Mr. Joe Leech

When your name is no longer yours... I never liked my surname, I mean, a leech is a blood sucker after all. At my wedding my aunt asked my now wife if she was taking my name. My wife being a successful entrepreneur said no, she was keeping her name. My aunt's reply quite shocked my wife... Read on: what happens when another Joe Leech comes along. From Founder to CEO: Strategic Insights for a Smooth Transition What got you here won’t get you there – key insights from my recent webinar with the...

Hi Reader, Whether you're the CEO or the one everyone turns to, you’re likely carrying too much. And I get it. In the early days, you had to do everything! From product, hiring, operations, to customer support. But... You can’t lead if you’re still managing. You can’t think clearly if your days are jammed with tasks that belong to someone else. And no, it’s not a badge of honour to be “across everything.” The reality? As a CEO, your role is zero operations. You should be thinking...

Hi Reader What do martial arts and leadership have in common? More than you think. Episode 2 of The Modern CEO is now live. This one’s with Roan Lavery, CEO at FreeAgent, and yes, the episode is really called: “The CEO’s Guide to Being Punched in the Face.” Roan shares how martial arts shaped the way he handles pressure, tough calls, and business blows that would flatten most people. But here’s the thing, this isn’t just for CEOs. If you lead people, run teams, or even sit in the room where...

Leadership is subtle, not blunt. [2 min read] Hi Reader, If you think barking orders makes you look strong, you’re already losing the room. This might surprise you but the best leaders rarely shout. You rarely see them force anything. They don’t force, bark, or push every problem through brute strength. Blunt leadership is easy, but exhausting. You push, you drag, you force the outcome. Some days you can do it. Most days you shouldn’t have to. A CEO told me once: “My assistant made two...

Hi Reader You know the rules for leading at the top are changing fast and the old playbooks aren’t keeping up. I’ve lost count of how many leaders I’ve seen stuck playing it safe, nodding along when they should be drawing the line. I don’t want that for you. So we’re kicking the doors wide open on Season 2 of The Modern CEO podcast. No fluff. No safe takes. Just the sharp thinking, raw stories, and uncomfortable truths you won’t hear in your standard leadership podcast. Episode 1 is live...

Why your leadership challenges often start with who you think you are. Hey Reader , I want to tell you something I’ve seen over and over again in my work with startup founders, scale-up execs, and enterprise CEOs: You’re not the problem.But your identity as a CEO might be. Let me explain. Who You Think You Are Is Running the Show Most leaders think they’re stuck because of a strategy issue, a team problem, or a funding gap. But what’s often really in the way? It’s who you believe yourself to...

Hi Reader, Our natural instinct is to run away from a problem. Who in their right mind runs towards a problem? Experienced leaders, that's who. What are you Tolerating? There’s a simple question I ask leaders that usually stops them in their tracks: What are you tolerating? It came up recently with a CEO I coach, Tom. He was frustrated. 18 months into the role and still no growth. After sitting with that question, his answer hit hard: "I’ve been tolerating mediocrity." Here’s the thing:...

Hi Reader I was an expert for many years, I was a consultant, strategist, leader. My superpower was knowing the answers, know what to do. I worked hard to be smart, it was a badge of honour. Then came my kryptonite. Leaders politely listened, nodded and ignored. I blamed them. I doubled down, it was exhausting. The reality, I let my ego get in the way. Letting go of being right... For most of your career, you’ve probably been rewarded for having the answers. Knowing the details. Being across...

One of the hardest transitions for any founder-turned-CEO is embracing true accountability. It’s not about controlling every decision, micromanaging the team, or proving that your vision is always the right one. In fact, the greatest obstacle to your company’s growth might be you. The Founder's Dilemma In the early days of a startup, absolute conviction is an asset. You need unwavering belief in your vision because, let’s be honest, no one else will have it at the same intensity. Investors...