This week has been another belter for me - I met a billionaire and had a thought.

Not just any thought, but another master theory in our quest to understand what it is that makes certain people more successful than most.

The thought, or theory, was so powerful that I want to dedicate this whole letter to it.

However, before I divulge further, it’s not every week I get cosy with a billionaire.

Are ‘Isms’ the Entrepreneur’s Secret Sauce?

Are one or two, perhaps even three, 'isms' the key to cracking the code of success?

I believe they might be.

Do the personality quirks of a select few hold the essence of what gives successful individuals their edge?

I have an insatiable appetite for books and podcasts featuring those who have achieved greatness; these individuals often exhibit peculiarities.

Is it a coincidence? I think Not.

Good morning, the regulars of this scribe will know that last week there was a missing chapter from an otherwise perfect run of hits!

I apologise to you all; I was simply done.

I don’t mind admitting that this week I have been absolutely wiped out by an awful bug.

I felt so ill that I couldn’t sleep, all while keeping up with my duties at work. Devilishly difficult!

It’s during times like these that you find out whether you truly have responsibilities!

Here’s a corker for you!

In all my years of working out this whole business game - the game I think we’re all trying to conquer.

I’ve discovered there’s one trick that moves mountains more than anything else.

Move over, Penn and Teller; I’ll show you how it’s done.

If you want to know it, stick around, sailor, and I’ll shine a light on my secret to success.

I keep seeing and hearing the phrase “a path less traveled.”

I encounter it in audiobooks, conversations, and podcasts. Funny how something can take over your personal zeitgeist.

Maybe it’s because I feel the strain of walking the less-traveled path that resonates with me; some days, more than others, I don’t want help or sympathy. I just wish the path could be downhill instead of up!

“I’ll be the judge of that.”

One of the luckiest streaks in my life is not the deals I’ve done, the ideas I’ve had, the tenacity to carry on when it’s been so devilishly tough, or the place I was born or even having the hunger to carry on in tough times, all these are traits of the rare few - lucky though those things are.

I have learned so much about Mergers and Acquisitions, and the best part about looking at companies for sale is the learning experience.

You gain the best insights, tips, and tricks.

Each time I evaluate a potential acquisition, I come away with cost-saving ideas, improved efficiencies, and a new network of contacts. I love it.

If you’re thinking of hiring in the new year and the increase in National Insurance contributions feels like chump change to you - especially if you're looking for candidates in leadership roles - I’ve got some killer tips.

Opportunity came knocking on my door this week. Again.

At this rate, I’m going to need some more doors!

It’s not the right time for this opportunity – is it ever?

I have a lot going on, and I don’t have the spare cash for this opportunity.

My senses went into overdrive on this one. I knew I would have to make it happen.

Let’s cut to the chase; I need to admit something… I’ve got an addiction to growth.

I do more than most. I worry about time running out; I feel I have to put my abilities to work.

My loved ones and I are lucky that it wasn’t an addiction to something like narcotics or gambling.

We all have our tipple, don’t we?

All entrepreneurs experience it at some point.

When I was 26 years old, I was struck by immense anxiety.

It knocked on the door unexpectedly, and much like an unwelcome relative at Christmas, it was tough to get rid of.

Here’s the strange thing: on paper, I had it all.

For the first time since leaving home as a teenager, I felt “together.”

Up until then, it had been go, go, go – no time to think.

The trouble was, suddenly, I didn’t feel great.

I couldn’t figure out why.

Desire is in all of us.

It may be weight loss, love, travel, health, riches, children, happiness, or success; these are just a few of the things that humans desire.

The real conundrum is: why is it that some of us achieve more of what we want in a day, a week, ten years, or a lifetime than others?

What is the trick that some people have up their sleeves to revel in winning at their life desires?

I have a rule, which I am about to break: “never do religion or politics.”

For me to work, and for my companies to work, I need fellow entrepreneurs around to make the economy tick.

Take the energy away from an economy and it’s curtains. We become a nice place to go for a city break.

Here’s my plea ahead of Budget day…

When buying a business, you must communicate effectively to alleviate fears and conjure up excitement for the future.

But tinker carefully, putting innovation before revolution.

Learning how to acquire and manage deals is absolutely crucial for long-term success as an entrepreneur. 

Here’s how I do just that…

There are really only three reasons you’re not getting to where you want to be with your business. 

These are constraints that hold you back. But there are a few companies that have overcome them.

When they do, in many cases, they rule the world. Here’s how you can do the same…

I have often claimed that real success in life is down to the quality of how we think. Thinking better can give you absolute leverage in success.

The trouble is that we’re tribal as a race. We follow poor thinking too often—very often by the people closest to us.

But just a few simple words, when composed together well, can stop us to really think.

These are some of the words I live by in business…

I desperately try to live by the phrase: “I’m here for a good time, not a long time.”

Whatever way you look at it, you’re not here for a long time - not at all.

I believe that living to leave a good legacy to the world is ego at its finest.

But legacy is one of the forms of ego I can allow. Here’s why…

We are a product of our environments; the way we think, act, and behave. It’s a fact.

The trick we must learn is to know who we should and shouldn’t listen to - and when.

Deploying your time effectively is the key to mastering entrepreneurship.

Time is your most precious resource. Guard it like you're an MI6 agent protecting the king.

Here’s how I do it…

What’s better - buying a business or starting one from scratch?

Which ones make more money? What sets you up for profitability much quicker?

I’ve tried both methods and learned which is best. Here’s what I’ve found…

Life serves me shortcuts and laziness at every corner, and it will for you too.

I urge you to avoid this cancer. It serves up short term happiness.

Discipline and good habits are essential ingredients that make a great business owner. It’s what makes anything good in life.

We must revel in difficulties. It’s where we’re made…