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...

Last week marked my 15th year in business. How did that happen?

I’ve made every mistake known to man in that time and learned some big things on the way.

I’ve shared as much of that as possible over the past 75 editions of Winformation Weekly, but today I probably share the most fundamental mindset shift any founder has to make to scale a successful business.

Pens at the ready... today’s One Idea to Win in Business is an important one.

So much chatter on socials these last couple of years about “comparison”. Don’t compare yourself to others?

Mate, you're literally writing this on social media... the home of comparison.

Too much is clearly not healthy. But none at all? That’s not right either. We’re human.

We have been comparing ourselves since the Stone Age, I’m sure. His cave is way bigger than mine!

I think a little comparison is essential to a successful life. Would a silver medallist not compare their performance against the gold medal winner?

In today’s One Idea to Win in Life, we walk the comparison tight rope.

One Idea to Win in Business

Something to Unlock Scale

The Golden Lesson to Scale That Most Founders Miss

15 long years into this now and there are so many lessons. BUT...I’ll be honest there is a common trait in business that really smash it, and one common trait in business that seems (from the outside at least) to stay frozen in time year after year same size, and same issues.

Let me explain...

Every business has five stakeholders:

1. The team

2. The clients

3. Your competitors and others from your industry

4. The community

5. The founder/CEO

I’ve learned over the past 15 years that the order of importance in which you see these 5 groups will often determine the success of the business.

Most companies put their clients first, of course, nothing wrong with that.

But unfortunately, some founders will install themselves (and their family) as the most important component. We all know someone like that.

They have “Business Owner” as their job title, name the business after themselves, take a 3 (or 4 day weekend) on the regular and when they do turn up, they sit in a glass office in the corner of the room.

…and companies like this always stay a certain size.

The team quite understandably run out of steam when the focus is to build someone else’s life.

For us, our number 1 priority has always been our team.

We OBSESS over their experience, their induction, their training,and their development.

We have built a team of over 100 people…which means as one of the founders, I’m not the boss of 100, I HAVE 100 bosses.

That’s the mindset shift we just don’t see enough in business that want to scale, which is why 90% of business never see it past a team of 10.

But what about the clients?

Well, a happy, highly trained, highly productive, totally aligned team of over 100 people are all on the same mission.

…To build better teams for our clients and provide incredible experience for our candidates. We obsess over the team, they obsess over the client, together we obsess over the mission. Every detail, every day.

How do we do this? It’s not one silver bullet; it’s a hundred things all done very well. What’s important isn’t what we do, it’s the philosophy behind doing it.

There is no right or wrong to the order of the stakeholders above, but the successful businesses, the ones that grow, the ones that impact the market will have the founder at the bottom.

But here’s the magic, by putting yourself last and everyone else ahead of you, your company grows faster and bigger than the “bosses” that see themselves as the most important...it’s one of those strange reverse lessons that take 15 years to work out!

One Idea to Win in Life

Something to Measure Progress

Using Comparison as a Tool Not a Weapon

Comparison is one of the quickest ways to kill momentum. It doesn't announce itself on the scene with a big “hiya, I’m here!”, comparison, “nice to meet you, now how would you like me to kill your vibe?”

It creeps in, conversation by conversation, scroll by scroll. But like cortisol, too much is bad news, not enough and really, you're missing out on an opportunity.

So, it's a tight rope... let’s walk it.

Step 1. Compare direction, not distance

The most useful comparison is not how far ahead someone is, but where they are heading. Distance is distorted by timing, resources and context. Direction tells you whether you are even playing the same game.

If someone is five years ahead but building something you do not actually want, the comparison is irrelevant.

Use comparison to sense check the satnav for location not speed!

Step 2. Compare systems, not outcomes

Outcomes are lagging indicators. Systems are the cause. When you see someone doing well, ignore the headline result and look underneath it. How do they structure their week? How do they make decisions? What do they repeat consistently?

Be brave, reach out and ask them maybe.

It will turn comparison from envy into something to learn.

Step 3. Compare effort to opportunity

A useful question is not why are they further ahead? But are they doing something I am unwilling to do? Longer hours. Fewer comforts. More risk. More reps.

Success leaves clues!

Step 4. Compare today to your own yesterday

This is the anchor. External comparisons should teach you something, not dominate your mind. Your primary scoreboard is personal progress.

If you are better than you were, comparison is doing its job.

Remember my pillow test from last week?

That’s the tightrope.

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!