12th April 2026

Opening Reflection — This Week I’m Going to Rant

Right — this week I’m going to rant.

Because nothing frustrates me more than bad service.

And not just bad service — institutionalised bad service. The kind that comes from companies that have been around too long, face little real competition, and therefore have no incentive to improve.

My biggest bugbear?

The traditional banks.

The Banking Frustration

This week I spent the best part of a morning trying to complete what should have been a simple transaction.

Hours of frustration.

Endless security steps — which, yes, we all understand are important — but layered in such a way that the process becomes almost impossible to navigate.

It’s not customer protection anymore.

It’s customer punishment.

And what makes it worse is that I also bank with some of the newer challenger banks — and the difference is night and day.

Simple.

Fast.

User-friendly.

So why don’t more people switch?

Because the process of leaving a traditional bank is so painful that people stay where they are — even if they hate the experience.

That’s not loyalty.

That’s entrapment.

Competition is what forces businesses to improve. Until the challenger banks truly break through, the traditional ones will continue to get away with mediocrity.

A New Life, A New Perspective

Now, some very good news.

My son Alexander has just had his first child — a baby boy.

As yet unnamed, but from the pictures I’ve seen, he already looks determined.

And it makes you pause.

What kind of world is he being born into?

For me, I feel optimistic.

With AI accelerating at pace, with humanity pushing further into space, with innovation happening almost daily — the next 10, 15, 20 years could be extraordinary.

I hope he grows up embracing that world, not fearing it.

Building Systems, Building the Future

Back in the business, I’m still deeply involved in building our management systems for the farm shops.

And I must say, the tools available now are phenomenal.

Using platforms like Lovable, it almost feels like you imagine something — and it gets built.

The gap between idea and execution is shrinking.

That’s incredibly exciting.

Because for small businesses, this means we can now build systems and processes that previously would have required entire teams.

The Myth of Balance

We hear a lot about “balance” these days — especially from younger generations.

Work-life balance.

Mental balance.

Lifestyle balance.

I’m going to say something unpopular:

Balance is overrated.

If you want to achieve something meaningful — especially as an entrepreneur — you have to accept periods of imbalance.

Sometimes, long periods.

Being unbalanced isn’t a failure.

It’s often a signal that you are fully committed.

If you want to build something, something has to give.

Fear — The Real Enemy

What matters more than balance is this:

Managing fear.

We live in a world that constantly feeds fear.

Economic fear.

Global fear.

Personal fear.

If you allow that fear to take hold, it will stop you before you even begin.

So one of the most important disciplines I’ve developed is simple:

Fear not.

Easier said than done — but essential.

My One Hour Rule

Now, despite everything I’ve just said about imbalance, I do have one non-negotiable habit.

The first hour of my day belongs to me.

No phone.

No noise.

No outside world.

My phone stays in another room — either on silent or switched off.

That hour is for thinking. Reflecting. Resetting.

Because if you don’t create space for yourself, the world will consume you.

Back to Reality — The Shop Floor

On the business front, the good weather this weekend has helped.

Sales are gradually improving — not dramatically, but enough to feel movement.

I’ve also had several customers recognise me from my appearance on BBC local news, where I was speaking about shoplifting.

They’ve all been supportive, which is encouraging.

But the frustration remains.

Shoplifting still feels low on the list of priorities for those in power. Until that changes, I fear it will remain a constant challenge for retailers like us.

Closing Reflection

So this week has been a mixture of frustration and optimism.

Frustration with systems that don’t work.

Optimism about a new life entering the world.

Excitement about technology.

And a reminder of what it really takes to build something.

No balance.

No guarantees.

No easy path.

Just commitment, discipline, and the ability to keep fear at bay.

And occasionally… a good rant.

Onwards.