A Quiet Sunday with Marcus Aurelius: Preparing for Tomorrow

It’s a sunny November afternoon. I’m sitting on the balcony, enjoying the warmth and getting some Vitamin D before winter comes. The sea is calm in the distance. Everything feels peaceful—except my thoughts. Tomorrow will be busy: hard meetings, big decisions, and important conversations.

On my lap is Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. Two lines make me stop and think:

“If something outside upsets you, it’s not the thing itself—it’s your opinion about it. You can change that opinion anytime.”

“If an obstacle stops you from doing the right thing, don’t blame yourself. Accept it and move forward calmly.”

These words feel powerful. In business, many things are outside our control—markets change, rules shift, projects delay. But Aurelius reminds us: the problem is not the event, it’s how we see it. We can choose a better way to think.

Three Simple Lessons for Work

1. Change the Story in Your Head
   Tomorrow’s meeting is not “stressful.” It’s an opportunity to solve problems. Think that way, and you feel stronger.

2. Control What You Can
   If something blocks your plan, don’t waste energy on anger. Ask: What can I still do? There is always something.

3. Accept What You Cannot Change
   Some barriers are immovable. Instead of resisting, redirect. Use your energy for what matters.

As the sun goes down, I close the book and smile. Stoic wisdom is not just old philosophy—it’s a tool for modern life. Tomorrow will be tough, but today I feel ready.

So, let's save some photos from the rest of the Sunday.

Brutal Truth, Simple Rules: What Toni Nadal Teaches Us About Growth, Development, and Feedback

Last week, I attended the Philip Morris International's Global Travel Retail Conference in Barcelona, where industry leaders and colleagues gathered to share insights on growth, leadership, and transformation. One of the highlights of the event was listening to Toni Nadal, renowned tennis coach and uncle of Rafael Nadal, deliver a keynote speech on the principles that shaped one of the greatest athletes of our time. Toni’s reflections on coaching, improvement, and feedback resonated deeply with me and inspired this blog.

Toni Nadal delivers his keynote at the PMI Global Travel Retail Conference in Barcelona with inspiring videos — on truth, character, and the daily work of improvement

There’s a moment in Toni Nadal’s story that lands like a forehand winner. Minutes before Rafael Nadal plays Roger Federer in Monte‑Carlo, Rafa asks his uncle and coach, “What do you think about today’s match?” Toni doesn’t reach for a motivational line. He tells the truth: Federer’s forehand is better, his backhand is better, his volleys are better. Then he adds the only thing that matters: now we can prepare the strategy to beat him, but we have to know the truth first.

That sentence could be the operating system for growth. In sport and in business, outcomes are noisy and full of variables you don’t control—market shifts, competitors, regulation, the occasional “Djokovic.” Improvement is the one goal you do own. Toni’s philosophy reduces the complex to the essential: tell the truth, choose the price, and train your character. Everything else is commentary.

From strategy to execution, sessions emphasized controllable inputs, candid feedback, and resilience under pressure—principles echoed throughout the keynote.

Make improvement the goal you own

Toni never set “be No. 1” as the real challenge. Rankings and trophies depend on forces outside your control. Improvement does not. In tennis, the fastest path to beating opponents is first to beat yesterday’s version of yourself. In business terms, convert outcome targets into controllable input commitments: quality and frequency of customer interactions, error‑free close percentage, on‑time filings, decision cycle time, scenario rigor. When inputs compound, outcomes follow. For every KPI, write the one behaviour you will do daily that makes it more likely. Track the behaviour, not just the number.

Feedback that builds: truth over comfort

Relentless positivity often feeds self‑deception, not confidence. Growth demands a clear view of weaknesses and the courage to name them. With Rafa, Toni always said the hard thing because clarity is kindness when performance matters. Practical moves: institute a weekly 15‑minute “truth ritual” where each person names one behaviour that helped and one that hurt outcomes, followed immediately by next actions. Pair high standards with high regard. Toughness without care breeds fear; care without standards breeds mediocrity.

