In his book Outliers, Malcom Gladwell claims it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert at something. I guess I’m a slow learner, as it’s taken me a mere 148,000 hours to realise the opposite. Namely, that I’m not an expert at something. After running 3 businesses in 5 countries over ~17 years, I’ve come … Continue reading A Founder, Not A CEO
This article first appeared in the Winter 2016 edition of Waterlog Magazine. I once almost caught a trout between my legs. Aged 8 or 9, frolicking in a murky River Itchen, my Dad lifted me up out of the water by my arms and somehow my ankles ensnared an olive brown trout of about a … Continue reading Swangling
My name is Tom and I’m not an alcoholic. Picture the scene… It’s late, you’re tucked deep into an East Berlin bar with an old friend. The walls, bare and industrial, speak of deep conversation, of exploration of humanity and history. The candlelight suggest intimate conversations of art, of philosophy, of human connection. It’s a … Continue reading Alco-hole
A few months ago I was compelled to write an ‘open letter’ (http://bit.ly/1dkuwcA). I suggested I’d organise a ‘sleepathon’ in San Francisco in aid of the homeless. The response has been amazing – if we can get just a few more people to sign up, it looks this event will happen in September! If you’re … Continue reading San Francisco Sleepathon… is coming!
A few months ago I wrote this 'open letter'. The response was amazing and I'd like to see if I can make this event happen in September in San Francisco - so I wanted to repost this here and then I'll follow on with more details shortly. If you're interested in joining (or if you're not … Continue reading Sleepathon
Over the last month I’ve been living in a van in Silicon Valley, more on that here and here. I’ll post some adventures soon on Simpletom... but today I want to explore working like it’s the weekend. I get my best work done at the weekends. Not that I want to be working at the … Continue reading Work Like it’s the Weekend
Hmmm... I am currently here, but I’m about to move back to San Francisco whilst wanting to settle here, where I'm trying to to buy a house. Well done Simpletom... you're managing, quite dedicatedly, to ignore all of your own advice. Over the next few months I will immerse myself and my business in 500 Startups, … Continue reading It’s OK
