Piotr Zagorowski
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✈️ "That restaurant in Kraków you loved, what was it called again?"
I had no idea. That bothered me more than it should have.
So I built a travel memory system that thinks while I ski. Three layers + AI backfill + automation = never losing travel gold again.
🎿 Just shipped: How I Built a Travel Memory System That Thinks While I Ski
• 3-layer notes vault (trips → cities → places)
• AI-powered backfill of decade of scattered bookings
• Morning digests that handle logistics before the kids wake up
• The GitHubby principle that changed how I capture everythingThe goal isn't efficiency. It's presence.
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Christmas in the Land of Oz at Hever Castle 🎄✨
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Christmas in the Land of Oz at Hever Castle 🎄✨
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Wishing you a peaceful Christmas filled with warmth, kindness, and small moments that matter most.
May the New Year bring health, clarity, good decisions, and time for what truly counts.HP XMAS
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Here’s what that moment reminded me about more fundamental principles:
We think we’re reacting to reality. But we’re often reacting to our own perception of it.
→ Perception is personal. It’s shaped by what we fear, what we remember, what we haven’t sorted out yet. It’s sticky. It’s rarely neutral.
→ Perspective is different. It asks for a tiny pause. A breath. A question.
In that rehearsal, perception told me one story. Perspective showed me something completely different.The moment I leaned into curiosity instead of judgement, everything changed. We connected instead of clashing. The task became a memory.
This shift shows up everywhere—especially in teams.
Chris Voss calls it Tactical Empathy: recognising what the other person might be feeling, even if you don’t agree with their stance.
#CoffeeJourneys #Newsletter
https://open.substack.com/pub/coffeejourneys/p/be-curious-not-judgemental?r=6743u&utm_medium=ios -
I've never been a good teacher. But I like taking notes and walking people thought my thinking process and results. It is the best way to gather feedback and ... learn even more.
We learn:
📖 10 percent of what we read,
👂 20 percent of what we hear,
👁️ 30 percent of what we see,
👁️ 👂 50 percent of what we see and hear,
👄 70 percent of what we discuss,
👩💻 80 percent of what we experience, and
👨🏫 95 percent of what we teach others.Have a good weekend folks ☕️
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“Wealth isn’t about having a lot of money it’s about having a lot of options.”
—Chris Rock
Have a great day folks ☕️
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You ever notice how Thanksgiving conversations can turn into debates faster than you can pass the mashed potatoes?
It starts with a comment, maybe about politics, parenting, or pumpkin pie, and suddenly, people are talking 𝘢𝘵 each other, not 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩 each other.
The trick to shifting that dynamic:
𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲.
Perception is your personal lens. It's the story 𝘺𝘰𝘶 see and feel. The world filtered through 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 experiences.
But perspective? That's different.
That's the ability to step outside yourself and ask:
"𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗯𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵?"
"𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺?"Chris Voss calls this Tactical Empathy.
And it sounds like:
"It seems like this is really important to you."
"It feels like there's more going on beneath the surface."So this Thanksgiving, if things get a little heated, try this:
No judgment. No counterattack.
It might just be the most generous thing you give all year.𝗛𝗮𝗽𝗽𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴, 𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 🦃
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The other day, my son asked if he could borrow my toolbox, the one with the screwdrivers I keep for small fixes. Now, I didn’t grow up in a house where DIY was second nature. In fact, fixing things has been a late-life skill for me, full of tiny wins and spectacular failures. And my little toolbox is my faithful companion in my journey.
But there he was, my 12yo son curious and determined. His desk door wasn’t closing properly. He’d looked at the mechanism, spotted a few screws, and thought, “maybe I just need a screwdriver.” He asked for my help, and together we fixed it.
What struck me most wasn’t the result, it was his initiative. He didn’t wait for me to notice the problem. He investigated, formed a hypothesis, asked for the tool, and was ready to act.
That’s agency. Rising in my youngling, right before my eyes. And I couldn’t have been prouder.
Why the agency is so important?
👉 Because it may be the only thing that matters in the post-AGI world.
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Stepping into a management role for the first time is exciting—but also full of unexpected challenges.
What got you here won’t necessarily make you successful in this new role.
In this episode, I break down 10 essential mindset shifts every new manager must make to lead effectively. Inspired by @Daniel Idaszak’s insightful thread on X, I share my own experiences and hard-learned lessons on:
✅ Why your team’s success is now your success
✅ The balance between being friendly vs. being respected
✅ How to shift from problem-solving to problem-preventing
✅ The art of managing up and positioning your team for success
✅ Why embracing a generalist mindset is key to thriving in leadership
If you're stepping into leadership—or want to refine your approach—this episode will give you the perspective shift you need to lead with confidence.
