Category: Business

1. What services do you provide?

2. How does your fee structure work?

3. What kinds of clients/industires do you work with?

4. What accounting software do you support?

5. How do you communicate?

6. Will I always deal with you?

How to lead leaders

I have been working with the Airwallex team to bring the startup, business and entrepreneur community resources to assist growth. When there is so much to do, often what makes the difference is not what you do, but why you do it. For years business educators have spoken of working ‘on’ your business rather than ‘in’ the business. But that is easier said than done.

As part of this wonderful content series called ‘choose growth’ I wanted to break down the steps on ‘how’ to do it. In practical real terms.

In this most recent post on the Four Steps to Leading Leaders. (ie we want all our team members to be self-starters) I cover off the following points.

Step 1: Identifying as a Leader

Often we fall into being a leader of people, not just in business but within family or community and there is a difference between leadership and management. In this section I help you work out where you are on the spectrum (and you can be and often need to be both).

Step 2: Knowing your strengths and weaknesses

It is so important to develop self-awareness, easier said than done but I wanted to give you some tools to help here. Also to know you and your team’s unique contribution. Everyone needs to play to their strengths and you need to recognise you can’t do everything. One of the hard things to do in letting go is to develop accountability structures around you in a way that helps you learn from those outcomes.

Step 3: Gathering: The Why

I ask you to challenge yourself here and give yourself permission to dream. Often if we don’t know how to do something then we limit our vision to what we can see before us. Once you have developed your future state then it is just as important to communicate that effectively and succinctly to those around you.

Step 4: Guiding: The What and The How

Setting the strategy is not has hard nor as complex as people often think. So in this section I give you the six essentials to a good strategy document. And you are not writing war and peace here. The shorter the better in many ways. Remember it is all about gathering people around you to ‘believe’ in your ‘why’.

This is not a time to be a ‘reluctant’ leader. We need people throughout our businesses to step up and be really clear about vision and values.

Your number one job as a leader is NOT to do the work, but to set strategy. And you do this simply with three words

Vision Values and Alignment.

Watch the video here too.

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Also published on Medium.

The U.S Senate Finance Committee, led by Republicans, revealed the proposal for President Donald Trump’s “Big, Beautiful Bill,” including massive cuts to Medicaid and tax provisions, CNN reports. 

The committee is one of several racing to get their versions released in an effort for the House and Senate to work out a final deal so it can reach Trump’s desk by July 4. With sudden cuts to Medicaid, this may be one of the most crucial votes to hit the Senate floor. 

Provisions would impose a limit on the number of states to increase provider taxes on specific healthcare providers. With hospitals being in question, the percentage would drop to 3.5% by 2031 from the current 6% limit. But it would only apply to the 40 states and Washington, D.C., that expanded Medicaid to underprivileged adults in low-income communities.

For states that failed to expand the program, primarily GOP-led states, a cap would be placed on increasing the rate of their current provider taxes. 

Conservatives argued that the states would use the taxes in hopes of receiving additional federal Medicaid funds. Minority members of the committee—all Democrats—feel the deal would hinder hospitals, especially those in rural areas and persons of color in underprivileged communities. 

Medicaid cuts have been an ongoing battle, with communities of color facing major disadvantages.

According to data from the Economic Policy Institute, Black and Hispanic individuals are more likely to lean on Medicaid for health coverage. However, in 2023, people of the same demographic under the age of 65 had the lowest rate of uninsured individuals, at 9.7% and 17.9%. The Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, made sure that Medicaid was expanded and helped the uninsured rate for Black and Hispanic people drop by more than 10% between 2010 and 2023. 

Outside of Medicaid cuts, some new additions are not sitting well with recipients and members of Congress. The new bill implements work requirements in the program for the first time. Provisions would require parents with children aged 15 and older to work, volunteer, be enrolled in school, or participate in job training for a minimum of 80 hours per month to maintain their Medicaid benefits. 

Advocates for disabled employees are concerned that such provisions will limit employment opportunities, putting the disabled at risk of losing their benefits. While conservative lawmakers argue that the new rule will crack down on fraud, according to CBS News, even those who have exemptions under the law could risk a loss due to increased or more stringent paperwork mandates.

Outside of work requirements, the Congressional Budget Office said changes to the program could lead to more people losing their coverage, resulting in an increase in the number of uninsured Americans to 7.8 million by 2034.

RELATED CONTENT: Beyond the NFL: Michael Vick, DeSean Jackson Lead HBCUs To Lincoln Financial Field

Becoming a first-time parent is one of those transformative life experiences that fundamentally reshapes your perspective. As a CEO and a new father, my world recently flipped upside down, in the best possible way. Fatherhood brings immense joy, but it also introduces a whole new set of challenges around balancing motivation, delegation, mental fitness, opportunity pursuit and time management.

For leaders accustomed to full-throttle work, the transition to parenthood can seem daunting. Yet, if navigated thoughtfully, it can strengthen your leadership capabilities, sharpen your strategic thinking and enhance your personal growth.

