The launch event! - The Century Club March 18, 2025

This past week, we gave A Groundhog Career a fitting launch. Some 70 people gathered in the Green Room at the iconic London venue.

They were greeted by a wonderful display of books.

The evening unfolded with an extraordinary book reading by Shey Sinope himself (thank you to Matthew Needham Winters).

It was a genuine shiver-down-the-spine moment as Matt read Shey’s secret career formula for success.

We then had a panel conversation facilitated by the Gary Lineker of book launches, Felix Henderson.

The discussion that followed showcased the great career lessons and wisdom of Daniel Obst, Trisha Conley, Roman Schindler, Alison Edgar, and Rohan Radhakrishnan.

So many people seemed inspired by the panelists. Their own stories resonated. And their reflections of how the Shey Sinope story had impacted them were heartfelt.

The following page provides a few more snapshots from the evening.

Our Aims for the Night

We had some simple aims:

1. Have fun and celebrate the book launch
2. Ask for some support in promoting the book launch
3. Take some pictures and get some video footage to share over the coming weeks

We checked all those boxes… and some. The buzz was so positive. The support and encouragement overflowing.

Honestly, if this is any indication of how the book will be received more widely… well, we must have done something right.

Our artist, illustrator, and The Chase contestant Andy Doodles Baker made a rare expedition from his cave.

Sue was inundated with requests for signed copies of the book—something she had a lot of fun with!

We had refreshments provided by Quarter Proof. The Sinope-ista (margarita) was the cocktail of the evening.

Alison Edgar, the Godmother of Entrepreneurs, and the two Drs with the book!

About the Venue: Century Club

We feel very fortunate to hold our book launch events at the Century Club. Its iconic location, extraordinary views, and stunning décor make it distinctive.

We think Shey Sinope and the characters we discuss in our books would approve.

There is something artistically right about the setting.

But above everything else, the team at the venue led by Solange Livings are fantastic.

Hospitality at a level of professionalism we rarely experience. Our thanks go out to Solange and her team for helping us with this event—and for their support with our previous book launch.

March Update

It’s been another busy month for us promoting the book.

Indian Management Magazine published a review of A Groundhog Career early in the month:

“This entertaining new book is an eye-opening read for anyone looking to take charge of their career journey.”

They didn’t give out any stars, but it felt like a 5-star review to us.

We had an article published in The European Business Review. We talked about Leadership Dystopia—the concern that too often in corporations, leadership is seen as a reward, an accolade. We talked about the dangers this creates.

We loved seeing our book in Matt Hutson’s hands (he of Bookmattic fame). Matt did a preview of the book on his social channels. Very grateful to him for taking the time.

Also, very grateful to Debbie Kemp at the Association of MBAs. She interviewed us for their Ambition podcast series. The result was one of the most fun and engaging conversations we have had to date. Well worth checking this out on YouTube if you haven’t yet.

Last week we had a piece delving into the science of meaningful work published in HRD Connect. This was a bit more technical than most of our articles. That said, we are still talking about us… so still fun!

Finally, for International Happiness Day, we had two pieces published: one in the New Zealand Herald and the other in Entrepreneur magazine. We are really fond of both of these pieces.

A Groundhog Career – People Seem to Like Our Latest Book!

Our publishers tell us this is real.

We are “best-sellers.”

You will understand our skepticism. As we navigate the publishing world, we learn lots… almost every day.

To us (like perhaps many of you), “best seller” means New York Times or Sunday Times. However, increasingly, the Amazon charts mean just as much.

About 70% of all books are purchased on Amazon (UK/US markets). We tend to buy books based on recommendations. The dreaded algorithms power those recommendations. And they are fueled by reviews and sales.

So, being number #1 on Amazon in career and professional advice is an achievement—one that will hopefully push our book title into the phones, iPads, Kindles, and laptop searches of many more people.

In the meantime, thank you for helping us get the word out… and for your reviews!

If you haven’t done a review… please, please do! On Amazon and Goodreads especially.

PS: It is not lost on us that we have written a book about the dangers of blindly playing games at work… and we are now playing something of a game to try to promote it. Reviews, bestseller lists, and so on.

PPS: But… we can explain… it’s conscious… and the goal isn’t the game. There is a deeper and more noble purpose. We want to help the most people we can navigate difficult challenges in their professional lives. To do that, we need to let them know that our book exists… that it is different… fun… interesting… helpful… relevant…

PPPS: We are now going to do some deep introspection on this whole thing! Uncle Freddy… where are you?

Patience – Superpower or Symptom of Indifference?

The Dr Schuster Column

The launch event for A Groundhog Career on 18th March has been the highlight of my year so far.

What made it so special wasn’t just the book—it was the people. Athletes, entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, artists, well-being professionals, and activists from different walks of life and nationalities came together in meaningful, vibrant dialogue.

Diversity at its best, in every sense.

One conversation from that evening stayed with me. A panelist spoke about the importance of patience in building a fulfilling career. Almost instantly, someone in the audience challenged that view, arguing the case for impatience. What followed was a lively exchange about whether it is better to wait—or to push. Indeed, it struck a deep chord with me.

Time is our most precious currency. Once spent, it cannot be replenished.

So how do we reconcile the need to act with urgency, with the wisdom to wait?

The answer, I believe, lies in the balance.

Take La Sagrada Família, Gaudí’s masterpiece. A project that has been under construction for over a century—still unfinished, always evolving. It’s a testament to patience, trust in process, and faith in vision. Many great works, from books to businesses to innovations, require that kind of endurance.

But then think about artificial intelligence: concepts like machine learning and self-driving cars have existed for decades. What finally brought them to life wasn’t just patient development—it was the relentless impatience of entrepreneurs who refused to wait any longer.

The corporate world offers a similar contrast. Companies like BP, GSK, Intel, and Nokia have sometimes drifted in circles, stuck in hesitation. Only recently have bold, impatient moves sparked necessary change. Meanwhile, organizations like Rolls-Royce, Sony, and Nvidia have managed to blend strategic patience with daring transformation, rewarding both employees and shareholders.

Patience and impatience aren’t opposites. They’re partners—yin and yang. Knowing when to wait and when to leap is what makes the difference.

So, whilst my thoughts may feel scattered across industries, innovations, and ideas, here’s what I’ve come to believe:

Real magic happens when you develop the wisdom to know when to be patient—and when to be relentlessly impatient.

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