The Restoration Journal

Richard Blake thought he needed a dramatic shift. When the restlessness crept in — the sleepless nights, the quiet resentment toward always being the provider, the distance in his marriage — he assumed he was on the brink of something big. Something had to change. He just didn’t kn...

Richard Blake lies wide awake.It’s 3:17am. He turns over carefully so he doesn’t wake Mariska. Her steady breathing is a kind of reassurance – but also a reminder. Of how far apart they’ve drifted. Of how alone he feels even when she’s lying beside him. He exhales.But t...

It’s been just over six months since I left corporate life behind. After more than two decades—26 years, in fact—inside large organisations, I took the leap into solopreneurship. I knew the move would be significant, but I hadn’t fully appreciated how deep the shift would run. Leaving corpor...

In today’s volatile business world, leadership is not just a role — it’s a pressure cooker. And for many male executives in midlife, the pressure is not only external. It’s internal. You’re carrying the weight of business responsibility, family obligations, ageing paren...

For years, I lived by "the rules": high-powered job, luxurious lifestyle, upmarket family neighbourhood. But as I hit midlife, I began to feel a nagging emptiness, like something was missing. For many men in leadership, midlife prompts unsettling questions. Renowned psychologist Erik Erikson identif...

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson 🥇 For many men in leadership, midlife comes with a reckoning. You’ve followed the script - built a successful career, raised a family...

As the year draws to a close, I’m reminded of the excitement I used to feel - leaving the pressures of work behind. Disconnecting from projects, budgets and deliverables, even for a few short weeks, felt like a rare gift 🎁 . It was a time to mend family relationships strained by life&#...

Some words have a way of sticking with us. Over the past two weeks, I’ve felt this passage echo through my own thoughts, and I’ve even had the privilege of sharing it with clients. Maybe this is exactly what needs to be heard right now? 💡 The Man in the Arena – Theodore Roo...

There’s a moment every serious mountaineer knows – not when you’re lacing your boots, or plotting your route, but when you pause halfway up, heart pounding, and look back. The distance below is staggering. The summit is still far. You’re suspended between who you were and who...

Something’s changed. You used to wake up with drive. Purpose. Clarity. Now? It’s harder to concentrate. Your fuse is shorter. Your confidence wobbles in ways it never used to. Even the gym sessions you used to rely on to keep you sharp leave you feeling flat. You’re not broken. And you’re no...

A 2023 study by IBM Institute for Business Value should stop every business leader in their tracks: Only 6% of leaders feel “very prepared” for the pace of change. Let that land. This isn't an opinion or a passing trend. It's data – hard, recent, and global. Which means 94% of exec...

Author’s NoteRichard Blake isn’t real — but his story is.He’s a composite of the founders, managing directors, and CEOs I’ve worked with over the years — including leaders of teams I’ve engaged with through team coaching. Some of his doubts are also drawn fr...

📌 The Good: Why Bureaucracy Matters Consistency & fairnessPolicies, roles and standards ensure equitable treatment—crucial in large or regulated organisations. A meta-analysis of 80 quantitative studies (648 effect sizes) concluded that representative bureaucracy generally improves...

🔑 “I used to think our team was peaceful, but now I realise we were just avoiding the hard conversations.” Fear of conflict within teams manifests as a culture of avoidance. Teams reluctant to engage in tough conversations fail to address critical challenges, leading to subpar de...

📢 "The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion it has taken place." – George Bernard Shaw I often hear leaders lament how their teams don’t listen, fail to act as expected, or struggle to stay aligned. George Bernard Shaw’s words couldn’t ring more tru...

High-performing teams need more than talent, resources, & strategy. What separates truly effective teams is a secret ingredient - shared purpose - the unifying force aligning individuals beyond annual targets. Yet, many teams overlook the power of purpose, mistakenly focusing on business goals, ...

In rowing, success isn’t just about stamina or strength - it’s about clarity, respect, and alignment. No role is greater or lesser; without each person contributing effectively, the boat doesn’t move forward. Synchronisation and mutual respect ensure energy isn’t wasted, and ...

📜 They have the credentials.💼 They have the experience.🚲 They have the technical skills to deliver. And yet, the team just isn’t performing. If you’re a CEO, business owner, or HR lead, this story might feel familiar. The culture survey flags poor engagement. Exit...

When Uber launched in South Africa, it was seen as a game-changer—bringing innovation, convenience, and new economic opportunity. Over time, however, the narrative shifted. Headlines have highlighted system abuse, driver dissatisfaction, and eroding customer trust. Though not formal employees,...

In many teams, conflict is viewed as threatening and destructive — something to be avoided, managed, or silenced. After all, “good” teams get along, right? Not quite. In truth, the absence of conflict often signals something far more dangerous than disagreement: conformity. When a team go...