I used to say, “My door is always open.”

But the truth was, nobody knocked.
They thought I was too busy — and I ended up being the last to know about problems, issues, even good news.

It wasn’t until I plastered “Be Present” stickers around my desk and made myself a promise — to stop whatever I was doing when someone came in — that the culture began to change.

Because culture isn’t built in strategy sessions.
It’s built in the knock on the door.

The morning of my first talk in three years, my Oura Ring flashed a stress warning I’d never seen before. It was right — I was nervous. But what happened next showed me something bigger: stress means the moment matters, and sharing the truth creates real connection.

Mark Matthews reflects on imposter syndrome in leadership — why it never goes away, and why being real matters more than being special.

Strong leaders don’t have all the answers. Asking for help isn’t weakness — it’s the move that builds trust, respect, and stronger teams.

If I walked out of Tesco with a bottle of wine, I’d be arrested in minutes. But when £500,000 was stolen from my company, silence. Here’s the lesson in persistence.

It wasn’t a strategy document that changed how I saw leadership. It was a crisp packet left outside the office — and what it revealed about culture.

Culture isn’t built in strategy days or glossy posters. It’s built in the everyday moments that leaders often miss — and those moments decide its strength

For years I wore the mask of “strong leadership.” I thought vulnerability was weakness.
But the truth is, vulnerability is leadership.

When I finally stopped hiding, something unexpected happened: people opened up too. They told me my honesty gave them hope, permission, and courage.

👉 Vulnerability isn’t weakness — it’s a superpower.

After nearly four years in silence, something finally switched back on. In this video, I share the moment my clarity, purpose, and hope returned — just 37 hours after David Carr’s sentencing. Vulnerability isn’t weakness. It’s the moment people finally see the real you.

For three years I said nothing. Here’s what silence took — and why speaking, even shakily, is survival.

A nurse with a purple rose. A postman who went the extra mile. What do they have in common? They both remind us that small, thoughtful acts can leave the biggest mark. The question is: what could your Fred (Liz) Factor moment be?

Laid Bare – My Most Honest Talk Yet…..

The name ‘Crisp Guy’ might sound odd, but it came from a moment that completely changed how I saw leadership. What started with an empty crisp packet outside my office door turned into a wake-up call about culture, accountability, and what ‘good’ really looks like. That one story reshaped my business — and me as a leader.

Running a business can feel like a long car journey — full of delays, distractions, and “are we there yet?” moments. The truth is, the journey itself is where the real lessons (and future greatness) come from.

For years, I thought training staff was a waste — they’d just leave or ask for more money. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Here’s why investing in your people is the smartest move you’ll ever make as a business owner.

"Running a business isn’t just about targets and cash flow — it’s about people. And sometimes, the hardest person to manage is yourself. Here’s how tracking my mood changed everything, and why it could help your team too."