100 Business Lessons
Practical lessons for building a real business, every one from real world experience.
Lesson53
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 2026
Lesson54
The 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 2026
Lesson21
Why 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