solutions, and doing what actually works—even when it contradicts everything the experts believed.

The economist who won a Nobel Prize didn't do it by being the smartest person in the room.

He did it by admitting he didn't know the answers and actually asking the people who did.

The ones living in poverty.

Turns out, they knew what they needed all along.

27/04/2026

Discover Card number 43

This card is taken and presented from my full set of 120 unique questions cards designed for deepening reflection and storytelling. Crafted with love and care, the whole set is available as a digital PDF for your own printing, the set being sized at A6.

Available on my Pathways to Performance website, the link is: www.pathwaystoperformance.co.za

This card arose from a remembrance. A number of years ago i attended a personal transformation weekend that was powerful, particularly for one activity - the one that gave rise to this reflection.

On the first afternoon, after tea, we were all invited to walk in nature and notice our response and relationship to what was - 'the wild'. You know the kind of thing, feeling the feet on the ground, noticing the wind and the sky, listening for the sounds of nature both the external experience and our inner response. Paying attention to the large and the small.

Growing up as I did, at a mountain forestry in New Zealand - this was a pure joy for me taking me back to the afternoons and weekends I spent exploring the joy of being with and in nature.

What was awaiting us however on our return to the space, was not the debrief we expected... but the entrance to a darkened room, with only cushions in a circle on the floor, beautiful fragrance and flickering candles.

As we were let into the room one by one. We were asked to find our seat and sit in silence.

Leaning against the walls and covered windows, mirrors were placed. Of difference sizes and frames. The light from the candles bounced off them and the whole space had a sense of mystery and magic about it.

All seated, we were asked to close our eyes and through a guided meditation - walked again on that land and connected with our experience of the previous hour.

Then there were a series of questions about 'who am I really'..... the inner self.

Opening our eyes we were invited to move our cushion and sit in front of a mirror ..... and to look - as is described in this card.

Light music was played and we all came eye to eye with an element of self, few had ever experienced. A direct and undivided connection to the self beyond the presenting aspects we think of as who we are.

This card is an invitation for you to take this and ideally make it a practice.

I here reference a book I subsequently found called 'Love yourself like your Life Depends on it' by Kamal Ravikant. Where he takes this to an even deeper level of generating self love and healing.

Do let me know your experiences.

Enjoy, reflect and connect.

07/04/2026

Discover Card number 42

This card is taken and presented from my full set of 120 unique questions cards designed for deepening reflection and storytelling. Crafted with love and care, the whole set is available as a digital PDF for your own printing, the set being sized at A6.

Available on my website, www.pathwaystoperformance.co.za

And immediately I notice the imperfection in this card.

The 'highly EXACTLY circumstances'. And after a moment of shame - dismiss that !, beating myself up - *&% # #^*@))^Y!!!! , putting the lapse down to my dyslexia - yeah !!! a justification and rationalisation... and through all the momentary emotions and thoughts - the voice of the critic continues to state and ask with insistent temerity 'How could you/I have missed this ? You/I reviewed these cards at least 1000 times ? OMG OMG !!! Putting the chatter of my internal perfection monitor aside - I turn to ask 'Why have I created this?' .... what is the gift that lies here? My inner muse ( I do like it when she steps in with her calming wise voice) - poses a possibility.......

Let's invite a reframe ... from the intended 'highly EXACTING circumstances' to what has been gifted us for the reflection .... 'highly EXACTLY circumstances'. Is the english correct? Does it matter? OR is there a potential in these words that offer a deeper question....

And, perhaps this mistake in and of itself is an example of the latter statement. A circumstance or situation that is exactly what is appropriate / needed even though hardly invited?

So, lets play with this a little and take this card as it is literally written. Take the opportunity to bring to mind circumstances that were and are EXACTLY ... (which to me means they were deeply meaningful/ transformative)

Please do share insights on how this worked for you ?

Enjoy, Reflect, and Connect.

03/03/2026

Discover Card number 41

This card is taken and presented from my full set of 120 unique questions cards designed for deepening reflection and storytelling. Crafted with love and care, the whole set is available as a digital PDF for your own printing, the set being sized at A6.
Available on my website, www.pathwaystoperformance.co.za

The act of 'being of service' - moving beyond our own concerns in order to actively support another or others in a time of need. The selfless nature of being in the 'we' whether it be paying it forward; providing a listening ear or just our presence; saying a kind or affirming word; providing resources or guidance when requested. These actions and many others are examples of what this card explores large or small, it is the intention behind the action that is key in this reflection. The key is of holding the shared space without expectation of 'repayment' or the creation of an energetic ledger deficit.

Who are you in the moment of being in service, and what outcomes are manifest - expected and unexpected. How is such a mindset of service to you in this exchange of heart.

Enjoy, Reflect, and Connect.

22/02/2026

Discover Card number 40

This card is taken and presented from my full set of 120 unique questions cards designed for deepening reflection and storytelling. Crafted with love and care, the whole set is available as a digital PDF for your own printing, the set being sized at A6.

Available on my website, www.pathwaystoperformance.co.za

Part of moving into the integral is embracing the shadow. Inquiring holistically and observing the self without self judgment or self righteousness. The gift in the shadow and our sense of identity being able to look and feel the all in our expression, is a powerful liberation.

