David Yarde's Blog

Creating A Personal Brand Accountability Council

I can remember growing up, I would often get side-eyed for dreaming too big. Not the polite kind of side-eye either, it was the full-on Caribbean Elder level of, “you’ll learn soon enough” type.

I’d talk about wanting to do meaningful work, build something that mattered, and leave the world better than I found it. To some, I was naive. “Life isn’t a fairytale,” they’d say. “You’ll see.”

Well, I did see. And what I found is this: the fairytale’s not the problem. It’s forgetting that we were born to...

Grace in the Growth

This is for those of us, who are sometimes too hard on ourselves and are learning to be a little more internally loving.

Self grace is not the absence of correction, it’s the presence of care.

I’m learning to meet myself where I falter,
Not with fury, but with softness.

As I recognize the areas I have been internally harsh, I fix them.

It’s like a bad weed, roots threading through memories, twisting under old beliefs, pushing through cracks I didn’t know were there.

But I no longer yank them o...

Golden Souls and Lovable Luminaries

They show up, not for applause, but because love demands it.

Not loud. 

Not flashy. 

Not trending. 

Just consistent. 

Their kindness isn’t performative. Their light? Not Curated.

And in a world obsessed with filters, their rawness is revelation.

Golden souls.

Lovable luminaries. 

The kind of people who turn silence into safety. Those who hold space when everyone else is selling theirs. 

Maybe they aren’t the heroes in headlines, but they are the ones heaven keeps re...

Why Empathy Wins: Debunking the Myths Holding Leaders Back

In Part 1, The Meritocracy of Empathy, we established how emotional intelligence has become a cornerstone of effective leadership in today’s volatile business landscape. Leading with empathy isn’t just admirable, it’s a strategic imperative.

Yet, despite mounting research and real-world validation, empathy faces persistent resistance. Critics argue it softens accountability, hinders performance, or clashes with demanding work cultures. These concerns aren’t trivial; they highlight the persist...

Google Tabs and Existential Crises

Congratulations! If you’re reading this, you’re probably a proud owner of a high-functioning brain. You’ve likely aced a few tests, amazed people at parties with random trivia, and maybe even solved the occasional crisis with such ease and nonchalance.

But let’s be real for a second: how often has your brain also turned into an overthinking, anxiety-generating machine?

How many times have you tried to outsmart a problem so hard you created several new ones?

That’s the thinking trap. It...

The Meritocracy of Empathy: Part 1 – Strength in the Shadows

In a world that glorifies metrics like profits, promotions, and productivity; leadership has been stripped down . The ideal leader is seen as unflinching, decisive, and efficient.

But what if this narrative is incomplete? What if true leadership is about more than what can be measured?

We reward the relentless and the ambitious, but what if we redefined what it means to succeed? What if we built our systems on the strength of compassion, not just skill or drive? Empathy may be overlooked, but...

Reaching for the Sun: A Lesson in Courage

Imagine a tiny seed, barely visible to the naked eye. It lies dormant, waiting for the perfect moment to burst forth. When the conditions are right, it sprouts, stretching towards the light with unwavering determination. 

This innate drive to grow, to reach for the sky, is a powerful force that echoes through the ages. It’s at the heart of who we are as humans and can display itself in a variety of ways.

One such tale is the myth of Icarus. His father Daedalus, was a brilliant inventor, fa...

Navigating the Path: Reflections on Adulthood and Maturity

Growing is inevitable, maturity, however, is often a choice.

In many ways, growth feels like assembling a puzzle without the full picture-a slow process of piecing together fragments of yourself while making sense of what fits and what doesn’t belong. It’s a journey that deeply and intensely challenges your patience and perspective, but one that ultimately reveals something greater.

I remember growing up and hearing phrases like:

“When you’re an adult, you’ll understand.”

“When you’re a parent, you...

Rebalancing the Scales of Unfinished Business

2024 was a year of contrasts, a relentless storm at times, but also one filled with unexpected light. The challenges tested my resolve, but they also revealed moments of joy, growth, and connection that reminded me why the journey matters. 

Personally, it was a nonstop train, filled with test after test, geared towards the most intense levels of character and spiritual development.

Fundamental lessons were learned, regardless of if I went out to find them.

Each test unearthed a truth I ...

Who Authorized Your Value?

Who said it was ok for you to think small of yourself?

Who said that just because they underestimate you, that you had to do the same?

Who gave them the right to define your worth, to dictate the limits of what you can become?

Who told you that you were anything less than extraordinary, crafted with purpose and filled with potential?

Who gave permission for doubt to settle in, to plant roots in a place meant for dreams, for growth, for strength?

Who said that the weight of others’ judgments w...