JUNO's VIEW

As a lifelong lover of football I’m glad to see and hear the back of the US Soccerbowl shenanigans and malarky. It all started with a sick-making schmoozefest when Johnny Infant gave a shiny new toy he’d just created to the King of the Nation of Dumbfuckistan. Bit parts were taken up by neighbours Mexico (who know the game) and Canada (who make a reasonable pretence). But it was centre stage…

“They do things very strange.” Or so the Steely Dan lyrics from the 1974 Pretzel Logic album suggest. My recent post Performative Pizza might be taken to imply a similar message. Or, how about creating a permanent light display in a short road tunnel, Why not? [Photo credit: Rachel Kinchin]. My childhood in Cardiff involved regular visits to Barry Island. After all, it was the local seaside…

No, that title isn’t a further command from the Fuhrer in the Kremlin. Smak Ukrainski happens to be something you really should do the next time you happen to be in Krakow in Poland. Whilst many fabulous Polish restaurants were tried and loved, I simply couldn’t resist an opportunity of my first Ukraine culinary experience. We seem to be struggling and stumbling to fully support their fight for…

A visit to Gdansk provides a stark reminder of what Solidarity meant in troubled times across 1980’s Poland. The Solidarity Museum in the heart of the old shipyards bring back memories of when Lech Walesa was international news, and principles and truth meant something to liberal leaning democracies. It seems that nowadays, as the King of Dumbfuckistan reeks havoc across the world in pursuit of…

A goldfish jumping out of the water to escape to freedom. White background. Module 5 Video Narrative: Click to access module-5-video-narratives.pdf 6 Influences on making better risk decisions: Click to access 6-influences-on-making-better-risk-decisions.pdf Decision-making traps: Click to access decision-making-traps.pdf Intuition handout: Click to access intuition-handout.pdf Questions…

Module 4 Video Narrative: Click to access module-4-video-narratives.pdf Strengths-Based Principles: Click to access strengths-based-principles.pdf Interviewing for client strengths: Click to access interviewing-for-client-strengths.pdf Recovery and a Strengths Approach: Click to access recovery-strengths-approach.pdf Strengths Assessment & Plan tool: Click to access…

Conceptual image of businessteam working cohesively. Interaction and unity Module 3 Video Narrative: Click to access module-3-video-narratives.pdf Accountability & Responsibility: Click to access accountability-and-responsibility.pdf AMCAT Audit Tool: Click to access amcat-audit-tool.pdf Considerations for engaging people in the process of working with risk: Click to access…

Module 2 Video Narrative: Click to access module-2-video-narrative.pdf Components in Assessing & Managing Risk: Click to access components-in-assessing-managing-risk.pdf Assessing & Managing Risk: Click to access assessing-managing-risk.pdf Risk Categories & Factors: Click to access risk-categories-factors.pdf Risk Management: Click to access risk-management.pdf Risk Formulation…

Module 1 Video Narrative: Click to access module-1-video-narratives.pdf Definitions worksheet: Click to access definitions-worksheet.pdf The Challenging Concept of Risk: Click to access the-challenging-concept-of-risk.pdf What Needs to Happen worksheet: Click to access what-needs-to-happen-worksheet.pdf

Taking risks is essentially about making decisions. Module 5 ~ Risk Decision-Making explores the complex influences on our decision-making abilities and processes. Systems 1&2 thinking, intuition, and a structured approach to making reasoned decisions form the basis of the module. However, we also need to be aware of our own biases and the need for organisational support. Module 5 ~…

The concept of Positive Risk-Taking is a creation emerging out of what I call a Strengths Approach. The success, or otherwise, in taking a risk will be significantly underpinned by our knowledge and application of strengths (wants, desires, talents, abilities, capabilities, motivations). Module 4 ~ Working with Strengths focuses on defining a strengths approach and its evidence base; practical…

Working with Risk critically involves Working with People… the focus of module 3 of this course. Engagement, collaboration, and person-centred practice are at the core of how we work with people. But, as with all aspects of risk, it’s easier said than done! Module 3 ~ Introduction: 3.1 Working with People: 3.2 What is Person-Centred Working?: 3.3 Responsible practice: 3.4 Culture, race and…

The content of Module 2 – Working with Risk is essentially about the mechanics of assessing and managing risk. As with so many things, risk (or risk assessment as it’s loosely referred to) is a process, not an event. It involves the challenge of working with uncertainty. But it will benefit from developing a structured approach Module 2 ~ Introduction: 2.1 Working with Risk: 2.2 A History of…

Continuing on from the 5 module summaries across my Positive Risk-Taking online course. I now offer you the content from Module 1 ~ Developing a Risk Mindset. The key messages are about striking a balance between the negativity of fear, blame, and risk aversion on the one side, with the constructive approach of positive risk-taking on the other. I particularly draw your attention to my…

Going to Italy doesn’t guarantee you an excellent pizza. But going to Barry does… Yes, it’s that Barry. The more interesting half of the UK comedy show ‘Dickhead & Stacey‘ (the Welsh half, not the English half). For US readers the UK ‘Gavin & Stacey‘ show involves that Gavin/Dickhead you’ll remember as the Brit hosting one of your talk shows… why did you send him back here?? Anyway, I digress.…

2025 marked 31 years since I first created the concept of Positive Risk-Taking. It was founded within the broader context of Strengths-Based Practice. 2025 was also the year I finally chose the option of retirement. As much of my career was a gift to me, I can now present the module summaries and complete video/audio content of a 5-module course I developed in 2022 as a gift to you. This course…

2025 was 31 years since I first created the concept of Positive Risk-Taking. It’s founded within the broader context of Strengths-Based Practice. 2025 was also the year I finally chose the option of retirement. As much of my career was a gift to me, I can now present the module summaries of a 5-module course I developed in 2022 as a gift to you. Marketing was never my forte… so I’m hopeful that…