Monthnotes – January 2025

Monthnotes – January 2025

As I look back over the last 31 days, I’m thinking that I seem to have packed a lot in this month.

I started a new fractional COO engagement with a London (and soon to be US) based client. They’re a fast growing social agency doing some really brilliant work with big brands.

For this engagement I’m in London two or three times a week and am really enjoying being back in a lively, buzzing office. The team are a really friendly bunch and it’s been really good to get to know them and their work more over the past three weeks.

I’m now starting to shift to think about how to help make the improvements I’m there to deliver. I know it’s a good sign when my mind’s going into overdrive out of hours about how to make a difference. I enjoy the mental challenge of taking what I’ve learnt and done in the past and thinking how to come up with the right solutions for this agency, these teams and this stage of growth.

With this new gig taking up a lot of mental energy, it’s been quieter on the consultancy projects front, although there are a few interesting things that might come to fruition over the next couple of months. Progress has also been slower on a new venture that I’m working with a co-founder on, but I’m hoping to kickstart that with greater focus next month.

My Build newsletter has continued to get really positive feedback on LinkedIn and direct into my inbox. It’s sometimes a struggle to come up with original content regularly, but I think it’s the original thinking that’s important given the amount of generic, rehashed or just AI generated blah that swills around LinkedIn.

The subscriber numbers are creeping towards 1,000 now, so it’ll be time for a mini-celebration when I hit that milestone. I guess with that in mind…if you’re not already subscribed and want to get my wisdom in your inbox every Wednesday morning, please do sign-up here.

Away from work, I’ve been lucky enough to have done two trips to the Alps this month for some skiing adventures. Over new year we enjoyed a family ski holiday with friends in the little French resort of Sainte Foye. Highlights included a ski touring expedition and a big snow dump on the penultimate day.

Then last weekend I was back in Les Gets with my first annual BIMA ski trip. It was great to meet a new bunch of really friendly agency folk, enjoy the sunny slopes at Les Gets, Morzine and Avoriaz, as well as the sights and sounds of La Folie Douce.

Music this month…

Hard to pick out a single musical highlight this month. As I’ve been more office-based, it seems like I’ve spent less time finding new music to listen to and have been sticking to a few favourite mixes. One of those is this classic from Larry Levan, live from Paradise Garage – it amazes me to think this is 46 years ago and how DJs like Levan inspired the music that so many of us enjoy today.

Podcasts this month…

Been enjoying Pivot with Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway this month. Interesting, original and timely takes on what’s going on in tech, business and politics right now.

Reading this month…

I read a book this month that was so good, as soon as I finished it I read it for a second time. Matthew Syed’s Rebel Ideas is a superb read about the value of diverse thinking. It gave me so many insights into where ideas come from and how to create the situations where the best new ideas are likely to emerge. Inspiring, thought provoking and probably the best business book I’ve read in the last year at least.

Cycling this month…

I’ve not cycled anywhere for fun this month thanks to weather, travel and plenty of other stuff keeping me busy. Managed 61.2 miles commuter riding though.

Running this month…

A bit short on the miles too and I’ve ended up the month with an injury, so the ultra next weekend is looking unlikely – 42.9 miles.

About SIMON

I work as a fractional Chief Operating Officer (COO), consultant and advisor. I created the B3 framework® for company building and I also write a newsletter called Build for leaders who care about creating resilient and sustainable businesses.