Month: June 2025

It’s an uncomfortable but necessary truth that we need to address. Across my many years of hiring talents for McDan Group, I can tell you this: referrals would get you into places you would have stood no chance if you applied normally. It sounds cliché, but that’s the candid truth. A referral for a job […]

The early years you have with your kids pass by faster than you realise. Do you really want to spend that time stuck in your business doing busywork? Of course not. The daily grind, constant meetings, and endless task lists may seem important. But that “busywork” is the biggest thief of your most valuable asset: […]

It’s late, but let me share a vulnerable moment with you, before you start your weekend. *get a plastic chair to sit on because this will be a long one* When I started McDan Shipping, no one would return my calls, reply to my text messages or respond to the numerous emails and follow-ups that […]

I’ve been a business founder for close to 30 years, and a business exec for more than two decades. As someone who has been on both ships, I wish more and more people spoke openly about two truths that haven’t changed over the years. First: entrepreneurship is very difficult. Second: raising money and making your […]

“𝘿𝙧. 𝙈𝙘𝙆𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙚𝙮, 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙗𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙤𝙧?” “𝙎𝙞𝙧, 𝙄 𝙬𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙤𝙧 𝙢𝙚.” “𝘿𝙧. 𝘿𝙖𝙣𝙞𝙚𝙡 𝙈𝙘𝙆𝙤𝙧𝙡𝙚𝙮, 𝙄 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙚.” I get messages like these every day. In my comments, replies, emails, and inboxes. And while I deeply appreciate that many see me as worthy of being a mentor, let me […]

Over the years, I’ve heard a lot of well-meaning advice to young professionals: “Find your niche. Master it. Become the go-to expert.” And to be fair, that’s solid advice. Expertise will always matter, the world will always need specialists. But that’s not the full picture anymore. In today’s world, no matter your industry or role, […]

Raising my boys into good men is the most important job I’ll ever have. And every day, I’m still learning. But if there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s this: The values I’ve poured into them, day-by-day, are shaping the men they’re becoming. Respect. Responsibility. Kindness. Courage. Not just words, but daily lessons. Quiet […]

When you’re starting out in your career or business, let’s face it, you’re going to be terrible at most things. You’ll make mistakes, and that’s perfectly fine. People won’t pat you on the back when you do your job correctly, but they will definitely remember when you mess up, no matter how rare it is. […]