Welcome to this week’s Friday Footnotes. Late August has that unique feeling – still warm, still summer, yet there’s a quiet shift in the air. It’s the pause before the final sprint of the year begins. A perfect moment to ask yourself: What do I want to finish strong on before 2026 rolls in?
Business of Endurance Podcast
Welcome to the final episode of Season 9 of The Business of Endurance.
This season has taken us on an incredible journey – from Chris Williams of Supertri sharing his Atlantic rowing adventure and boardroom battles, to Paul Kaye, an unmistakable voice of Ironman, revealing how he built a career from scratch.
We’ve heard from trailblazing entrepreneur Simon Dent, Ironman legend Kathleen McCartney, cycling world champion Richard Oakes, and even AI Charlie – exploring how technology is reshaping sport and business.
And to top it off, Olympic great Alistair Brownlee, British Cycling CEO John Dutton OBE, Ironman champion Matt Trautman, and the incomparable Chris McCormack have all joined us with powerful lessons in resilience, mindset, and creating lasting impact.
Season 10 is coming soon and it promises to be even bigger. Listen to the Season 9 Wrap up here.
What I’ve Been Reading
There are few true stories of endurance more powerful than Shackleton’s Antarctic expedition. In 1915, his ship, Endurance, became frozen in the ice – and what should have been certain death turned into one of the greatest survival stories ever told.
Ranulph Fiennes, himself a legendary explorer, captures Shackleton’s grit and leadership in a way only someone who has faced similar extremes can. Shackleton: Explorer. Leader. Legend. is a reminder that even when the path is blocked, the way forward comes from resilience, clarity of purpose, and a refusal to quit.
TED Talk I’ve Found Interesting
More choice doesn’t always mean more freedom. Schwartz shows how endless options can leave us paralysed, second-guessing, and dissatisfied. It’s a lesson that applies everywhere – from how you structure your day to how you present options to clients. Sometimes the smartest move is to narrow the field, simplify decisions, and focus only on what really drives the outcome you want. Watch The Paradox of Choice here.
What I’ve Been Watching
Five minutes and twenty seconds. That’s all it took for Ronnie O’Sullivan to produce snooker perfection. No hesitation. No wasted motion. Just pure instinct meeting years of preparation. It’s the clearest example of flow you’ll see – and a reminder that when you’ve built your skills deeply enough, the extraordinary can start to feel effortless. Watch it here.
Quote Of The Week
“Optimism is true moral courage.” – Ernest Shackleton
Tech I’ve Found Useful
Behind every high-performing business is a mountain of admin quietly slowing it down. Hypatos uses cutting-edge AI to extract, validate, and process complex documents in seconds – the kind of work that normally eats away hours every week. It’s not about replacing people; it’s about removing the repetitive grind so you can focus on what actually moves the needle.
The Trusted Team
Financial advisers are being squeezed from all sides: clients expect more, regulations keep tightening, and admin is consuming 40% of the day. Meanwhile, AI is everywhere – but which tools actually work in a regulated environment?
This webinar brings you two experts who’ve cut through the hype. You’ll see real, FCA-compliant AI tools that reclaim hours from admin, help you deliver more personalised client service, and free you to focus on the conversations that matter most.
I will share a 90-day plan for using AI to simplify your workload, while Jym Brown of Ningi will reveal which so-called “innovations” in advice-tech are worth adopting – and which are just expensive distractions.
The advisers making smart, strategic decisions on AI now are the ones who’ll still be leading the market tomorrow. Don’t get left behind.
Register here for the exclusive webinar – 25th September 2025, 1pm
Whether it’s Shackleton leading his crew across the ice, or Ronnie O’Sullivan locked into effortless flow, this week’s theme is all about clarity. Clarity of purpose when things get tough. Clarity of focus when the options feel endless. And clarity in choosing the right tools so your energy goes where it matters most. As we edge closer to autumn, take a moment to simplify, refocus, and set yourself up for a strong final quarter.