Choose the price—and pay it

When a young top‑30 pro asked how to become No. 1, Toni replied: tell me the price you’re willing to pay. Talent sets your starting line; price paid determines your trajectory.

For teams, make the price explicit in projects. Agree in advance what you will trade—comfort, meetings, scope—for what you will gain—speed, quality, customer trust. Put it in writing and revisit weekly.

Strategy requires unblinking realism

The Monte‑Carlo story isn’t negativity; it’s situational awareness. Strategy built on flattery fails at contact. Acknowledge relative strengths honestly, then design a plan that exploits reality. And when the opponent upgrades their backhand, update the plan or lose 6–3, 6–0.

Two tools help: run a premortem (“It’s 12 months later and our initiative failed—what happened?”) and track relative advantages, not just absolute performance.

Win today, plan for tomorrow

After Rafa’s first Roland‑Garros title at 19, Toni wrote a list of everything Rafa didn’t do well. One victory guarantees nothing. Probabilistic humility keeps you hungry.

Use a simple cold list within 24 hours of any big win: three things that worked despite us, and three we must fix before variance bites back. Celebrate and sharpen.

Don’t complicate the essentials

We love data and specialists, but when everything matters, the essentials get crowded out. Toni’s three data points for Rafa were almost childlike: hit the ball as hard as possible; put it where the opponent isn’t; above all, keep it in. The fourth rule tied it together: hit every ball as well as possible every day, not only in finals.

Your version: define three non‑negotiables for your team (for example, close the books clean, challenge assumptions early, communicate decisions the same day). Measure them simply and publicly. Everything else is support, not the show.

Character is trained in the storm

Toni deliberately created friction—bad balls, bad courts, missing water—so Rafa learned to perform under discomfort. Attitude decides matches more often than technique.

Design good friction at work. Run constraint drills with tighter budgets, fewer slides, or smaller teams. Run noise drills by presenting under time pressure or with incomplete information. Practice recovery drills: after a setback, use a two‑minute reset—name the miss, state the next best action, execute. Build resilience with bounded stress; purposeful pressure grows people, chronic unbounded stress breaks them.

Keep brains alert: success ages quickly

When Rafa won Spain’s U‑12, Toni pulled the list of the last 25 champions. Only a handful became stars. The point wasn’t pessimism; it was context. A win today is a maybe tomorrow unless you keep improving. Treat success as information, not identity. Ask: what would have to be true to earn this result again against a better opponent and a tougher market?

Simple rules, big outcomes: keep the ball in, place it where the opponent isn’t, and hit every shot as well as possible—every day

A simple framework you can implement Monday: IMPROVE

I — Identify the controllable. Translate outcomes into daily inputs.
M — Map the truth. One strength and one weakness per person or process.
P — Price the climb. Write what you will trade for progress.
R — Run the plan. Execute against reality, not wishful thinking.
O — Operate with essentials. Three non‑negotiables; everything else supports.
V — Versus yesterday. Benchmark against your last best, weekly.
E — Endure by design. Add safe constraints that build resilience.

How this scales to Finance and Global Travel Retail

Treasury discipline: treat liquidity and FX exposure like “keep the ball in.” Reliability scores more than flash.

Tax and compliance: improvement equals fewer surprises, faster clarifications, tighter documentation. Celebrate zero‑drama closings.

Commercial rhythm: replace vanity metrics with movement metrics such as time to decision, time to customer answer, and time to corrective action.

Culture: adopt the visible pairing of high standards and high regard. Make it explicit that tough feedback is given for the person, not at the person.

Closing Remarks

Toni Nadal’s philosophy is a timely reminder that growth is not about chasing perfection, but about embracing the honest, sometimes uncomfortable, process of improvement. Whether on the tennis court or in the boardroom, the fundamentals remain the same: tell the truth, focus on what you can control, and build resilience through adversity.

