I’m writing this from Portugal. Not from a desk or between meetings, and not with emails open in the background. Properly away. It’s made me realise something that sounds obvious – yet most of us ignore it. Stepping away from work isn’t a luxury. It might actually be the most productive thing you do all […]
You Can’t Pour from an Empty Cup: Why Taking Breaks Makes You Better at Everything
I’m writing this article from my desk, but by the time you read it, I’ll be somewhere rather lovely in Portugal with my wife Kay, hopefully with a glass of something cold in my hand and absolutely zero emails on my mind. I’ll be honest, scheduling this time wasn’t easy. The past few weeks have […]
When Life Throws You a Budget: Why Your Response Is Your Superpower?
Yesterday’s Budget has certainly got people talking. I’ve had messages from business owners feeling anxious about what the changes might mean for them. Some are worried about increased costs, others about how to plan ahead when everything feels uncertain. And I get it, I really do. When external forces shake things up, it’s natural to […]
It’s good to talk
“How you doing mate?” “Yeah, good mate” “Really? Doesn’t sound like it…” “Nah, I’m fine” “You sure? It’s alright if you’re not…” Silence More silence “Actually, things are a bit challenging at the moment”. “Want to talk about it?” “Sure, thanks, I guess.” “I’ll get […]
Doing Something That Means Something: Finding Purpose in Your Business
As business owners, we spend a lot of time thinking about what we do and how we do it – the products, the services, the systems, the goals, but how often do we stop to think about why we do it? Our why is the heartbeat of everything. It’s what gives meaning to the long days, the tricky decisions, and even the admin […]
National Checklist Day – The Magic of Ticking Things Off
Did you know that October 30th is National Checklist Day? If you’re anything like me, there’s something deeply satisfying about ticking off a to-do list. That little ✓ might look small, but it’s basically a mini dopamine hit. Proof that you’ve moved something from “I should probably do that…” to “Done it, nailed it.” Checklists aren’t […]
Progress Beats Perfection: Lessons from Our Away Day
Last week we held our annual ‘away day’ (it’s actually an away two-days but that’s not as catchy!), a chance to step away from the daily whirlwind and spend time on the business rather than in it. It’s amazing what happens when you pull a group of like-minded business owners together in one room. There’s an instant sense of energy, […]
Evaluate Your Life Day – The Power of Hitting Pause to Move Forward
This Sunday is Evaluate Your Life Day. Yes it might sound like one of those quirky “national days” dreamt up by someone with too much time and a social media calendar to fill up, but I actually really like the thinking behind this one, and the timing couldn’t be better! Why? Because this week, we’re taking […]
The Squirrel Problem: Why Focus Beats Frenzy
It’s October, which means it’s National Squirrel Awareness Month. In our house, squirrels bring a lot of entertainment, and more than a little chaos, thanks to our dogs, Bobby and Lily. As sighthounds, chasing is what they were born to do. The problem is, lately they’ve been dashing about the park in frantic zigzags, trying […]
Leadership Under Pressure: What the 2019 Cricket World Cup Final Taught Me
Last night, Kay and I had dinner with three people who know more about pressure than almost anyone else I’ve ever met: Kane Williamson, New Zealand captain Ben Stokes, now England captain Eoin Morgan, the man who led England to that World Cup win in 2019 There were about 500 of us in the room […]
