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...

I have a confession to make. I've been sat on a very effective business problem solving technique for 2 years or more and haven't shared it with you. Not because I think our competitors will steal it...I mean they copy everything else we do, usually with 10% of the quality and 5% of the budget...(don't rant, don't rant)...but because I thought it was too well known and commonly used already to include in Winformation Weekly. That was, until I shared it with a mate at festival last weekend. He runs a business with many hundreds of thousands of customers and when I told him, a little light bulb went off. So, below in today’s One Idea to Win in Business I spell it out step by step. It’s so useful I’ve also included it as a working checklist in the Victory Vault. Link to download at the bottom of this email.  

Ever wondered how some people seem to start well in life or in business, and then simply “go bust”. I think social media and pressures to “look successful” have played a huge part. These people are suffering with the Diderot Effect. Below in today’s One Idea to Win in Life I explain what this is, and how to avoid it at all costs. Diderot is not your mate.  

One Idea to Win in Business

The Problem-Solving Method I Wish I’d Found Sooner Plus Free Workbook

Big up my cofounder James who suggested this method of problem solving about 2 years ago.  

Remember this works for a big problem you are struggling to overcome or a positive challenge you would love to accomplish. It’s called “Forced Ideation” or the “25 Solution Method”. I have created a downloadable working checklist for this. Link in the Victory Vault at the bottom of this email.  

1. Clearly Define Your Problem or Challenge: In no more than 3 sentences write your problem clearly on a piece of paper at the top. Use plain language that people from outside your industry would understand.

2. List 25 Possible Solutions: This can take some time, and you may have to start, then come back later to continue. Get your subconscious brain working on the problem and make a note of any solution that pops into your head whilst you are away from the page.  

3. Keep Adding: Keep adding to the list when ideas come to you. Copy up the rough notes from your phone that have popped into your head when you have been driving or in the shower. Soon you will have 25. It may well be a painful process but worth it.  

4. Why 25? The idea is that the first 5 ideas will be easy, probably ones you have even tried before and maybe not stuck to. Ideas 6-15 will be more of a challenge. Ideas 16-20 tougher still and ideas you may never have usually thought of. By ideas 21-25 you’re often writing down things that seem ridiculous or impossible but those can trigger surprisingly useful or innovative insights. 

   It’s a way to bypass the brain’s tendency to settle too early on a “good enough” answer and instead train creative problem-solving muscles.

5. Teamwork: Maybe you are working on a project with others. Maybe your business is you and your husband or girlfriend. Maybe you have a team of 20 people? Resist the urge to work together. Instead set everyone the same task. Give them 3 or 4-days thinking time. Book a meeting for day 5. Give everyone a pen and a stack of post-it notes. Encourage an all ideas are good ideas environment. One by one invite everyone to a wall or whiteboard to give one of their solutions. But you go first. Pick one of your worst ideas to start to make everyone feel comfortable. Solutions that are the same or similar group together on the wall. Keep going until everyone has shared their entire list. You will be amazed at some of the solutions and steps you now have in your toolbox.

6. Assessment: Which of the ideas are great, which are good, which not so good. Which ones are the priorities?

7. Habits v Projects: You will see from the ideas left that some are ideas need to be worked on repeatedly i.e. “call 10 potential customers a day”. Group these into a pile named “habits”. You will also notice that some solutions are one-off tasks. “Arrange a meeting with John and Jane”. Group these into a pile called “projects”. 

8. Plan: Final thing is putting this into a plan. Don’t delay. Keep up the momentum. Draw up a plan of who’s going to do what and when. Some people prefer repetitive tasks, some really love larger one-off projects. Assign accordingly. Put the task into their calendars and describe the desired outcome. Meet every 2-5 days depending on size of challenge to see where everyone is.

9. Share the Wins: When people have a breakthrough of any kind of success on the habit or task they are working on. Share this immediately with everyone else. This gives everyone a boost and people will start to believe that the issue or challenge you are looking to achieve is starting to become a reality. 

10. Celebrate Solving: When you have achieved the challenge or overcome the big problem, whichever this was for you. Take everyone out together that worked on it. Even if it's just you and a partner. People need to feel, experience and taste the victory. Maybe you could use that celebration to introduce the next challenge... 

Don’t forget, the free downloadable workbook on this is available in Victory Vault, link at the bottom!  

One Idea to Win in Life

The Diderot Effect: Success’s Hidden Downside & How to Avoid It

Ever wondered how promising businesses over stretch themselves, or “successful” people on social media all of sudden go very quiet and lose everything. It’s a common issue in both business and life. I’ve seen it happen and also (I’ll be honest) recognised it in myself in the past and changed course straight away. It has something to do with the Diderot Effect. It can creep up on the best of us. 

Here’s what it is:

The Diderot Effect describes how one new possession can trigger a spiral of further spending, as we feel the need to upgrade everything else to match. It comes from the story of French philosopher Denis Diderot, who, after receiving a luxurious robe, felt his old belongings looked shabby in comparison and replaced them all. The result wasn’t happiness but dissatisfaction and debt. The effect highlights how material upgrades rarely deliver lasting fulfilment and can trap us in endless consumption. Instead, being mindful of purchases helps us avoid chasing status symbols and focus on what truly adds value to life.

Here’s how the trap can play out:   

Business spending spiral: Just like Diderot upgrading everything to match his new robe, entrepreneurs can feel pressure to “level up” their business expenses after a win; fancy office, expensive software, flashy branding without considering if these costs actually fuel growth. 

Signal vs. substance: Entrepreneurs sometimes buy things to signal success (the car, the watch, the office space) rather than reinvesting in substance (talent, systems, customer experience). This creates the risk of looking successful while undermining real progress. 

Mindful scaling: The lesson is to celebrate wins without falling into the trap of constant upgrading. Just because your revenue increased doesn’t mean every aspect of your business needs to be “fancier.” Smart entrepreneurs use restraint, setting pre-determined limits and ensuring each expense has a purpose. 

The Diderot Effect isn’t just a philosophy lesson it’s a warning for entrepreneurs. One win can easily lead to a spending spiral sometimes you’re buying to look successful, not to be successful.  

Stay mindful, stay grounded and stay “normal” as long as you can (ha!) 

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!