Welcome to this edition of the Friday Footnotes. Today’s a slightly self-indulgent one… it’s my birthday. Not in a “cake for breakfast” kind of way (although tempting), but more as a quiet marker to pause, reflect, and think about what’s working, what needs attention, and what I want more of in the year ahead. Birthdays have a funny way of sharpening perspective. If nothing else, they’re a good reminder that progress rarely comes from standing still.
The Progress in Practice Podcast (coming soon)
Over the coming months I’ll be launching a new podcast: The Progress in Practice Podcast. The aim is simple – to sit down with people who run professional service firms and explore the stories, habits and decisions that actually make a difference over time. Not theory. Not hype. Just hard-earned wisdom.
If you run a professional services firm (anything from finance to nutrition) and fancy being a guest, let me know. Aside from the conversation itself, it becomes a great long-form marketing asset you can share with clients and prospects long after the episode airs.
What I’ve Been Reading
The Opposite of Butterfly Hunting is a powerful and beautifully written book. If you know anyone affected by an eating disorder, I’d strongly recommend it. Honest, compassionate and quietly hopeful, it offers insight without preaching and understanding without judgement.
TED Talk I’ve Found Interesting
I was lucky enough to see Bill Gross speak last week, which sent me back to this talk. Timing, more than idea, team or funding, is the biggest differentiator. It’s a useful reminder that being early can feel exactly like being wrong… until it doesn’t. Watch it here.
What I’ve Been Watching
Even when you know the outcome, this is a genuinely nerve-shredding watch. Watching Alex Honnold operate calmly at the very edge of their comfort zone is both terrifying and fascinating. A masterclass in preparation, focus and commitment, this follows Alex ‘free solo’ climbing Taipei’s incredible 101 skyscraper. Mind blowing! Watch it here.
Quote of the Week
“The risk is not taking one.” – Alex Honnold
Tech I’ve Found Useful
We’re currently automating everything in this newsletter apart from the creative thinking using Zapier. Automate the repetitive. Humanise the exceptional. It’s amazing how much mental bandwidth you get back when the boring stuff just… happens.
The Trusted Team
There’s a thread running through a lot of the ideas above: awareness, timing, preparation, and honest reflection. That’s exactly where The Entrepreneurial Happiness Scoreboard comes in.
Most entrepreneurs are brilliant at measuring revenue, profit and growth – but far less clear on how they’re actually doing as humans running the business. The Scoreboard is a simple but revealing tool that helps you step back and assess where you’re winning, where you’re leaking energy, and what might need attention next.
It’s not about perfection. It’s about clarity. And once you can see the score, you can start to play the game more intentionally.
So, birthday candles blown out, another lap around the sun underway. If there’s a theme this week, it’s progress over perfection, and awareness before action. Here’s to doing a little less by default, and a little more by design.
Thanks, as always, for reading.
