Writing.

Essays, frameworks, and field notes from nearly four decades of building, backing, and selling businesses.

  1. Capital and Exits

    Think of the ROI Before Having Intercourse

    Discover the crucial factors investors evaluate before investing in a startup, including team dynamics, market traction, and strategic exit planning. Learn how to make your venture irresistible to potential investors with our expert insights.

  1. Mindset and Purpose

    3 P’s Are Disingenuous and Will Limit Your Potential - Embrace the 6 P's Instead

    Explore why the traditional 3 P’s of sustainability - People, Planet, Profits - fall short in today’s complex business landscape and uncover the transformative power of embracing the 6 P’s: Passion, Pleasure, Purpose, People, Planet, Profits. This article delves into how integrating these six pillars can redefine success and sustainability in business, offering a more nuanced and holistic approach to achieving long-term success and impact.

  1. People and Culture

    Strategies for Effective Talent Retention

    Staff retention is not just about keeping staff; it's about fostering an environment where they can thrive and contribute to the company's success. Whether it's through competitive pay, career development, creating a positive work culture, feeling valued or something else, the right approach will make all the difference.

  1. Hospitality

    The Hustle Can’t Hold the Standard

    Legendary service isn't the result of hustle. It’s the result of leverage. This article reframes the role of leadership in luxury hospitality, from executive chef to group GM, showing how to build systems that scale experience without burnout.

  2. Hospitality

    Transforming Hospitality: Mastering Workforce Dynamics in Tourism Hotspots

    Like many industries, in hospitality and especially in the bustling tourism hotspots every move counts. I've been involved in the Private Equity/Venture Capital industry for over 35 years and have witnessed firsthand the seismic shifts and subtle nuances that define success. My journey began in the hospitality sector, and it's where my passion for refining and revolutionising business models took root. Throughout the years, I've stayed intimately connected to the industry, shaping its future through investments, consulting, coaching and developing staff training programs.

  1. Video

    The Power of No: Knowing When to Say No

    Knowing when to say no is more powerful than saying yes to everything and trying to work it out later. How to protect your focus so you are ready for the opportunities that genuinely serve your business.

  2. Video

    Be Honest and Tell the Real Story

    Investors see through a polished story, and being honest about the real state of your business carries as much weight for you as for any pitch. The ways founders fool themselves, and how to stop.

  3. Video

    Know Your Numbers: The Key to Business Success

    The health of any business comes back to its numbers, and they are not something you simply hand to the accountant. The live, real-world figures every owner and leader needs at their fingertips.

  1. Experience Design

    The Recipe and Ingredients of Business Excellence

    Discover the essential steps to create a thriving business and learn how the meticulous process of preparing a dish mirrors the strategic approach needed in business to ensure growth, sustainability, and customer satisfaction. Perfect for entrepreneurs and business owners looking for innovative strategies to scale their operations.