So this was the month I turned 50 – a bit of a milestone I suppose. No big parties for me as that’s not really my style, but plenty of smaller celebrations with family and friends over the last six weeks or so that I enjoyed a lot.

It’s been a busy month with a lot of different work plates to spin at the same time. With three weeks to go until my summer break it’s been a bit of a juggle to make sure I’m delivering on everything I need to before I down tools for a bit next month.

I’ve continued an interesting operational audit and reporting model redesign project for a network-owned experiential agency – it’s the kind of deep consultancy work that requires getting really into how things actually function versus how people think they function. I like the intellectual puzzle that these kind of engagements present in the early stages – and then I like working out what to do to solve the things I find.

At a very different end of things, I’ve also been helping a small social and PR agency develop their new resource management processes. We’ve also launching the new ways of working in their Productive.io system. It’s also been satisfying work – it’s taking something theoretical and making it operationally useful that I enjoy.

I’ve also been working with a SaaS business on their exit, helping them manage that process and deal with the inevitable pressures that founders experience when going through due diligence at the same time as trying to run the business.

I’ve also been working on an organisational design project for a US-based performance agency this month as well as supporting a rapid growth third-party logistics business to help them develop the future leadership of the business and determine how to best fulfil the significant potential they have (no pun intended).

I also started work with a couple of new clients this month, including one working out the future of his construction firm. A bit of a different one for me as it’s outside my usual sectors, but the fundamental questions about positioning and go-to-market strategies remain surprisingly consistent across sectors.

On the marketing front I ran a fascinating webinar with Fergus Adam about AI and founder-led businesses – taking a “beyond the hype” perspective on what works and what doesn’t. These conversations are increasingly important as more founders try to work out where AI genuinely adds value versus where it’s just noise.

Along similar lines I also presented at two AI event for one of my clients. They were really great face to face sessions – helping their clients see where AI can help them optimise their processes, but also sharing them of some of the challenges and distractions that AI can produce. That balance feels increasingly important.

I’ve also decided to relaunch and rebrand Team Wakeman later this year. Lots of learnings from the first six months launching this venture successfully. It feels like there’s a couple of months work to do to finish up a lot of the launch tasks that got neglected, plus a fresh new name and brand that I’m really excited about. The overly purple look and feel has been bothering me increasingly since I hacked it together in January.

Away from work the weather has meant I’ve managed to run regularly, even during the recent high temperatures. I also managed to get out last Friday evening at the tail end of the heatwave for a 100k bike ride. It was really nice to head down to the coast and enjoy the Romney Marshes on flat, smooth and virtually traffic-free roads. Good fun.

Our eldest son and his girlfriend moved into their new flat in London, having finished uni and started jobs this month. We enjoyed helping them assemble furniture and get settled in. And Jo and I also spent the evening in the West End, watching my client Matt Henry perform in The Devil Wears Prada musical. It was an unusual experience seeing someone I collaborate with on a business venture doing his “day job” on the stage – and we enjoyed catching up with him backstage afterwards. It was a real window into a world I’ve never seen before.

I took the day off for my birthday and finally got around to creating a spontaneous 50th birthday DJ mix with a bit of a happy nu-disco-ey feel to it, the first one I’ve recorded in a long time. Really enjoyed doing that and listening back to it since. It’s been over a year since I last recorded a live mix and it was nice to be back. I really want to find some more opportunities to play out live in the next year or so, but I need to put in some time to making that happen.

Cycling this month… 163.5 miles

Running this month… 31.9 miles

Music this month… got some vinyl for my birthday. Inferno by Boards of Canada was a great pick from my friends Paul and Caroline.