Resilient teams are built by the people who refuse to quit.
This week, I’m sharing what real resilience looks like and how to embed it into your business for good.
How to embrace resilience in your business
According to McKinsey, CEOs should embrace the role of “Chief Resilience Officer” to prepare for disruptions. But here’s the thing:
84% of leaders don’t feel ready for disruption.
McKinsey talks about four types of resilience:
Financial
Operational
Organisational
External
They recommend embedding resilience into your vision, using planning, stress-testing, and team alignment to improve long-term performance.
But let’s be honest - that’s all corporate talk.
Here’s what resilience actually looks like in practice:
You should have 4 Simple Priorities
1. Hire like a founder.
Bring in people who’ve started businesses—even if they failed.
They’ve had to figure things out the hard way. That’s resilience.
2. Look for adversity-tested people.
People who’ve bounced back from setbacks (personal or professional) bring real grit to your team.
3. Get close to entrepreneurs.
Learn how they operate. Model your culture after them.
Entrepreneurs don’t wait for someone to hand them a resilience framework—they just get on with it.
4. Care deeply.
The definition of resilience is the ability to recover from difficulty.
But the source of resilience is caring so much that failure isn’t an option.
That’s what drives you to keep going.
Read the full article here
The One Mistake That’ll Burn Your Budget Before You Even Begin
I’ve seen this happen again and again.
Most founders raise too much money before they really know what works. If you don’t know your marketing playbook yet, you’re just scaling chaos.
The truth is, marketing is murky.
You never fully know what’s working. Everyone has an opinion. Advice comes from every direction. But until you understand
(based on your product, your category, and your stage of growth)
what actually moves the needle, you’ll waste time, money, and momentum.
That’s why I always say: raise as little as you possibly can early on.
Treat it like it’s your own money, because it might as well be.
Use that constraint to force clarity.
Test channels.
Experiment with messaging.
Track results obsessively.
And above all, learn what works for you.
Once you have that playbook in hand, then raise. Then go big.
The discipline you build in this phase is what separates the startups that fizzle from the ones that scale with purpose.
Raise once you’ve earned the right to accelerate. Not before.
Here’s how I explain this on TikTok →
@johnbstapleton Bootstrap first! Once you know what you are doing, raise funds and put it behind what you know works. #entrepreneur #business #success #en... See more
This week, I am opening up three 15-minute private calls.
These aren’t generic chats - they’re focused, strategic deep-dives. Whether you’re scaling a business, launching something new, or stuck at a crossroads, this is for you.
To apply, send an email with what you’re building.
Be honest. Be specific. Tell us where you're stuck, and what real progress would look like. We’re not looking for polish! We’re looking for people who are ready to take action.
Answer these three prompts:
What are you building? (2-3 lines)
What are you stuck or uncertain about? (be clear and specific)
What would a successful outcome from this call look like?
I will personally select the three founders I believe I can help most.
Or email [email protected] directly.
Big plays from last week (1st July - 15th July):
1. Cognition acquires AI coding startup Windsurf
After a tense scramble involving Google licensing its tech and OpenAI talks, Cognition has bought Windsurf to supercharge its AI coding tool, Devin. This deal underscores how AI talent and tech are being absorbed fast—even post-bind with big players.
2. Meta continues AI buying spree with Play AI
Following its Scale AI investment, Meta has snapped up voice-AI startup Play AI to boost natural, human-like voice tech across its platforms.
3. OpenAI’s $6.5 B acquisition of io (Jony Ive’s hardware firm)
In its boldest move yet, OpenAI has acquired its first hardware design partner, io Products (led by ex-Apple designer Jony Ive).
This hints at next-gen AI devices potentially as groundbreaking as the iPhone.
It's Richard Branson's birthday this week (18 July).
Most famous as founder of the Virgin Group but also a global symbol of entrepreneurial spirit and an inspiration for millions of wannabe entrepreneurs.
Branson’s bold, risk-taking mindset and passion for innovation is a yardstick for startups and business leaders worldwide. From launching a record label to commercial space flights, his journey reminds us that audacity and vision are powerful tools for success. (And he also manages to maintain a friendly and approachable persona!)
I’ve just been to the Bread & Jam Festival this week*, which is now over, but they organise smaller events throughout the year, so look out for those (geared towards the Food & Drink industry). Read more about it here.
Here are few other links to entrepreneur networking and events. I think you'll like these and find them useful.
Don’t miss out, mark your calendar, register early, and be part of the conversation shaping tomorrow.
Spots fill up fast, so secure yours now!