MindNavigator

24/08/2026

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Nothing exists in isolation. #3
In the lead-up to launching The Map Gap on September 10th, I’m continuing to acknowledge collaborators behind the book.
Today, it’s one of my editors, Lu Sexton AE. In the acknowledgements, I describe Lu as someone who “held the editorial crucible with rare skill, knowing exactly when to encourage and when to challenge.”
Chapter 1 was a particularly good test of that. I chose to combine my Introduction and first chapter into one, and to start the book with a personal story.
Unconventional? Yes. But I’d been influenced by author and book coach Josh Bernoff, who argues that in nonfiction, your idea is your introduction. Get to it quickly, rather than making readers wade through pages about the author (who cares?!), the book or why they should read it before getting to the actual idea.
Lu and I went back and forth on this a lot, and I lost count of the iterations before it finally became the chapter it needed to be. That’s what I value about a great editor: someone who knows when to encourage, when to challenge, and when to keep pushing.
It seems to have been worth the wrestling. Chapter 1 has now been downloaded by hundreds of people in the past few weeks, and I’ve had some wonderful feedback from people who have written to tell me how much they enjoyed it, found it useful, or wanted to talk more about the ideas in it.
It’s a great reminder that sometimes the work we wrestle with most is the work that matters most.
So this is a shout out for Lu, for pushing me to keep getting better, and for knowing when to push and when to let me find my way. And to Josh Bernoff for the idea that sparked the Chapter 1 experiment.
The book may have one author’s name on the cover. But, as I’m discovering with every one of these posts, nothing exists in isolation. This book included. 🤝
If you’re curious, you can read Chapter 1 before The Map Gap launches on September 10th

Discover The Map Gap by Ami Cook — creator of the MindNavigator® framework. Learn to close the gap between reality and your thinking. Order now.

17/08/2026

I used to judge women for getting breast implants. I saw it as superficial, even a little vain.
Then I realised that I cover my greys, conceal blemishes with makeup. i too manage my appearance. The difference between us wasn't nearly as clear-cut as I'd assumed.
Last week I shared a tool from The Map Gap — Framing: frame the work, not the person.
This next one is Scale: when we widen the lens, our judgement softens.
Judgement happens when we zoom in too tight — so close to a person or a behaviour that they seem separate from the rest of the human experience.
Scale is the deliberate move: zoom out to find the universal pattern, then zoom back in with discernment.
Swipe for the three moves →
What's a judgement you've caught in yourself that turned out to be more about your map than the person in front of you?
I'm exploring tools like these live, in conversation at Dymocks Sydney on 10 September, 6pm. Your ticket includes the book: https://www.dymocks.com.au/events/details/index/id/NjEyNA~~

13/08/2026

WHAT YOU PUT IN THE FRAME CHANGES THE FEEDBACK.

When we give feedback, we can put the work, behaviour or outcome in the foreground. Or we can put the person there.

Highlighting the former invites curiosity and discernment.
The latter invites judgement.

Frame the work. Don’t make the person the problem.

The Framing Tool — from The Map Gap.
Download a free overview of the tools you need to navigate your inner landscape. 👇 Link in the comments below.

12/08/2026

What’s the difference between discernment and judgement?
MindNavigator CEO, Ami Cook, explored this with a group of leaders in Melbourne this week as part of a workshop on Giving & Receiving Feedback.

It’s a deceptively important distinction. Both involve evaluation—but they evaluate something different.

Discernment evaluates what is observable: the work, behaviour, situation or outcome.
Judgement evaluates the person: often making assumptions about their character or intent.

When we move from evaluating the person to examining the work, behaviour or situation, we create space for a much more useful conversation: What happened? What are we noticing? What could be different?

That’s the difference between feedback that labels someone and feedback that helps them learn.

One of the tools explored was Framing—how we choose what to highlight and bring into the foreground, and what we leave in the background.

It’s one of the practical tools in the upcoming book, The Map Gap, launching September 10.

Join the conversation live at the launch:
📚 The Map Gap — Sydney Launch
📍 Dymocks Books, George Street, Sydney
🗓 September 10 | 6–7:30pm

Ami will be in conversation with ABC Managing Editor Tanya Nolan, exploring this and other tools for clearer thinking and better outcomes.

Your ticket includes a copy of The Map Gap on launch day, plus free refreshments.

Event link in the comments below. 👇
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Photo of Dymocks Building by Henry Chen on Unsplash