You have an unfair advantage – but you don’t know it

Whenever a new brand breaks out, I’m always curious about the strategy that made it happen. But frankly, the truth is often disappointing. Case in point, a few years back I was interested to learn more about the story of Beavertown Brewery, a phenomenally successful new beer brand in the UK. I know a thing […]

Yes, service businesses can be strategic too – here’s how

These days the most common question I get asked is something along these lines: “Hey, I like your stuff, but you’re always talking about product businesses – what about people like me with service businesses, how do we do it?”. Typically these are people with businesses like: Law firms Accountancy practices Advertising agencies …anything where […]

There are 9 types of innovation – how many have you tried?

It was Peter Drucker who famously said: “A business only has two functions: marketing and innovation. The rest are just costs”. And truth be told, since great marketing is simply a form of introducing something new to the market we could probably say that there is only one central function: Innovation. That is what your […]

If you want success at ANYTHING in 2025, this is non-negotiable

I’m just going to ask you straight: Are you writing online? And if not, why? I’m not talking about political ranting on X, or long-winded emails to your colleagues (much as these are splendid examples of online writing). I’m talking about thoughtful original commentary about your industry, for an audience. It could be via social […]

Elite strategic thinking boiled down to just two words

If I were you? I’d take the two words I’m about to give you, write them on a Post-it, and stick them to your desk. Look at them every day, and at least once, and briefly meditate on them. Because although they are quite obvious, they actually represent a huge psychological challenge for the vast […]

This is the underrated skill I want to master in 2025.

There’s a secret skill the greatest leaders possess, but the rest of us do not. The reason it’s “secret” isn’t because it’s hidden. It’s because it’s something most of us don’t consider a skill. In fact, it’s something most of us consider a vice, rather than something to aspire to. The skill I’m referring to? […]

Master these two stories for your business

In my last newsletter, I talked about the power of a business having a story. Not just a strategy, but a wider narrative that the strategy sits within, explaining where the business has come from, the change it wants to make, and what that would mean to the world. Safe to say, it went down […]

This is the single most powerful thing any business can have

The one thing that would transform any business on the planet is the one thing 99% of them simply don’t have. Not only do they not have it, they don’t even think about it. It’s not capital. It’s not talent. It’s not technology. It’s not even strategy. (Though that is contained within it…). No, it […]

How to pick your audience (my controversial take)

There’s one thing people tell me is missing from my strategy advice: Target audience. I give all this talk about competitors, value, storytelling, etc., and yet I almost never talk about the one topic that makes it hang all together. Who are you actually doing this for? Who should you choose to serve? Well, today […]

The fatal flaw in most businesses – and probably yours too

This one might sting a little, but it needs to be said: You started your business for the wrong reason. So did I. So did most people in fact. And it’s this misguided ambition that lies at the root of most business failure, sooner or later. It’s a bitter pill when you realise it. It’s […]