Related: 5 Ways Becoming a New Dad Has Made Me a Better Leader

Finding motivation in new priorities

One immediate impact of parenthood is an evolution in what motivates you. Prior to becoming a father, my drive was predominantly professional — launching products, hitting revenue targets, scaling teams. But fatherhood quickly reshapes priorities, anchoring your motivations around family stability, long-term security and creating a legacy that extends beyond the boardroom.

Take Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, who openly shares how becoming a parent changed his outlook. After the birth of his daughters, Zuckerberg notably increased his commitment to philanthropy, dedicating significant resources toward initiatives aimed at improving education, health and community well-being. Parenthood encouraged him to think deeply about the broader societal impact of his work, showing that new motivations born from family can profoundly enhance leadership.

Mastering the art of delegation

As a first-time parent, your available time shrinks drastically. Suddenly, the hours you could freely dedicate to your startup narrow significantly, requiring a greater reliance on delegation. This constraint, though initially frustrating, is actually a hidden gift, forcing you to become a better, more efficient leader.

Elon Musk, founder of Tesla and SpaceX, openly discusses his approach to delegating critical tasks after becoming a father to multiple children. Musk stresses the importance of building strong, capable teams to whom you can confidently delegate substantial responsibilities. As a CEO, the necessity to delegate effectively is heightened by parenthood, compelling you to empower your team more intentionally and thus accelerating organizational growth.

Related: How I Started a Business and Had a Baby in One Year Without Going (Completely) Insane

Staying mentally fit and sharp

Balancing the demands of parenthood and leadership requires impeccable mental fitness. Sleep deprivation, emotional stress and shifting priorities can test your mental resilience. However, by establishing routines that prioritize mental health, you not only become a better parent but also a more effective CEO.

Meditation, regular exercise and deliberate rest become non-negotiables rather than luxuries. Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter and Square, has often spoken about how mindful practices such as meditation became integral to his routine after significant life shifts. These routines sharpen decision-making capabilities, increase emotional intelligence and foster resilience, all critical to both effective parenting and leadership.

Aggressively pursuing opportunities with new constraints

While parenthood introduces constraints, it also teaches efficiency in pursuing opportunities. With limited hours, every minute of work becomes more strategic, targeted and intentional. Parenthood can clarify what truly matters, pushing you to aggressively chase the right opportunities rather than simply every opportunity.

Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit and father to Olympia, has been vocal about how parenthood refined his perspective on work and investments. His advocacy for parental leave and family-friendly policies also opened new professional avenues aligned with his personal values, demonstrating that parenthood can help clarify and focus your professional pursuits.

Balancing work, life and legacy

Ultimately, balancing parenthood and CEO responsibilities isn’t about compartmentalizing your life into work and family boxes. It’s about creating harmony and recognizing how each role enriches the other. Parenthood expands your empathy, enhances your strategic thinking and deepens your understanding of long-term planning.

Jeff Bezos famously prioritizes family breakfasts, maintaining that quality time with family sets a positive tone for his professional engagements. These habits create an integrated, sustainable approach to balancing responsibilities, ensuring that neither your business nor your family suffers at the expense of the other.

Related: What Entrepreneurship and Parenthood Taught Me About Empathy

Looking forward

Becoming a first-time parent as a CEO is undeniably challenging. It demands significant adjustments in how you delegate, prioritize, maintain your mental health and pursue opportunities. Yet, this life-changing experience is not just a personal milestone but an extraordinary professional advantage. Parenthood shapes you into a leader who is more focused, empathetic, strategic and resilient.

To fellow CEOs entering parenthood for the first time: Embrace the challenge. Recognize that your experiences as a parent don’t detract from your role as a CEO; they elevate it. By thoughtfully integrating parenthood into your leadership style, you can achieve greater professional success while nurturing a fulfilling, meaningful family life.

I’ve never had to build a shift schedule, approve PTO, or chase someone down because they forgot to clock in. (more…)

Most sales outreach fails. Not because reps aren’t trying hard enough, but because they’re saying the wrong things at the wrong time.

(more…)

Israel’s airstrikes have caused considerable damage to Iran’s nuclear program. The full impact of these strikes is still being evaluated by experts. This situation poses a significant challenge for both the US and Israel as they deliberate on their next course of action.

What Happened: According to a report on Saturday, the airstrikes launched by Israel have resulted in significant damage to Iran’s nuclear facilities. However, experts are of the opinion that these strikes have not entirely wiped out the program. 

Rafael Mariano Grossi, the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, revealed that while the surface facilities at Natanz, Iran’s primary nuclear-fuel site, were destroyed, the main underground halls where uranium enrichment occurs are still operational, reports Bloomberg.

In retaliation to the attacks, Iran targeted Israeli cities with hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones. The strikes also resulted in the death of nine top scientists who were instrumental to Iran’s nuclear aspirations.

These developments have cast a shadow over the future of US-Iran talks that aim to limit Tehran’s nuclear activities in return for relief from sanctions.

Also Read: Intel Clues Hidden in Pizza Orders? Pentagon Orders Surged Just Before Israel Hit Iran

Experts have expressed concerns that the airstrikes could complicate the monitoring of Iran’s nuclear activities, as inspectors backed by the UN may not be able to access the sites for an extended period.

