One idea to Build your Business, one idea to Scale your life. Every Wednesday.

Welcome to Winformation Weekly. My 13 years’ experience of growing a business from £0-£100m, and the life that goes with it. All wrapped up, in one winning weekly email.

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Winformation this week...

Ever felt like a small decision could change everything? In today’s One Idea to Win in Business I tell you about the time we made the decision to hire someone and it all started with a letter I didn't want to open. What followed was a £109,000 cheque, and a big lesson in business and a reminder that the biggest break throughs often come in the things we avoid.  

Dr Alia Crum is a mindset expert from Stanford University. She produced an amazing bit of research into how the Navy Seals use stress as a benefit to their mindset and their outcome. The study is 50 pages long, but don’t worry I got you. The key takeaway as to how you could implement this in your life is below in today’s One Idea to Win in Life.  

One Idea to Win in Business

The One Finance Decision That Saved My Business Six Figures and the Lesson That Came With It!

Come with me on a little adventure into my story book that brings with it a huge lesson for business and life.

A few years back, we brought in a financial consultant to audit our finance procedures. He was a former Finance Director for a large recruitment company before branching out as a consultant. Over three months, he went through everything with a fine-tooth comb and, frankly, found more holes than an old dartboard. At the end of the project, the other Directors were keen to bring him on permanently as our Finance Director. 

Now, I loved the guy and valued the work he had done, but I was hesitant. We had a team of about 30 at the time, whereas his previous company had closer to 300. Did we really need a full-time Finance Director yet? Aside from the big cost we hadn't been used to, would he get excited by working for a company 10 times smaller than his previous one? 

After much debate, we decided to bite the bullet and hire him. A couple of weeks later, I was at my parents’ house for my weekly roast dinner when I noticed a letter from HMRC sitting on the table. It had been sent to my brother’s address from the days when we used his garage as our business HQ. He had given it to my parents to pass on to me.  

Now, anyone who knows me knows I hate opening post, especially brown envelopes from HMRC. So it sat there. For a week. Then another. And another. Finally, after about a month, my dad asked, “Why don’t you just open this letter?” 

I shrugged and said, “Dad, brown letters from HMRC never bring good news. It is Sunday. I want a stress-free day. I will take it to work and open it tomorrow.” 

Which I did. And there it was. A cheque from HMRC for £109,000 which had been sat on their sideboard for a month! 

Turns out, we had been overpaying our tax by mistake. Gavin, our new Finance Director, had spotted the error and immediately filed for a refund. His first task had netted us over £100k and ensured the leaky bucket in our tax planning was plugged.  

Lesson learned.  

One Idea to Win in Life

What Navy SEALs Know About Stress That Could Change Your Life

Let’s be real: life is stressful. Whether you're grinding at work, building your business, or just trying to get through your day without losing it, stress is part of the package. But what if I told you the secret to overcoming these challenges isn’t about reducing stress, but how you perceive it? Dr Alia Crum’s study on Navy SEALs published in Frontiers in Psychology showed that your mindset towards stress can seriously impact your success.  

Stress Doesn’t Have to Be the Enemy 

In fact, it can be your best friend. SEAL candidates who saw stress as something that fuels growth were more successful. In the business world, that’s a total game-changer. Instead of viewing stress as something to avoid, think of it as a motivator. Embracing stress as an opportunity rather than a threat helps you stay sharp, focused, and ready to take on the world - without crumbling under pressure. 

Your Mindset Shapes Your Performance 

Your attitude towards stress plays a big part in how you handle it. The SEAL study found that those who viewed stress as a tool for growth developed better coping strategies. They stayed calm, looked for solutions, and didn’t let stress derail them. Whether it’s a tough work project or a business hurdle, you’ve got a choice: let the stress take over, or use it to fuel your problem-solving skills. The better option? Use it to keep pushing forward. 

Resilience is a Skill, Not a Trait 

Here’s the kicker: resilience isn’t something you’re born with - it’s something you develop. The research showed that SEALs who shifted their mindset became more resilient. The same goes for you. By viewing stress as a growth opportunity, you’ll build your own resilience and handle whatever comes your way. If the SEALs can handle it, so can you. 

Your Body Responds to Your Beliefs 

When you see stress as a positive, your body actually responds better. SEALs who viewed stress as helpful had healthier physiological responses - less cortisol, more energy. The bottom line? Your mindset affects not just your mood but your physical health too. Manage stress with the right mindset, and you’ll avoid burnout while achieving your goals. 

Until next week! 

Let’s win, together!