Last month I took every one-to-one mentoring session I ran - 40 sessions, real founders, real businesses, real problems - and pulled out 100 lessons. Not theory. Not textbook stuff. Summarised lessons from the actual conversations. The decisions that saved businesses and the ones that nearly broke them. The same problems that come up again and again at every stage - cash flow, people, pricing, growth, exit - and the solutions that actually work when someone finally applies them. Things like: → Why 70% of businesses fail with a full order book → The one question that tells you instantly who needs to go → Why your brand is worth more at exit than your profit ever will be → How to collect a debt from anyone — including a FTSE 100 company → The system that stops you unconsciously killing your own sales → The rule that separates businesses that grow from ones that just stay busy And 94 more lessons/principles. I've turned it into a full advisory document - beautifully laid out, protected, yours to print, adopt and keep. 100 lifechanging, business scaling lessons Its in on Skool available to every member FREE: https://www.skool.com/thegrowthsyndicate/classroom/efdda4a9?md=608ecc68108e4ed7bef73476a4e8a9d0

Most businesses are TERRIBLE at communicating who they really are. Not because they’re not good. But because they explain…Instead of POSITION. I was speaking to someone the other day about creating what I call a “razzle reel”. A fast-moving, high-energy visual reel that quickly communicates: → Who you are. → What you do. → The scale of your business. → Your credibility. → Your experience. → Your team. → Your clients. → Your culture. → Your momentum. → Your story. Not with boring corporate waffle. With energy. Movement.Emotion. Credibility.Identity. Done properly, in 30–90 seconds, people subconsciously start thinking: → “These guys are established.” → “They’ve clearly done a lot.” → “They feel credible.” → “This business has momentum.” → “I’d trust them.” The best ones don’t scream:“Look at me.” They subtly communicate:“This is the world we operate in.” A great razzle reel should include things like: → Team. → Clients. → Events. → Projects. → Behind the scenes. → Results. → Customers. → Travel. → Podcasts. → Press. → Testimonials. → Speaking. → Community. → Brand moments. The structure is usually: → First 5 seconds = attention. → Next 20 seconds = identity. → Next 30 seconds = credibility. → Final section = emotional positioning and call to action. People no longer READ credibility. They absorb it visually in seconds. Especially on: → LinkedIn. → Websites. → Instagram. → TikTok. → Speaker intros. → Sales pages. Most SMEs would massively benefit from one. I’ve attached one of mine as an example. ...and if you want some recommendations of who can do it and costs etc hop on one of our weekly zooms and I will help you

Today is VE Day. 81 years since Victory in Europe. “Lest We Forget.” A phrase most people know. But perhaps very few truly stop to think about. 81 years ago, millions had lost their lives. Families were destroyed. Cities flattened. Young men never came home. And yet… The world carried on. The sun still rose the next morning. People rebuilt. Communities rebuilt. Countries rebuilt. Which is why another slogan from that era still matters today: “Keep Calm and Carry On.” Such a simple statement. Yet so powerful. Because most people panic about things they cannot control. Governments change. Councils change. Political tides shift. And today, across the UK, we are seeing political fragmentation and change in a way many people have never witnessed in their lifetime. The traditional two-party structure is fracturing. Coalitions are emerging. New voices are rising. Old systems are being challenged. Some people are excited. Some are fearful. Some are angry. But whatever happens… The sun still comes up tomorrow. We still live in one of the most countries on probably the only inhabitable planet of millions in of our universe. We still live in a country with freedom of speech. Freedom of movement. Freedom to build. Freedom to create. Freedom to fail. Freedom to try again. We are not trapped by birth, class or title. We have opportunity. That opportunity was protected by the sacrifices made 81 years ago. And while councils, governments and economies may influence parts of our lives… You still determine your future. Your choices. Your attitude. Your work ethic. Your resilience. Your willingness to adapt. ....That is what shapes your life most. There is another famous line often associated with times of challenge: “Ask not what your country can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country.” Maybe today that means: → Build something worthwhile → Help your community → Create jobs → Support others → Raise good children

or... The words of Losing pitches: “If…” “Maybe…” “Just…” “Hopefully…” “We’re nearly there…” “It’s not quite ready yet…” I hear this language every single day in business. And most of the time… It’s the language of people trying to sell products or services that are not ready, not focused, or not what the client actually asked for. One of the biggest mistakes in business is this: Trying to sell people what YOU want to sell… Instead of listening properly and delivering what THEY actually want or need. I see it constantly. People trying to: - Upsell before trust exists - Change the brief - Reframe the requirement - Sell a “better” service the client never asked for - Push a bigger package - Defend weak delivery with excuses “If we just…” “Maybe later…” “Once this is finished…” “We can adapt it…” "Can I suggest..." No. Answer their f*cking question. Deliver the f*cking product/service THEY want or need. Solve the actual problem. Because here’s the irony… If you genuinely solve the client’s immediate need properly: - They come back - They trust you - They buy more - They take your advice - They refer people Trust is earned through delivery. Not through pitching people into something they didn’t ask for. Too many businesses are trying to force customers into their world… Instead of building solutions around the customer’s world. ....And that’s why so many businesses struggle. Not because they lack talent. But because they lack listening. The best businesses in the world are not the best talkers. They are the best listeners. Reminds me of what one of my mentors used to say - 'dont sell them a 'chocolate teapot' it may look good and even be enticing but on first use they will realise it IS NOT fit for purpose'!!

I only booked in yesterday for The Great British Debate run by the Chamber of Commerce last night at the stunning Ely Cathedral (* I know Mike loves Peterborough Cathedral more! 🤣) and I am SO glad I did! Great new contacts made, and with Mike's words ringing in my ears, it can take 7-12 touches to make contacts and a sale. I got off my backside after a busy day and headed out for a 630pm start, finishing around 10pm. My delivery arrived (800 cans) that morning, of the Still Water Runs Free collaboration, and I was really proud now that these were in my hands. I thought, I know I will get there early and put them on the speaker's chairs, and I even got thanked on LinkedIn by the Chamber for the provision. :) My learnings were quite a few from last night, but the main ones were - 1. You have to be in it to win it. Yes, I could have easily not worried about going last night, but it peaked my interest with the debate, and Mike was one of the speakers, and yes, he spoke first, set the tone. and smashed it out of the park in my mind. As a result of being there, another 12 or so contacts were made, and I laughed when I went to speak to one of the speakers, Dr Tim, at the end of the night, and said, "That's my business on the can, your drinking!" Great opener by the way! 2. It's all about the brand! There is a reason why I wear the branded shirt, as so many stop me and ask what it is I do. I now have the 10-second liner, which I now say, "Oh, I create family heritage memories that are captured across the World, and leave a legacy for generations to come!" This always sparks further conversation, and leads to I have always wanted to do that somewhere in the conversation :) 3. Be passionate about what you do..... I did speak to a few people at the very start, and to be honest, their delivery of what they do was as FLAT as anything. Without passion, there is no purpose. I wanted at one stage to pick a few of them up and shake them! This is not said condescendingly; moreover, it was just that you have to be memorable (*not a drama in an orange wheelchair) LOL, and it is NetWORKING, you are the face and brand of your business, and need to present it.