This card invites us to feel, deeply feel and move into acceptance as part of our reflective growth. This card is a helpful on to use when a client or group are in denial, shame or guilt about an emotional response. It is an 'opening up' reflection for workplaces, relationships or even internal scripts that bind the mind and heart with the myth that 'emotions don't belong'.

I'd love to hear how this question landed for you, or someone/s you are working with

Enjoy, Reflect, and Connect.

05/02/2026

Discover Card number 39
This card is taken and presented from my full set of 120 unique questions cards designed for deepening reflection and storytelling. Crafted with love and care, the whole set is available as a digital PDF for your own printing, the set being sized at A6.
Available on my website, the link is accessible on my webpage www.pathwaystoperformance.co.za
I haven't tried this idea - YET.
I was thinking following an 'Executive Team Health and Alignment' retreat I facilitated a couple of weeks ago, that in a planned future session (focussing on Coaching with Presence); that there might be an opportunity to use the intuiting of a card for a coaching practice activity (by the coach) as the subject matter for both preparing and hosting a coaching conversation. The invitation being to take the question or provocation on the card to a deeper level - reflection; meaning in the here and now AND exploration for future possibilities.
I'm going to give this a go - if any of you try this idea or a variation of it before me do let me know .... how it went and any insights you may have gained?
Looking forward to hearing from you
Enjoy, Reflect, and Connect.

29/01/2026

Discover Card number 38

This card is taken and presented from my full set of 120 unique questions cards designed for deepening reflection and storytelling. Crafted with love and care, the whole set is available as a digital PDF for your own printing, the set being sized at A6.

Available on my website, www.pathwaystoperformance.co.za
Although the cards are all unique in nature both in words and image - and i am posting them in the same order that they flowed in their manifestation, there are no numbers on the cards themselves.

A number of facilitators and coaches have taken up my suggestion to work their own way through the cards - as a source of inspiration and curiosity for their own journal writing. Working with them directly yourself, not only deepens own awareness and self knowledge, but it also raises internal queries and reflections that can then be used when interacting with a group or individual in the exploration of the cards for their own development journey. Secondly, depending on the circumstance - lowering the water line to share what came up (ask the client if it would be helpful to share your own experience before doing so) sets the tone for depth of inquiry and openness of sharing when using the cards with others.

Please share with me how you have been using these cards to deepen connections, I would love to share your experiences with others. Also, if you are using some of the suggestions we are sharing - would love to hear of how they went for you, and any enhancements.

Enjoy, Reflect, and Connect.

19/01/2026

Discover Card number 37
This card is taken and presented from my full set of 120 unique questions cards designed for deepening reflection and storytelling. Crafted with love and care, the whole set is available as a digital PDF for your own printing, the set being sized at A6. Available on my website, www.pathwaystoperformance.co.za
Although the cards are all unique in nature both in words and image - and i am posting them in the same order that they flowed in their manifestation, there are no numbers on the cards themselves.
This particular card may seem a tad strange when we are thinking of a leadership context. The selection by the facilitator or coach of a particular card can be a powerful intervention in and of itself. The idea of our dream life - which is of course not only an integral part of our inner journey, but also of our processing of stress, and an offering up of deeper insight into the state of our subconscious. I keep a dream record. I have names for reoccurring dreams. I know immediately when there is a luggage and airport dream that something within my temporal existence is 'out of control' ; I also know that when certain people show up - they represent information that I am able to use in my life reflection and even decision making and actions I take. Cards can be isolated and used as an on-going inquiry ; and this is one of them
Please share with me how you have been using these cards to deepen connections, I would love to share your experiences with others. Also, if you are using some of the suggestions we are sharing - would love to hear of how they went for you, and any enhancements.
Enjoy, Reflect, and Connect.

12/01/2026

Discover Card number 36

This card is taken and presented from my full set of 120 unique questions cards designed for deepening reflection and storytelling. Crafted with love and care, the whole set is available as a digital PDF for your own printing, the set being sized at A6. Available on my website, www.pathwaystoperformance.co.za

Although the cards are all unique in nature both in words and image - and i am posting them in the same order that they flowed in their manifestation, there are no numbers on the cards themselves.

They were originally designed to work with Senior Leaders - who were either in a Team Alignment; Mirror or Personal Mastery Workshop or Retreat. The evening session of one night is put aside for a process called 'Wine and Spirit'; And rather than bringing along an item of meaning - if we are working with 'storytelling' the opportunity and the challenge of speaking spontaineously from the drawn card, with the invitation to lower the waterline and become more vulnerable as a leader; is a key attribute needed for meaningful and purposeful presence. The large number of cards as I have said came to me as they came. Not all would be used even for this purpose. A random selection or a chosen selection provides the facilitator or team coach a wide range of options for deepening connection and the sharing - beyond the role.

Please share with me how you have been using these cards to deepen connections, I would love to share your experiences with others. Also, if you are using some of the suggestions we are sharing - would love to hear of how they went for you, and any enhancements.

Enjoy, Reflect, and Connect.

Pathways to Performance

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