Workplace Multiplier by Tola Akinsulire

May 14, 2026

Welcome to the Workplace Multiplier newsletter. Published Monday to Friday, equipping you to achieve your professional goals faster and without burnout or overwhelm.

Your Next Best Ideas

Howdy ,

A while back, I read the book "Managing for the Short Term" by Chuck Martin.

At a point, he shares data from a survey conducted in 1985 by Harvard Business Review on the strategic planning process.

The executives and managers interviewed thought 5-10 years is not long-term enough to accomplish strategic goals such as competitive advantage.

Consider that with a 2002 survey in which executives now consider 2-5 years long-term.

Short-term for most of them is 90 days (44%) or at most 1 year (28%). About 16% consider 1 month the new short-term.

It simply means that we need to come up with fresh ideas faster.

So, how do you do that?

I have two practices.

First is detachment.

Now and again, I go out for a 30 minute walk in the afternoons.

I live in a commercial city so I am not walking in a quiet environment.

It's filled with cars honking, bikes roaring, people talking and...you get the gist.

Because I am detached from my work space, I am open to new perspectives.

Now and again, I come back from the walk with a fresh idea.

Second is displacement.

Maybe this is something I picked up from David in Psalm 23.

He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength - verse 2 & 3a.

Playing oceans sounds with birds and animal sounds has a way of taking me to peaceful places.

Nature renews and this is one of the ways it does for me.

If I can't be with nature, listening to nature is the next best way for me.

It might be unnerving for you but it works for me.

It doesn't have to be for a long time.

I just search for YouTube videos and voila "I'm in business."

Now it's your turn to get your next fresh ideas.

Keep winning at work and in life,

Tola Akinsulire

Your Strategic Workplace Mentor