The information to Win in Business, the information to Win in Life, all wrapped up in one winning, weekly email. Winformation Weekly.

My 14 years’ experience of growing a business from £0-£100m as well as the life that goes with it.

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Simon Says

Winformation This Week...

The one thing you will always get from me is total honesty. And I need to be honest right now. Last Spring, I was struggling. I had all the trappings of a “successful” life, but I felt flat.

Something was missing from my life that I used to have in abundance.

Hunger.

I was desperate to feel the burning ambition I used to feel daily, it had been missing for ages. So, I had a big decision to make...and I made it.

In today’s One Idea to Win in Life, I talk about the 10 things I did to instil Champions League level hunger back into my life. It’s not for everyone, but then “everyone” doesn't generate the same results I do.  

In 2 weeks, I’m excited to be speaking at a private event. They want me to discuss the power of networks. Now if you are a regular reader, you will know I can’t stand “networking”. But grabbing the attention of people I have always wanted in my network is something I like to think I have always done well... Below in today’s One Idea to Win in Business, I teach you my simple, yet effective formula to grabbing anyone’s attention in 2026, allowing you to build a relationship from there. You’ll be pleased to know there’s not a LinkedIn message in sight!    

One Idea to Win in Business

Something to Get Noticed

The Secret to Getting a Response: How to Grab Anyone’s Attention

Once upon a time, a sales company was attempting to contact a hard-to-reach decision maker at a potential client. The story goes that they hand delivered a huge car sized ice cube outside the office of their prospect.  

As the days went by and the huge lump of ice melted, anticipation grew internally at the company as to what it was all about. Finally, the ice block melted to reveal a business card with the words underneath “we don’t like cold calls either”. Very clever...if true.  

Whether this is sales folk law, or an actual case study, it doesn't really matter. It provides an amazing lesson and formula that I adopted years ago when it came to grabbing attention to then build a relationship.  

Picture this.  

You identify someone that you think could add real value to your business, and maybe you for them too. So, you find them on LinkedIn and send them a DM. Job done. You can now sit back and look forward to their swift response and ongoing business relationship.  

Wrong. 

The issue being, you have used a low effort method of communication that everyone else does in the noisiest communication platform for that person. 

You have essentially joined the back of a very busy traffic jam on the busiest road they drive on, in a car identical to everyone else.  

So, what do you do? 

Real success comes from flipping not one of these variables, but both.  

First Variable – Method of Communication. 

This needs to be totally different to any that your ideal contact usually receives. It should catch the eye, grab the attention, and pull on the emotion of the person you are trying to reach.  

Example? 

Do your research. What would resonate with this person? Do they talk about a favourite sports team? Are their socials full of a particular issue? What message could you create that includes something they are interested in? What form would that message come in? A piece of memorabilia? A voice message from their favourite sports person? A handwritten note with printed photo? It needs to be so good (and different), they go home and tell their partner about your message.  

Get creative. Nothing should be too much trouble if they really are a key person to your future success.  

Second Variable – Method of Delivery 

Now you have to choose the method of delivery that has the highest chances of being seen or received. This is usually the quietest platform. Don’t join a long queue, push to the front of a short one.  

How?  

Again, research is needed here. My cheat sheet in the Victory Vault titled Become of Value to Anyone will help you here. List the platforms they are on, choose the one they are active on but receive the least engagement.  

And don't forget...usually the quietest platform anyone has these days is Royal Mail. In 2026, posting something is, in itself, very special and far rarer. So, again, be creative.  

Graph Below

Bottom Left - If you are wondering why no one ever reads your messages or gets back to you, you are likely trying to grab attention with low effort methods in a busy lane.  

Top Left – You want to be careful of this quadrant. You have made the effort to create the perfect message, but tried to deliver it in a way where it might not get seen. All of the graft, none of the results! 

Bottom Right – Here, there’s more of a chance your message will get seen, but highly likely it won’t be responded to. Low effort communication creates apathy for the receiver and honestly, why should they bother if you didn't?  

Top Right – You want to live in this quadrant. Well thought out, creative communication method that screams “I have to respond” and is delivered using a method where the chances of it being seen are very high.  

Remember, your goal is to be responded to. From there, the floor is yours to build the relationship that will change your business...and maybe your life.  

Let me know how you get on. Hit “reply” and tell me, I read every email. 

One Idea to Win in Life

Something to Rebuild Hunger

Dr Joel Salinas: The Scientific Way to Improve Focus

The last 2 years have been nothing short of pretty bloody tough. I think most people I know think the same.  

The problem I had a year ago was that I had all the trimmings of a great life, and a company that although was successful wasn't having its usual 20-30% year on year growth. Our markets were tough, most of our competition had shrunk by large amounts, and so staying the same size 2 years in a row was in a way an “achievement” of sorts, but it felt horrible.  

On top of this, personally for me, something was missing. I felt flat. I was “successful”. I was comfortable. But it didn't feel how I dreamed it would. 

Last Spring, I looked in the mirror and thought “what is missing from my life now compared to the big growth years?” 

It was obvious. I lacked hunger. I had everything I ever wanted or dreamed of.  

How do I get back to my ambitious self, and with it help return to the years of huge growth and satisfaction.  

To recreate a result, you have to recreate the circumstances that originally obtained it.  

So, what did I do? 

Regular readers will know about the Diderot Effect. Where the purchase of one luxury item creates a spiral of spending where you try and “keep up” with your new self-imposed “successful” lifestyle.  

So... I did the opposite. I employed a reverse Diderot Effect.  

I cut one luxury from my life, and I felt a glimmer of hunger return. I did it again, and again. My wife I sat down the other day and listed all the things I’ve actually cancelled, cut or quit in the past 12 months and we couldn’t believe it...and to be honest the result has been amazing, I haven’t looked back. 

In full, this is what I did.

1. I haven't worn any “nice” watches for a year or so.

2. I got rid of my Porsche, instead I’m driving a small Mazda and have done since April 2025.  

3. I’ve turned down invitations to 2 holidays and multiple weekends away. 

4. I’ve turned down 4 invitations to awards events where our company actually won national awards. 

5. I’m closing in on 6 months without any alcohol and zero expensive meals out.

6. I updated my habit tracker with 5 absolute non-negotiable daily habits and track these every day.

7. I haven't bought a single item of clothing worth more than a few pounds in a year.

8. Quit my health club in the country and rejoined a £19 gym on an industrial estate. 

9. I’ve sold the vast majority of my corporate lounge tickets to my football club and purchased single tickets in the “cheap seats” instead.

10. Created a vision board of things I probably could just buy tomorrow but trained my brain I can’t until I hit my goals. 

Aside from moving out of my house, I have removed from my life, (not my family’s) any real comfort or luxuries. I reset some pretty hefty goals, and I’ve gone all in on generating as much hunger in me as possible.

And do you know what, I’ve never been more up for it. If you are looking to start this journey, then the above list is probably your reality anyway. If you are 5 years in and looking to scale, I really recommend cutting the trimmings and upping the hunger.  

Win or Wonder?

Ask Me a Question…

No matter where you are on this mad journey. Starting out, scaling up, or somewhere in the messy middle feel free to ask me anything.

Business, life or mindset, I read and reply to every question. The best ones will get featured in future editions of Winformation, with your permission of course!

To ask, just hit “reply”, type your question and send. That’s it. No forms. No fuss.

Until next week! 

Let’s win, together!