Welcome to this edition of the Friday Footnotes. These last two weeks have felt like a bit of a double take… Bronwyn, my youngest turned 17, can legally drive, and somehow chooses to spend her birthday racing for Wales at the London velodrome. Equal parts awesome and slightly terrifying. It does make you think though: how often do we lean into the edge of what’s possible, rather than what’s comfortable?
Podcast: The Progress in Practice Podcast
I’m delighted to finally share something that’s been a long time coming: the launch of The Progress in Practice Podcast. We’ve kicked things off with three episodes featuring Matt Baird (Accelerate), Claire Fudge (4th Discipline), and Bhavik Shah (Providus Capital).
The conversations go beyond the polished surface of business success and into the reality of how progress actually happens: the missteps, the lessons, and the decisions that compound over time. If you’re building something of your own, there’s real value in hearing how others have navigated similar challenges. There’s a reassuring honesty in it too… progress rarely looks as linear from the inside as it does from the outside. If you could give them a listen, and even better subscribe, comment and share, I’d be massively grateful. The reaction to these early episodes tell Apple its worth promoting, so a little help would be awesome here!!
Reading: Linchpin — Seth Godin
Godin’s central idea is simple but powerful: become indispensable by doing work that matters. Not by ticking boxes, but by bringing creativity, emotional intelligence, and initiative into what you do.
It’s a reminder that the real leverage in any role or business doesn’t come from doing more; it comes from doing things differently. From solving problems others avoid, from caring more than expected, and from leaning into the parts of your work that can’t be automated. In a world increasingly driven by AI and systems, the human edge becomes even more valuable.
TED: Pico Iyer — The Art of Stillness
In a world that rewards speed, Iyer makes a compelling case for slowing down. Not as a luxury, but as a necessity.
Creating space, whether through reflection, walking, or simply stepping away, allows for clearer thinking, better decisions, and often more creative solutions. It’s something many of us know, but rarely prioritise. Yet the paradox is obvious: the busier life gets, the more valuable stillness becomes. Sometimes you’ve got to slow down to speed up!
Watching: The Greatest Game Ever Played
A brilliant film on perseverance and belief, but what stood out most to me was its portrayal of flow state.
There’s a moment where everything quietens, doubt fades, distractions disappear, and performance just clicks. It’s a reminder that peak performance isn’t always about pushing harder, but about creating the conditions where your best work can emerge naturally. Whether that’s in sport, business, or any craft, finding your flow is often the difference.
Tech: Replit
I’ve been using Replit to build simple apps for problems that have been niggling at me for years, without needing to “know how to code” in the traditional sense.
It’s a fascinating shift. The barrier between idea and execution is shrinking rapidly. Tools like this allow you to test, build, and iterate at speed, which is where real progress happens. Even if you never plan to become a developer, the ability to create your own solutions is becoming an increasingly useful skill.
Trusted Team
The Freedom Framework: Building a Saleable and Scalable Business London Workshop
There’s a common thread running through everything above: progress doesn’t come from doing more, it comes from doing better. From thinking clearly (stillness), focusing on what matters (linchpin work), and creating systems that allow you to operate at your best (flow and tech).
That’s exactly what we’ll be working through at The Freedom Framework workshop in London on 22nd April.
Most business owners I speak to have built something successful… but also something that depends entirely on them. The result? Growth becomes harder, time becomes scarcer, and freedom feels further away.
This workshop is about changing that. We’ll break down the four pillars, building a business that runs without you, creating predictable revenue, developing marketing that works consistently, and getting clear on what you’re actually building towards.
It’s practical, actionable, and designed to give you a clear roadmap, whether you want to scale, step back, or eventually sell.
And perhaps most importantly, it creates the space to think. Because sometimes, like Iyer suggests, the biggest breakthroughs don’t come from doing more… but from stepping back and seeing things differently.
Inspiring Quote – “The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.” – Hans Hofmann
As Bronwyn showed this week, progress often sits just outside your comfort zone, whether that’s stepping onto a track, launching something new, or rethinking how you work. The question is, where could you lean in just a little more?
