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 […]
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 […]
Stop Doing, Start Leading, Continue Growing.
Yesterday, I sat down with eight service-based business owners who were all facing the same challenge…they were no longer just delivering the work, but not yet fully leading their businesses. We created a safe space where we could be honest about what’s working, what’s not, and what really needs to change. What followed was a […]
Positive Expectation for Leaders: Why It Beats Positive Thinking
This Saturday is National Positive Thinking Day. But let’s be honest, positive thinking on its own doesn’t move the needle. What does make a difference is something far more powerful: positive expectation. The Science of Expectation David Robson’s brilliant book The Expectation Effect dives into how our beliefs shape our outcomes – mentally, physically, and emotionally. It isn’t fluffy self-help […]
Why Planning with Purpose Matters (and Why I Do Mine on Holiday)
I’ve just got back from three days in Norfolk. For me, Norfolk means long dog walks, windswept beaches, cosy pubs, and rummaging through second-hand bookshops. It’s the kind of place where life slows down, and that’s exactly why it’s become one of the most important parts of my year. While those things are lovely (and […]
Unexpected Leaders Inspire Change
Have you ever noticed that the most inspiring leaders often aren’t the ones with the loudest voices or the biggest titles? Sometimes, they’re the ones who quietly nudge you in a different direction. They appear when you least expect it, and their impact might not even be obvious until years later. For me, one of […]
16 Years On: What Taking a Leap of Faith Really Taught Me
16 years ago, I took a leap of faith. I’d just walked away from what I thought was my dream job at the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA). It wasn’t entirely my decision, sometimes life nudges you (or shoves you) in a different direction, but looking back, it was exactly the shove I needed. […]
Stepping Into Success: You Don’t Grow the Callouses Before the Ride
I had a conversation with a client today that stopped both of us in our tracks. It began with a familiar theme, one I’ve heard time and again from people on the brink of stepping into success. She was nervous about putting herself out there more on social media. She had big goals, but the […]
Purpose and Direction – What Happens When People Come Together
A couple of weeks ago, something powerful happened. Over 80 people came together for the second annual Charity Golf Day, which I helped to organise, and The Business Clubhouse proudly sponsored. We raised a brilliant £6,788.03 for Rennie Grove Hospice, a small charity that makes a huge difference to the lives of so many. It was a fun, heart-filled […]
