Writing on the web since 2003

Hey there, I’m fascinated by the role of tensions in businesses. Too often they’re seen as negatives, as problems to solve. But in reality every founder is running a business where tensions are a healthy feature of their organisation. In this week’s Build Summer Series 2025 newsletter, James Gairdner unpacks this topic through the lens of psychodynamic theory. best regards,-sw Build #75 – Tension is the work: leading without easy answers In leadership conversations with founders, there’s a…

Hey there, Founder life is all about transitions. They arrive pretty relentlessly in the founder’s journey. And one of the trickier ones I see is moving from being a founder to being a CEO. This week my guest author Codie James takes a detailed look at this transition and how founders can take a more intentional approach to developing their leadership. best regards,-sw Build #74 – From accidental CEO to intentional leader: how founders can evolve without losing their edge When founders first…

Hey there, I’ve been involved in the sale of several businesses over the years and have been on the buy-side of many more M&A deals too. One of the things I’ve observed from those experiences is that the best acquisitions or investments have been the ones that are are well run, not the ones that were obviously built just to sell. In this week’s guest article for The Build Summer Series 2025 my collaborator and fellow Extra Brain Manish Kapur provides a super clear explainer for founders about…

Hey there, In the Build Summer Series 2025 I’m handing over the metaphorical Build keyboard to a series of guest authors. This week Kelly Wakeman (no relation!) gives you a great take on the stages of the founder growth journey. I love her simple framework for this as it nicely captures the personal transitions that happen as businesses grow. best regards,-sw Build #72 – From chaos to culture: why the best founders don’t scale alone Let’s get one thing straight: chaos isn’t a bad sign. In…

Hey there, We’re halfway through the Build Summer Series 2025 – where I’ve handed the metaphorical keyboard over to a diverse bunch of guest authors. What a ride it’s been so far and this week’s no exception. In this issue Volker Ballueder shows how founders can benefit from the fusion of coaching and therapy to help grow their businesses better. best regards,-sw Build #71 – Why tech founders need personal consultancy – not just coaching or therapy There’s something unique about sitting at…

Hey there, This week’s guest author in the Build Summer Series 2025 is Team Sterka founder Trenton Moss. He’s got a great story about how he realised what he needed to change in his business to unleash the potential of his team – and get out of the way himself. best regards,-sw Build #70 – You’re not growing if your team still needs you in every pitch If you’re still the one leading every big client meeting, every sales call, every tricky negotiation… then let’s be honest: You’re the…

Hey there, This week’s guest author is Sarah Harris. Sarah is a fractional COO and seasoned business leader. She supports founder-led businesses to scale sustainably. She’s also a qualified therapist and leadership coach – and my co-founder at actualise.work too. That means she’s uniquely placed to take a science-based look at how founder leadership runs much deeper than most people realise. best regards,-sw Build #69 – Spoiler: You might be the bottleneck It’s 4:33am, and you’re awake….

Hey there, This week we’re talking about selling. Yep, it’s that side of founder life that represents one of the hardest transitions to make as you grow. My guest author is David Biden, co-founder of Growth Venture Group. I’ve known David for many years. His advice is a must-read for any founder wondering how to make their first sales hire. best regards,-sw Build #68 – How to scale your selling without losing your soul Every founder knows what it takes to sell in the early days. Grit. Energy….