“Ask good questions, listen carefully and give clear instructions.” Sound advice indeed, and I’m writing it down carefully as I’m talking to Sir Philip Trousdell, formerly director of the multinational…
Read More
People | Mike Southon - Part 3
Paul Bridle has made a long study of leadership in effective organisations: what actually works and what doesn’t. Sadly for David Brent and other would-be office comedians, ‘a sense of…
Eric Edmeades is a self-made millionaire and CEO of a computer-based special effects company. But he started as a ‘cornerstone’ to an entrepreneur. They then fell out, prompting Eric to…
It is hard setting up a new business. It is even harder scaling it up. This inevitably requires the entrepreneur to hire people better than themselves. This requires both courage…
We are all familiar with the great double acts in popular culture. Great examples include Morecambe and Wise, Lennon and McCartney, even Del-Boy and Rodney; complementary characters who play off…
One attribute that well describes many entrepreneurs is ‘being right about everything’, a delicate mix of supreme confidence and impossible arrogance. This is another way of describing the important prerequisite…
Most of my working life is spent on the speaking circuit, which means I often share the stage with other speakers. Some are professionals like me; others clearly have the…
Stephen Fry, as you all know, is an actor, presenter, author, director and unofficial national treasure. What you probably also know is that he is also a mega-star on the…
When I’m on holiday, street traders know immediately that I’ll pay way over the odds for their souvenirs. I leave car showrooms having paid list price. But I’m a salesman,…
