--- title: "Writing on the web since 2003" url: https://www.simonwakeman.com/blog/page/2/ description: "Working with visionary founders, leaders and investors. Founder, MD, COO and non-exec experience in privately held and UK-listed growth companies." author: Simon Wakeman --- # Writing on the web since 2003 ## [Build #107 – None of us actually agreed to this](https://www.simonwakeman.com/blog/2026/08/26/build-107-none-of-us-actually-agreed-to-this/) 26th August 2026 [![](https://www.simonwakeman.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/bP4f6DCZnwWuPt4Rdk1MhW-scaled.jpg)](https://www.simonwakeman.com/blog/2026/08/26/build-107-none-of-us-actually-agreed-to-this/) I’m back from a few weeks off work this summer – with plenty of time for travel, reading, running and cycling. The time away from work has been invaluable reflection time. I find the distance this gives me from the day-to-day helps me see patterns that aren’t visible when you’re in the middle of things. One of the things I noticed this summer was that in many of the businesses I work with, it feels a lot harder to get a team aligned… ## [Build #106 – Ask five people and you’ll get five different problems](https://www.simonwakeman.com/blog/2026/08/12/build-106-ask-five-people-and-youll-get-five-different-problems/) 12th August 2026 [![](https://www.simonwakeman.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/3unW5kSMJnqG3FjHEYCzuz.jpg)](https://www.simonwakeman.com/blog/2026/08/12/build-106-ask-five-people-and-youll-get-five-different-problems/) I was on holiday in a remote bit of Portugal earlier this month, mostly unplugged and doing the thing I always do on holiday – reading random stuff that I’ve been saving up because I never have time to get to it normally. Deep in that list was a psychology paper about how researchers measure problem solving in children. It’s not obvious holiday reading, I’ll admit, but bear with me. The paper picked apart the… ## [Monthnotes – July 2026](https://www.simonwakeman.com/blog/2026/07/31/monthnotes-july-2026/) 31st July 2026 [![](https://www.simonwakeman.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/PXL_20260719_093328066-scaled.jpg)](https://www.simonwakeman.com/blog/2026/07/31/monthnotes-july-2026/) In Slow Productivity Cal Newport talks about the concept of seasonality in work – because humans can’t sustainably work at a flat, relentless pace all … [Read More](https://www.simonwakeman.com/blog/2026/07/31/monthnotes-july-2026/ "Monthnotes – July 2026") ## [Build #105 – Hiring more people doesn’t fix this](https://www.simonwakeman.com/blog/2026/07/15/build-105-hiring-more-people-doesnt-fix-this/) 15th July 2026 [![](https://www.simonwakeman.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/mZfqdfm9Kiyhhu8Jyd6LJU.jpg)](https://www.simonwakeman.com/blog/2026/07/15/build-105-hiring-more-people-doesnt-fix-this/) I was out running yesterday lunchtime (not a good idea in a UK heatwave but that unusual hour gap in my calendar was too good to pass up!). Running is reflection time for me. Yesterday I was mulling over some of the patterns we’ve seen since launching Mallard earlier this year. Regardless of the type of business, the sector and the culture of the particular business, we hear very similar refrains from founders on our initial calls:… ## [Monthnotes – June 2026](https://www.simonwakeman.com/blog/2026/06/30/monthnotes-june-2026/) 30th June 2026 [![](https://www.simonwakeman.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/PXL_20260626_195054955-scaled.jpg)](https://www.simonwakeman.com/blog/2026/06/30/monthnotes-june-2026/) 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 … [Read More](https://www.simonwakeman.com/blog/2026/06/30/monthnotes-june-2026/ "Monthnotes – June 2026") ## [Build #104 – I should have done it sooner](https://www.simonwakeman.com/blog/2026/06/17/build-104-i-should-have-done-it-sooner/) 17th June 2026 [![](https://www.simonwakeman.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/r9cQC7ivaqaQt79UzMJneR.jpg)](https://www.simonwakeman.com/blog/2026/06/17/build-104-i-should-have-done-it-sooner/) Build #104 – I should have done it sooner Hey Reader, “I should have done it sooner.” It’s something that I’ve said (or thought) a lot over the years, regardless of the job I was in at the time Different roles, different businesses, different phases of my professional life but the same five words kept on popping up. Looking back it strikes me that it’s not the big leaps forward that I remember most vividly – it’s actually the things I didn’t do or the things I left too late. After working… ## [Monthnotes – May 2026](https://www.simonwakeman.com/blog/2026/05/31/monthnotes-may-2026/) 31st May 2026 [![](https://www.simonwakeman.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/PXL_20260508_183221017.jpg)](https://www.simonwakeman.com/blog/2026/05/31/monthnotes-may-2026/) Lots going on as ever this month with a couple of new clients joining the Team Wakeman client roster. The experience of building Team Wakeman … [Read More](https://www.simonwakeman.com/blog/2026/05/31/monthnotes-may-2026/ "Monthnotes – May 2026") ## [Build #103 – Your BOS tool won’t save you (but it might just help)](https://www.simonwakeman.com/blog/2026/05/20/build-103-your-bos-tool-wont-save-you-but-it-might-just-help/) 20th May 2026 [![](https://www.simonwakeman.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/wJCtVZE3gXrTGtfp3RTW1G-1.png)](https://www.simonwakeman.com/blog/2026/05/20/build-103-your-bos-tool-wont-save-you-but-it-might-just-help/) SPONSORED NEWSLETTER Build #103 – Your BOS tool won’t save you (but it might just help) Hey Reader, I talk a lot about operating systems – more specifically business operating systems (BOS) – things like EOS, Scaling Up and their ilk. And even more specifically I’ve been doing a client project reviewing the tooling options to support their BOS – yes, systems to run a system. It’s all getting a bit meta. I’ve been doing a market appraisal of the software tools that have sprung up to help… ## [Build #102 – Autonomy without boundaries just isn’t autonomy](https://www.simonwakeman.com/blog/2026/05/13/build-102-autonomy-without-boundaries-just-isnt-autonomy/) 13th May 2026 [![](https://www.simonwakeman.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/adnmY8un4KskeF3Wg5uVWS.jpg)](https://www.simonwakeman.com/blog/2026/05/13/build-102-autonomy-without-boundaries-just-isnt-autonomy/) Build #102 – Autonomy without boundaries just isn’t autonomy Hey Reader, I’ve been thinking about something that came up in a project I’m delivering at the moment (it’s funny how these little moments sit with me for days afterwards). I’m working with a tech SaaS client on building the “practices” component of their bespoke business operating system. I was leading a workshop exploring how decision-making needs to change as they make a fairly rapid push from 35 to 95 people over the next year…. ## [Monthnotes – April 2026](https://www.simonwakeman.com/blog/2026/04/30/monthnotes-april-2026/) 30th April 2026 [![](https://www.simonwakeman.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/PXL_20260425_174657947-scaled.jpg)](https://www.simonwakeman.com/blog/2026/04/30/monthnotes-april-2026/) The Easter bank holidays in the UK at the start of the month plus a few days off work gave the first half of April … [Read More](https://www.simonwakeman.com/blog/2026/04/30/monthnotes-april-2026/ "Monthnotes – April 2026")