As leaders and teams, our challenge is to create environments where feedback is valued, standards are high, and every success is treated as a stepping stone rather than a finish line. By simplifying the complex and prioritising character over comfort, we set ourselves—and those we lead—on a path to sustainable excellence.

Let’s take these lessons forward, not just as inspiration, but as a practical framework for how we work, lead, and grow together. What is your version of hitting the ball as well as possible, every day?

Bonus: If you want to dig into the other key take-aways from the PMI GTR's Global Conference in Barcelona, you should read this: Volkan Yorulmaz: Unlearning, Multiplying, and Growing: Leadership Lessons from PMI’s Global Travel Retail Conference

Recharged with Inspiration: Lessons from a Short Break

Today marks the 27th anniversary of my father's passing—a moment that always brings reflection. It also coincides with the end of my 2025 summer break. While I’m not someone who fully disconnects during holidays, I deeply respect those who do. Protecting one’s well-being and making time for loved ones is something I admire and support.

This summer was particularly challenging due to health issues within the family. Yet, I’m grateful to have carved out five days in my favourite coastal retreat—Teos, Seferihisar. Here, I return to routines that ground me: early morning walks, sunbathing, swimming, and most importantly, reflection.

Morning Walks & Mindful Listening

One of my routines is walking before breakfast while listening to podcasts. On the first working day of my vacation, I tuned into Bumuyani – Episode 203: Zehirli Dayanıklılık (“Toxic Resilience”). For those unfamiliar, toxic resilience refers to the tendency to overextend oneself in the name of dedication and loyalty—often at the cost of personal boundaries.

Listening to this episode made me realise how often I stay “always connected,” expecting the same level of responsiveness from colleagues. But through reflection and a meaningful conversation with a close friend, I’ve come to appreciate the importance of empathy—especially towards those who protect their time and energy with intention. Going forward, I aim to honour these boundaries more consciously and understand the drivers of those colleagues.

Summer Reading: Trust & Inspire

My summer read was Trust & Inspire by Stephen M. R. Covey. I’ve read over 200 pages so far, and it’s been transformative. Trust was a key theme I wanted to develop this year, especially as part of the PMI DNA. (Our PMI DNA—We Care, We are Better Together, We are Game Changers—defines how we work, lead, and engage with each other every day. For more: Culture & Diversity at PMI | PMI - Philip Morris International) One quote stood out:

“The very first job of a leader is to inspire trust. The second job is to extend it.”

Not trusting is a lonely, stressful, and joyless way to live. This book reminded me that leadership is not just about control—it’s about connection. I’ll continue dedicating time to reading and writing, and I welcome any book recommendations that support personal growth.

The Gift of Family Time

Of course, no summer is complete without family. During the hustle of back-to-back meetings and endless emails, it’s hard to find quality time. But on vacation, I can be fully present—and that’s the true gift. I’ll close with a family photo from the summer of 2025, a reminder of what truly matters.

#Leadership #PersonalDevelopment #TrustAndInspire #Resilience #Empathy #WorkLifeBalance #VacationReflection #MindfulLeadership #TeosSeferihisar #Summer2025 #GrowthMindset #SelfAwareness #EmotionalIntelligence #ToxicResilience #Inspiration #ProfessionalGrowth #ManagerLife #TreasuryAndTax #PMIDNA #ReflectionTime #PurposeDriven #BusinessLeadership #AuthenticLeadership #LinkedInBlog #CareerJourney #SelfImprovement #LeadershipJourney #TeamCulture #WorkplaceWellbeing #HumanCentredLeadership #EmpoweredTeams #LeadWithTrust

Duygusal Dayanıklılık Üzerine

Zor geçen bir mesai gününün ardından eve giderken düşmüş omuzlarınızın hemen üstünde, beyninizden geçen o negatif düşüncelerin içinde duygusal olarak çökmüş olduğunuzu hiç hissettiniz mi? Yoksa daha dün mü bu moddaydınız? Yoksa sıklıkla mı bu moda giriyorsunuz? Ya da hiç böyle şeyler yaşamıyorsanız, sizi bu avantaja sahip olmaya iten şartlar nedir?

