Rumours, Noise and Real Growth: Learning to Keep My Eyes on the Road
“Matthew is a closeted gay.”“Matthew jumps from woman to woman.”“He’s money-minded.”“I’ve heard he sees women for free if they ‘offer favours’.”“I’ve heard he’s manipulative.”“He chose sex therapy because he must be a pervert.”“All talk, no sex.”“Matthew abuses his psychology assistants—slave-driver, really.”“He’s definitely a narcissist on TV all the time.” That is merely a summary of the rumours spread about me over the years. Some of it is unintentionally funny, most is hurtful, and none is true. Yet for a long time, I treated every whisper as an emergency. I drafted clarifications, confronted gossip, and burned hours defending myself to
Stress at the Top
Why Leadership in Malta is More Isolated Than You Think We often picture business leaders as confident, driven, and in control. They make big decisions, move companies forward, and often carry the weight of others. But in reality, many leaders do all this while feeling deeply alone. In our recent research conducted through Willingness in collaboration with the Malta Chamber of Commerce, we asked a simple but rarely discussed question: Who is taking care of the boss? The answers we received revealed something striking. Behind the ambition and strength that define many Maltese business leaders, there is a silent,
True Leadership: The Courage to Be Disliked for the Right Reasons
Being willing to be disliked for the right reasons is the true meaning of leadership. It's not about being the most popular person in the room, receiving standing ovations, or hearing constant praise. In its purest form, leadership is about accountability to your people, your mission, and the future you are trying to build. And often, that comes with discomfort, disapproval, and being misunderstood. Some of the most outstanding leaders in history have had to make unpopular decisions to serve the greater good. Think of Winston Churchill and how he was often criticised for his stubbornness and directness, yet
The Lonely Boss
Why Leadership in Malta is More Isolated Than You Think We often picture business leaders as confident, driven, and in control. They make big decisions, move companies forward, and often carry the weight of others. But in reality, many leaders do all this while feeling deeply alone. In our recent research conducted through Willingness in collaboration with the Malta Chamber of Commerce, we asked a simple but rarely discussed question: Who is taking care of the boss? The answers we received revealed something striking. Behind the ambition and strength that define many Maltese business leaders, there is a silent,
Who’s Taking Care of the Boss?
Over the last few months, my team at Willingness and I have had the opportunity to explore a question that’s been lingering in the background of boardrooms, HR offices, and clinic sessions for years. Who is taking care of the boss? As therapists, psychologists, business leaders, and fellow humans, we’ve seen the toll leadership can take, especially in Malta’s private sector. So, we decided to look into it more closely. What followed was a study that merged data collection with lived experience. And the results were eye-opening. Understanding the Psychology of a Leader Let’s start with what kind of
How Becoming Malta’s First Sex Therapist Changed Me as a Man
When I first set out on this journey, I thought I was introducing something Malta desperately needed—open, honest, and professional conversations about sex, relationships, and intimacy. I didn’t realize how much this work would reshape me as a man, how it would influence my relationships, and how it would challenge my perception of love, trust, and even myself. Being Malta’s first sex therapist wasn’t just about breaking cultural taboos. It forced me to question my beliefs, refine my emotional boundaries, and, at times, navigate unexpected struggles in my personal life. It Changed How I Saw Trust—Sometimes for the Worse
Learning to Let Go: A Lesson in Life and Professional Growth
This is not a piece for you to use to justify giving up and quitting without trying. This is about those moments when you know you gave it your all and are struggling to admit it. One of the most challenging things to learn is to let go. I was unable to break the vicious cycle of attempting to breathe new life into things that had long since lost their relevance to me. Whether in my personal relationships or my career, I wasted a lot of effort clinging on when I should have been releasing. It's the kind of
Training Yourself to Become Anti-Fragile: The Neuropsychology of Resilience
Resilience, the ability to bounce back from adversity, is crucial for overcoming life's challenges. However, the concept of anti-fragility—the ability not just to withstand adversity but to thrive and become stronger in the face of it—has recently gained significant attention. Understanding the neuropsychology behind resilience and learning strategies to become anti-fragile can greatly enhance our capacity to excel under pressure. The Science Behind Resilience Resilience is rooted in various neurobiological mechanisms involving key brain regions and neurotransmitter systems. The amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex play pivotal roles in regulating emotional responses and managing stress. Prefrontal Cortex: This region is
The Path to Genuine Resilience: Adopting Antifragility
My life and the lives of the people I work with have taught me that the notion of resilience is no longer adequate in a world that is perpetually changing and presenting new challenges. The conventional concept of resilience, which involves returning to a previous state following a setback, must help individuals navigate the intricacies and uncertainties of contemporary life. We must instead endeavour to achieve antifragility, a concept that Nassim Nicholas Taleb introduced in his book "Antifragile: Things That Gain from Disorder." Antifragility surpasses mundane resilience by flourishing and fortifying itself in adversity. As an entrepreneur, trainer, and
