MrJoe in Audio

"Mastering the Art of Unplugging: A CEO's Guide to Vacation"  Dive into this enlightening session with Joe as he reveals the secrets to truly disconnecting and enjoying your vacation. Uncover the art of setting boundaries and expectations with your team, the importance of rigorous planning, and the need to resist the urge to check emails or work updates. Learn how to establish clear communication...

Join David Bizer and myself in a session where we unravel the intricacies of modern leadership and the art of onboarding.  We engage in a thought-provoking discussion about shifting from expectations to agreements in the realm of high-level management, crucial for C-suite dynamics.  The conversation pivots to the evolving role of CEOs, emphasising the transition from traditional command-and-contro...

Joe introduces the concept of 'Bonsai Success,' a metaphor for underachievement within organizations. He shares an experience with a major European bank that launched a challenger bank, aimed to compete with rising startups like Monzo. Despite the initial vision, the project didn’t reach its full potential, resembling more of a 'bonsai' than a 'majestic pine tree.' This term, 'Bonsai Success,' ref...

Joe Leech on Closing the Loop - Mastering the Art of Completing TasksIn this insightful talk, Joe explores the concept of 'closing loops' in both personal and professional contexts. He begins by illustrating a common scenario where a task is assigned but not followed up, creating what he calls an 'open loop'. These open loops, Joe explains, can cause unnecessary stress and cognitive load, as they...

The Common Complaint: Nothing Gets Done Today, we're delving into a frequent lament I hear from CEOs: "We just can't seem to get anything done!" When we dig into the issue, we often find that it's not about not getting things done, but about what kind of tasks are getting done. And here, a simple metaphor, the concept of a glass jar, comes into play. Sand, Pebbles, and Rocks: Organizational Priori...

Joe addresses a common yet profound question he often encounters: "What does it actually mean to be a CEO?" This query, posed by leaders from early-stage founders to CEOs of major publicly listed companies, reflects the universal uncertainty in the corporate world about the role of a CEO. He delves into this topic with a more formal and educational tone, explaining that the essence of being a CEO...

Let's dive into the world of strategy.  Ever wonder why some strategies succeed and others falter? It's often a tale of two key players: the visionaries and the executors.  Visionaries are the dreamers with big ideas, while executors are the doers who turn these ideas into reality. However, a great vision alone isn't enough.  You need skills, incentives, resources, and a solid action plan. Missing...

Laying the tracks vs Running the trains In leadership, individuals tend to excel in one of two areas: laying the tracks or running the trains. Those who lay the tracks are the visionaries. They bring new ideas to life, start businesses, and create markets. They possess a unique ability to imagine what could be, without being constrained by the current reality. On the other hand, those who run the...

Better to be bold than boring Working with people who lead companies, I see that the best ones don't just go along with how things always are. They dare to do things differently. Take Toby, for instance. He's shaking up how we use cars, making it so you can subscribe to a car like a magazine. It's a big change and not easy, but he's going for it. Then there's Jeff, who used to help run a big websi...

Let's address the elephant in the room: Not every day is going to be a show-stopper, and that's okay. Most days? They're going to be average, and you know what? That's perfectly fine. This pressure cooker environment we find ourselves in, thanks to social media and those glossy, over-the-top success stories, sometimes make us feel that if we aren't reaching for the stars every single day, then we'...

Let's ponder on something today. Are we simply bouncing back like a reactive pinball in this game of life? Or are we taking charge and shaping our path with intent? It's time for a self-check. If our days are mostly spent waiting for the next email alert, or that unexpected Zoom call – then maybe, just maybe, we're on the reactive side of things. But hold up, it's not all doom and gloom! If we cat...

Let's get to the heart of stress. A recent chat with a CEO friend brought up a clear-cut idea from Jeff Bezos: stress pops up when we avoid what we shouldn't. So, what's on your list? What's eating at you? Ignoring things only piles on the stress. Let's face it, it's easier to address it head-on. Start simple. Make a list, share it, and tackle it bit by bit. Remember, facing the problem takes less...