Fears are also mounting that Iran might move uranium to a hidden location or that the IAEA may not be able to account for all of Iran’s nuclear materials due to the damage inflicted.

The current situation puts the US in a tight spot, as the only feasible way to destroy the enrichment site at Fordow, which is located beneath a mountain, would be through the use of massive bunker-buster bombs, a weapon that only the US possesses.

Why It Matters: The recent airstrikes and their aftermath have heightened tensions in the Middle East, with potential global implications. The future of US-Iran talks hangs in the balance, and the potential for further escalation remains high.

The situation calls for careful diplomacy and strategic decision-making from all involved parties.

Read Next

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Looking to grow? It’s all about the cash flow

Every business owner knows cash is king. But many find themselves on the back foot managing their cash flow just to keep their head above water.

What if you have growth ambitions? How do you set the business up financially to make strategic investments or seize opportunities?

Educate yourself. It is not enough to say, “oh, my accountant does it.”  No matter how much we value their input, it is really up to us. Only we can make the decisions of how we allocate cash (and time) to what projects.

Make sure you take advantage of the myriad of courses available for you to skill yourself up and become cash flow confident.

What does it mean to becoming cashflow ‘confident’?

1. An understanding of cash flow
2. Knowing where your cash is
3. Channelling the cash appropriately to extract the best value

Your time (and energy) are as important. Keep your eye on the big picture and make sure you’re investing your own time where it has the most impact. Perhaps you could think of this a ‘ROTI’ (Return on Time Invested)

You have probably heard of the adage, “work on the business, not ‘in’ it.” But what should you do when you find yourself on the treadmill?

I often say, you know, who owns your business? Do you own the business or does it own you? And if it owns you, it’s really time to have a talk to yourself.

By channelling your cash into operations or investment, you can choose who and what time to make available. 

These choices enable you to outsource the elements of your business that you loathe and assist you to focus on the ones you love where time is money and money is time.

I’ve got a lot more to say on this topic. You can dig deeper with this recent video interview I did with Airwallex. I hope these insights work as well for you as they did for me.

For more information on the #choosegrowth campaign with Airwallex click here

 

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Also published on Medium.

U.S. Rep. Stacey Plaskett (D-VI) took the time to remind Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent that she is not like her other colleagues and will not be interrupted during a House committee hearing. 

The tense exchange took place June 11 as Bessent was being grilled about a number of things concerning America’s economic status. When Plaskett noted how the stock market has dropped since President Donald Trump took over the Oval Office, the treasury secretary interrupted with claims that her reporting was “incorrect” — but he learned not to do it again. “Let me get something straight with you first here. I’ve seen you interrupt everyone,” Plaskett said. 

“When you come to someone’s house, you respect their rules, and in this house, we don’t interrupt individuals, and you’re not going to interrupt my time.” 

Plaskett to Bessent: “Excuse me. Let me get something straight with you. I’ve seen you interrupt everyone. When you come to someone’s house, you respect their rules. And in this house, we don’t interrupt individuals. And you’re not going to interrupt my time.” pic.twitter.com/ZfO8JtrYds

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 11, 2025

As Bessent seemed to be taking her stance as a joke, cleaning his glasses as she scolded him, Plaskett gave him some advice on what he could do in the meantime. “I’m going to give you time to respond. You may want to jot down some notes about things that you don’t agree with me on so you can respond to them at that time,” she continued. 

“But while I am speaking as the person holding this time, you will refrain from speaking, sir, until I am done, and then I will give you time to speak, okay?” 

Bessent responded, saying, “I look forward to the facts.” 

According to NJ.com, the Treasury leader claims the stock market has been up since the first day of 2025, with reference to the S&P 500 index. When Trump took office on Jan. 20, the S&P 500 closed at $6,049.24 just one day later. As of June 11, it closed at $6,038.81. He blamed a staffer who may have presented incorrect information, resulting in the exchange. “Well, first of all, I would fire the staffer who did that chart because it stopped in February 2025, and prices are down substantially since then. But that’s an inconvenient truth,” he said. 

“Secondly, the S&P, if the congresswoman would care to check Bloomberg, the stock market as judged by the S&P, which is the most widely held index by Americans’ 401(k)s, is up on the year.” 

As the video went viral on social media, Plaskett was met with misogynistic comments, claiming her “PMS cycle” may have been synced. However, like the exchange, she took the time to respond, saying the cabinet member was out of control. 

Excuse you!! This twat, cunt, pum pum whatever you want to call it represents an organ that gives LIFE and is resilienr so thanks for the compliment. I can take one interruption but Bessent was out of control. And…. I know I look good for my age but baby I’m post menopausal and… https://t.co/04jSJPVknP

— Rep. Stacey Plaskett (@StaceyPlaskett) June 11, 2025

Bessent responded to the clip on X stating, “This is the People’s House. And the people deserve to hear the facts.” And the facts are, according to a report released by the Labor Department, that prices for consumers went up by 2.4% in May 2025 in comparison to May 2024.

RELATED CONTENT: DEL. PLASKETT SLAMS QUALIFIED IMMUNITY, CALLS IT MODERN-DAY KKK POLICE