Articles & write-ups
Every idea, lesson, story and how-to from the queue, newest first.
Bonus Schemes: The Gift That Keeps On Taking
I tried a bonus scheme once. Clear metrics, achievable targets, even extra holiday. It became the most divisive thing I ever inflicted on a team. Here's what went wrong.
05 Aug 2026The Retainer Email That Nearly Emptied My Client List
When I ran my first IT consultancy in Sheffield I had over a hundred clients on my books. Then I looked at the accounts, sent one email, and lost most of them. Here's why that was exactly the right move.
03 Jul 2026Why Every Server Deserves a Name (And Server1 Just Won't Do)
Servers used to be physical things you built and looked after, and giving them a proper name instead of SERVER01 made all the difference. Here's why naming your kit mattered, and some of the best names from twenty five years in the trade.
02 Jul 2026Why There's No Music In My Office, And What My Gym Taught Me About It
A noisy PT at my local gym got me thinking about why music in shared workspaces almost always ends up serving the person who chose it rather than everyone who has to listen to it. Here's why I've banned it from every business I've run.
30 Jun 2026