Acar Baltaş "Duygusal Dayanıklılık" başlıklı bir makale ile bu konuda çıkardığı izlenimlerini paylaşmış. Ben de düşünce ve deneyimlerine çok değer verdiğim Acar Bey'in paylaştığı içerikten altını çizdiğim satırları buraya taşımak istedim. Belki omuzlarınızın düşmesine, başınızın ağrımasına, kendinizi bitik hissetmenize engel olacak bir dönüşümün ilk adımı olur.

Güçlü kişilikler gerçek savaşları, bir satranç oyunu gibi görür. Oysa birçok kişi, bir satranç oyunu gerçek bir savaş gibi algılanmaktadır.

Duygusal dayanıklılık veya yılmazlık ancak kişi sınandıkça, zorlandıkça ve konfor alanının dışına çıktıkça gelişen bir özellik. Bazı insanların buna doğuştan hazırlıklı olduğunu söyleyen araştırmacılar olmuş ancak bu özellik önemli ölçüde hayat içinde gelişiyor. Bunun en somut örneği çok dezavantajlı ortamlardan geldikleri halde, yaşadıkları güçlüklere takılmayıp mücadele sürecinde birçok yetkinlik kazanarak hem hayatını zenginleştiren hem de başarılı olan insanların varlığıdır.

Kendimize sormamız gereken soru “İçinde bulunduğum durumun gerçeklerini tam anlamıyla anlıyor ve bunun doğurabileceği sonuçları kabulleniyor muyum?” “Düşündüğüm çözüm ‘ya olmazsa’ yedek planım ne?”

Gerçekleri görmek ve ders çıkartmak birbirleriyle yakından ilişkilidir. Duygusal dayanıklılığı yüksek insanlar çektikleri sıkıntıları aşıp, karşılaştıkları güçlüklerin üstesinden geldikleri yolculukta yeni beceriler kazanır ve potansiyellerinin farkında olmadıkları yönlerini keşfederler. Böylece hem şimdiki zamanı hem de geleceğe doğru kurdukları sağlam köprü ilerideki engelleri karşılarken onlara güç ve yeterlilik duygusu verir.

Güçlü bir değer sistemi, olayları yorumlamak ve harekete geçmek için pusula görevi görür.

Duygusal esnekliğin ana dayanağı olumlu tutumdur. Olumlu tutum bir anlamda elde olanlarla yeni bir şey üretme becerisidir. Olumlu tutum, kişinin zihinsel ve duygusal enerjisini olmuş olana değil, olacak olana odaklamasını sağlar. Bu düşünce biçimini refleks haline getirenler en zor durumlarda bile zihinlerini yeni ve farklı çözümler üretmeye odaklarlar.

Gençlerin çocukluklarından başlayarak koruyucu bir aile ortamında yetişmiş olmak, duygusal dayanıklılık ve özyeterlilik geliştirmek konusunda en büyük engeldir. Ev işi yaparak ailenin refahına değil hayatına ortak olmak, yaz tatillerinde çalışmak, öğrenci kulüplerinde görev almak, sivil toplum kuruluşlarında çalışmak, düzenli ve sportif bir etkinlik içinde bulunmak, duygusal dayanıklılık geliştirmek için imkan sunar. 

Duygusal esnekliğe sahip kişiler zor durumlarda umutsuzluğa kapılmaz, şikayet etmez, yaşanan zorluklardan bir anlam çıkartmaya çalışır, çözüm üretir ve yaşanan olumsuzlukları gelişme yolunda bir fırsat olarak görür. Bunun sonucunda da daha sonra karşılaştıkları zorluklar için öz yeterlilik geliştirirler.