🎧 Grab your coffee, tune in, and let’s navigate leadership together!
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It’s great to be back. And, I made it for a celebration 🎉🎊
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Well, apparently an old transformer can take the biggest airport down for a weekend. Which means no flight to #Heathrow
Good news, I managed to book an alternative flight and have some time to explore
I 💖NY
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Your brain is lying to you. And it's been doing it for years.
☕ Just like a coffee filter shapes every brew, 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗼𝘂𝘀 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱 filters every decision--often without you realizing it.
Leaders who fail to recognize this risk missing out on top talent, fresh perspectives, and real innovation.
It's time to recalibrate. Let's talk about unconscious bias in leadership.
In the latest episode of the #CoffeeJourneys Show we talk about
- what is unconscious bias
- how does it influence every day decision for good or bad
- what can we do to be more intentional and avoid some common trapsCheck it out and Happy Friday!
🎧 Listen here: https://apple.co/3EVriEO
📑 Episode show-notes: https://coffeejourneys.blog/44 -
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Feeling the weight of burnout? You're not alone! Following up on the popular episode 28, "Recognizing Burnout Before It's Too Late", I decided to dig deeper to what we can do to prevent energy drainage.
In my latest episode I share one of my frameworks that I follow when feeling down. You will learn how to reclaim your energy and thrive with our simple 5-step framework for energy management. Discover how to audit your tasks, classify them as energy drainers or gainers, and strategically prioritize your day for optimal performance.
We'll explore the "eat the frog" technique, the importance of self-care, and practical tips for creating a sustainable work-life balance.
If you're ready to ditch the overwhelm and unlock your full potential, this episode is a must-listen!
Check it now: https://apple.co/438PHRC
Episode Show-Notes: https://coffeejourneys.blog/43 -
Ever been in a situation where no one knows who's actually responsible for a task? Or worse-everyone assumes someone else is handling it? That's where the RACI model comes in.
RACI is a simple but powerful framework that helps define roles and responsibilities within a team. Here's how it works:
✅ R: Responsible → The person (or people) doing the work. They execute the task.
🎯 A: Accountable → The person who owns the outcome. There's only ONE accountable person per task.
💬 C: Consulted → The experts who provide input before decisions are made.
📢 I: Informed → The people who need updates but don't contribute directly.
💡 Common confusion: A vs. R
A Responsible person does the task.
An Accountable person ensures it gets done properly.
In my latest podcast episode, I break down how to use RACI to clarify responsibilities, improve teamwork, and reduce frustration.
Check it out here: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/coffee-journeys-show/id1677805847?i=1000689871374
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Are These Productivity Myths Holding You Back?
Myth 1: You must always be busy to be productive.
❌ Truth: It's not about being busy; it's about being effective.
Myth 2: Multitasking boosts productivity.
❌ Truth: Multitasking divides your focus and slows you down.
Myth 3: Waking up at 5 AM guarantees success.
❌ Truth: Productivity isn't about the clock—it’s about alignment with your energy.
Want to debunk more myths and unlock your productivity potential?
🎙️ Tune into The Coffee Journeys Show for actionable insights!
👉 https://apple.co/40U2B49📑 Show-notes: https://coffeejourneys.blog/productivity-buzzwords-myths-and-traps/
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#ProductivityTips #Leadership #Podcast #CoffeeJourneys
https://coffeejourneys.blog/productivity-buzzwords-myths-and-traps/ -
Why Prioritization Matters
Let’s start with a question:
𝘏𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘵𝘰-𝘥𝘰 𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥?
It’s a common challenge.
You follow Getting Things Done, you do a "mind sweep," as David Allen calls it—you list out everything on your mind, categorize tasks, and discard what’s unnecessary.
𝗔𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗲𝘁, 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗼𝗼 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴. 𝗦𝗼, 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗶𝗴𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁?
David Allen suggests that the answer lies in understanding Six different Horizons of Focus.
These horizons are like layers, each representing a different level of commitment in your life.
They range from the daily actions we take to the overarching purpose that guides us. And the key to prioritizing effectively is understanding which horizon you need to focus on at any given moment.
Let’s break it down 👇
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The start of a new year is always an exciting time—a chance to reflect, set goals, and decide what we want to achieve in the next year.
Whether it's career milestones, personal growth, or tackling that ever-growing to-do list, prioritization is the key to making it all happen.
But let's be honest—it's not always easy, is it?
In today’s newsletter:
-> Six horizons of focus from Devin Allan - why perspective is a key when it comes to setting priorities.
