Writing on the web since 2003

Build #70 – You’re not growing if your team still needs you in every pitch

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…

Monthnotes – July 2025

As I write this monthnote on the last day of July, I’m enjoying my long awaited summer break watching the sunrise over a vineyard in … Read More

Build #69 – Spoiler: You might be the bottleneck

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….

Build #68 – How to scale your selling without losing your soul

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….

Build #66 – A founder’s guide to applied AI

Artificial intelligence is everywhere, yet few founders can point to a single process it has genuinely improved inside their business. The reason is simple: most start with the technology, not the outcome. This short guide shows you how to deliver a working AI system in days.

Monthnotes – June 2025

June’s been a pretty full-on few weeks and as the month draws to a close, I’m pretty worn out. It’s three weeks until my summer … Read More