Ever thought about the massive shift in what it means to be a CEO today versus, say, 60 years ago? We're in the era where businesses morph from startups to billion-dollar behemoths in the blink of an eye. The playbook has changed, folks, and we're here to dive into it! Gone are the days when leadership was just about hierarchy and command. Us modern CEOs, we're facing a landscape where success isn...

The Secret to Effective Leadership Every leader has a favourite question that they often resort to. The one question that I've found most effective — a secret I'm happy to share — is one that the best leaders I've encountered also frequently use. The Scenario: Addressing the Symptom, Not the Disease Let's consider a recent situation. A Chief Marketing Officer approaches the CEO, venting about the...

The Fear Factor in Leadership When asked about fear, most CEOs I work with deny experiencing it. This denial usually indicates two scenarios: they are either genuinely not feeling fear, which can often signify boredom, or they are suppressing their fear, refusing to acknowledge it. However, it's important to understand fear as a potential catalyst for growth, and there are models that explain this...

Navigating Life After Success: The Paradox of Purpose for Exited Founders The Dream and Reality of Success We've all daydreamed about the perfect retirement — comfortably settling down after achieving grand success and making that big exit. Yet, what happens after you've achieved that dream? The reality is that success brings with it a new set of challenges, particularly for founders who've recent...

AI - A Wave or The Rising Tide? Hello, everyone! In today's conversation, we're discussing Artificial Intelligence (AI). There's a lot of excitement about AI, but also a considerable amount of fear. Some fear the unknown, while others fear missing out on the potential opportunities. To better understand AI's place, we can draw parallels with the industrial revolution. Consider when steam mills in...

Today, I want to discuss two critical people that we, especially as CEOs, should aim to impress: our 8-year-old selves and our 80-year-old selves. Your 8-Year-Old Self Think back to when you were eight, full of dreams and ambitions, and ask yourself: would your 8-year-old self be impressed with what you're doing now? I've met many CEOs who made the leap from mundane work to chasing their real pass...

The Unexpected Offer Today, I'd like to share an enlightening story from a group I run for CEO founders who are preparing to sell their businesses. One founder was casually offered $50 million over lunch to sell his company to a competitor. The offer came out of the blue, but he had a number in mind and threw it out: $50 million. The other CEO was agreeable. Suddenly, he found himself on the path...

Hello everyone! Today, I want to talk about a boss that many founders and CEOs struggle with. Surprisingly, this boss isn't a board member, investor, or co-founder—it's the one inside their heads. This inner boss often leads to overwork, burnout, and even self-doubt. Signs Your Inner Boss is An 'Arsehole' Many leaders work 60-hour weeks, sacrifice weekends, and push themselves to the brink of burn...

From Engineer to CEO: A Unique Journey Hello there! In this video, we'll walk you through a unique journey — from being an engineer to becoming a CEO. It's a fascinating transformation, filled with challenges, learning curves, and most importantly, growth. The Bus-Umbrella Analogy First, let's dive into a brilliant analogy — the Bus and the Umbrella. Now, imagine every situation or problem as eith...

The Primary Role of a CEO: Creating Conditions for Success As CEOs, we're often asked what our primary focus or job is. Upon reflection, it all boils down to one thing - creating the conditions for success. Success Isn't Guaranteed, But It Can Be Cultivated You can't guarantee sales, annual recurring revenue, or monthly recurring revenue. You can't assure that money will come pouring in. What you...

Every CEO has wondered, "What would happen if I took a vacation? Would the business grind to a halt?" In today's episode, we explore this common worry among leaders and unravel the reality behind it. The CEO's Fear: Increased Productivity in their Absence Often, leaders fear that their absence will negatively impact the business. But a more unsettling thought is: what if productivity actually incr...

Videos for all these episodes are on  my YouTube channel . If you enjoy my content and you want to get in touch to find out how I could work with you, or someone you know, you can reach me at: My LinkedIn Page Or you can  drop me an email.