-> What did I do to finish a family project in two weeks, after two years of planning..
-> It is all about being intentional.
I've been there, staring at a long list of tasks and wondering, "What on earth do I tackle first?"
That’s why, in my latest newsletter, I’m excited to share a framework from one of the most influential voices in productivity—David Allen, the author of “Getting Things Done”.
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Think multitasking makes you more productive? Try this:
🔢 Start the stopwatch and try to count to 24.
🔡 Then spell the letters from A to Z.
⏱️ See how much time it takes you to complete these tasks.
Then do the same, start the stopwatch and try to spell the letters of the alphabet from A to Z, but at the same time put the next number after each letter, i.e. A, 1, B, 2, C, 3 ... etc.
🧐 Compare how long it takes you.
Context switching matters!
In the latest episode of 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘰𝘧𝘧𝘦𝘦 𝘑𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘯𝘦𝘺𝘴 𝘚𝘩𝘰𝘸, we’re busting 𝟱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗺𝘆𝘁𝗵𝘀 and sharing how to work smarter in 2025. 🎙️
👉 Listen now: https://apple.co/40U2B49
📑 Show-notes: https://coffeejourneys.blog/productivity-buzzwords-myths-and-traps/
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Have you heard about management debt? It's similar to technical debt, only you can't blame your team! It is on you, dear leader! 🫵
In this eye-opening episode, we explore:
✅ What technical and management debt really mean
✅ How they impact your team's performance
✅ Practical strategies to identify and address these issuesWhether you're a tech leader, business executive, or curious professional, this episode is packed with insights to help you unlock your organization's full potential.
Tune in now! [Link in comment]
Don't forget to check out our blog too for an in-depth exploration of this topic.
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This week, I’m dedicate 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘦𝘢𝘥𝘦𝘳’𝘴 𝘙𝘰𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘺 𝘕𝘦𝘸𝘴𝘭𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳's issue to something close to my heart: 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝘁𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱.
💡 What’s inside?
-> How almond croissants and Lego helped my son step out of his comfort zone.
-> Practical tips for supporting introverts on your team.
-> Networking questions that work—even for the quietest among us.Whether you're an introvert, leading one, or just curious about building a more balanced and inclusive team, this one's for you.
☕ Grab your coffee and join the journey:
Let’s lead with empathy and unlock everyone's potential! 💪✨
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As we kicked off the New Year, it's time to refocus on what truly matters.
In today's episode we dive into the art of prioritization, guided by insights from David Allen's renowned "𝗦𝗶𝘅 𝗛𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘇𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴" framework.David Allen is the author of the productivity bible 𝘎𝘦𝘵𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘴 𝘋𝘰𝘯𝘦. But GTD is not just only about tasks and checklists.
We usually start our planning with a never ending to-do list driven from New Year's resolution.
And … we sets ourselves for a failure.
In this episode you will learn how to align your 𝗱𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝘀𝗸𝘀 with your 𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴-𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, clarify your goals, and create a system that helps you decide what deserves your attention most.
From identifying your life's purpose to managing the nitty-gritty details of your to-do list, this episode is packed with actionable advice to set you up for success.
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Listen here: https://apple.co/4hlVhnd
Show-notes: https://coffeejourneys.blog/38/--
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If, like me, you are still summarising 2024 and wondering if you were successful, here's something to ponder on today:
> 𝘏𝘰𝘸 𝘢𝘣𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘶𝘳𝘦 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘮𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘴𝘢𝘧𝘦𝘵𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘭𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦?
Have a lovely day, folks! ☕️
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Magical Night at Waddesdon Manor ✨✨
I followed my own advice for creating unforgettable memories and visited Waddesdon Manor for their breathtaking Christmas light show!
Inspired by ‘Sleeping Beauty’, the manor was illuminated with stunning projections, and the gardens transformed into a fairytale with a magical light trail.
The Christmas Fair added a touch of festive charm with unique artisan stalls. A must-see for anyone looking to add some sparkle to their holiday season!
#WaddesdonManor #ChristmasLights #SleepingBeauty #UnforgettableMemories #coffeejourneys
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One of the most aromathic and specific coffee with the rich tradition - Turkish coffee - a strong, unfiltered brew with a unique preparation that leaves behind a mysterious coffee ground sediment. Its bold flavor and cultural significance make it more than just a drink; it's an experience. Especially, when served with baclava 😍☕
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Never underestimate the power of time spent with someone important to you. Each moment is a gift, a memory, a shared joy.
Make time, because time is the one thing you can't get back.
Cherish it, nourish it, invest it in the ones who matter the most. #TimeIsPrecious #QualityTime