Jim Stevenson
@jimstevenson.bsky.social
I help bold businesses grow faster and smarter.
25+ yrs advising companies adding $700m, including Bacardi, The Guardian, News Corp, M&S, and BUPA.
Strategy | Transformation | Fundraising | M&A
UK | USA | Global
More: linktr.ee/JimStevenson
25+ yrs advising companies adding $700m, including Bacardi, The Guardian, News Corp, M&S, and BUPA.
Strategy | Transformation | Fundraising | M&A
UK | USA | Global
More: linktr.ee/JimStevenson
Delighted to be judging the UK Startup Awards for the third year running.
If you are building something bold and actually delivering results, enter. It is a proper platform for serious founders.
Applications are open: https://f.mtr.cool/wlcwbcssid
#UKStartupAwards #Startups #Founders #UKBusiness
If you are building something bold and actually delivering results, enter. It is a proper platform for serious founders.
Applications are open: https://f.mtr.cool/wlcwbcssid
#UKStartupAwards #Startups #Founders #UKBusiness
February 12, 2026 at 4:05 PM
Delighted to be judging the UK Startup Awards for the third year running.
If you are building something bold and actually delivering results, enter. It is a proper platform for serious founders.
Applications are open: https://f.mtr.cool/wlcwbcssid
#UKStartupAwards #Startups #Founders #UKBusiness
If you are building something bold and actually delivering results, enter. It is a proper platform for serious founders.
Applications are open: https://f.mtr.cool/wlcwbcssid
#UKStartupAwards #Startups #Founders #UKBusiness
Three M&A lessons: Learn from other people's mistakes. Get help so you can focus on growing your business. Prepare relentlessly because unknowns kill deals. Simple. Not easy. Worth it. https://f.mtr.cool/jdyqxknxyd #MA #Leadership #ExitStrategy https://f.mtr.cool/lamfsbizaz
February 5, 2026 at 4:02 PM
Three M&A lessons: Learn from other people's mistakes. Get help so you can focus on growing your business. Prepare relentlessly because unknowns kill deals. Simple. Not easy. Worth it. https://f.mtr.cool/jdyqxknxyd #MA #Leadership #ExitStrategy https://f.mtr.cool/lamfsbizaz
Your business is worth 10x EBITDA. But to the right buyer with the right strategy, it's worth 12x. The value of your company and the value to the buyer are different numbers. Good advisors know how to find the 12x buyers. https://f.mtr.cool/tdbohfezjq #MA https://f.mtr.cool/pjdttonzuf
February 4, 2026 at 4:03 PM
Your business is worth 10x EBITDA. But to the right buyer with the right strategy, it's worth 12x. The value of your company and the value to the buyer are different numbers. Good advisors know how to find the 12x buyers. https://f.mtr.cool/tdbohfezjq #MA https://f.mtr.cool/pjdttonzuf
Most sellers lose their composure during M&A. Why? You have to detach from the business you built and the value you believe it's worth. Professional investors can. Founders struggle. It's emotion vs execution. https://f.mtr.cool/rnzsgerquj #MA #Leadership https://f.mtr.cool/ognvwabtff
February 3, 2026 at 4:02 PM
Most sellers lose their composure during M&A. Why? You have to detach from the business you built and the value you believe it's worth. Professional investors can. Founders struggle. It's emotion vs execution. https://f.mtr.cool/rnzsgerquj #MA #Leadership https://f.mtr.cool/ognvwabtff
Worst case: you stop growing while chasing a deal, the deal falls through, and your business is no longer viable. The fix? Run the business like you still own it. Because you do. Until you don't. https://f.mtr.cool/pikzgjnmxd #MA #Leadership https://f.mtr.cool/sjhnyzmzna
February 2, 2026 at 4:03 PM
Worst case: you stop growing while chasing a deal, the deal falls through, and your business is no longer viable. The fix? Run the business like you still own it. Because you do. Until you don't. https://f.mtr.cool/pikzgjnmxd #MA #Leadership https://f.mtr.cool/sjhnyzmzna
Most M&A deals fail. So if you're running the process yourself while neglecting your business, you're gambling on both fronts. False economy. Real risk. Get help. Stay focused. https://f.mtr.cool/qlarjexfxn #MA #Leadership #ExitStrategy https://f.mtr.cool/urcivbripy
February 1, 2026 at 4:02 PM
Most M&A deals fail. So if you're running the process yourself while neglecting your business, you're gambling on both fronts. False economy. Real risk. Get help. Stay focused. https://f.mtr.cool/qlarjexfxn #MA #Leadership #ExitStrategy https://f.mtr.cool/urcivbripy
"I can do my fundraise myself." Sure. But while you're finding buyers, negotiating terms, and managing due diligence, who's growing your business? The real cost of DIY deals isn't money. It's momentum. https://f.mtr.cool/qkvdaccrew #MA #Leadership https://f.mtr.cool/urxupbxszo
January 31, 2026 at 4:02 PM
"I can do my fundraise myself." Sure. But while you're finding buyers, negotiating terms, and managing due diligence, who's growing your business? The real cost of DIY deals isn't money. It's momentum. https://f.mtr.cool/qkvdaccrew #MA #Leadership https://f.mtr.cool/urxupbxszo
Sell for £100M but rollover £20M? Ask yourself: would I invest £20M in this plan if they weren't buying my company? Buffett only invests at two thirds of value. Why should you gamble on theirs? https://f.mtr.cool/speqlcyuvx #MA #ExitStrategy https://f.mtr.cool/agrntnttbx
January 30, 2026 at 4:04 PM
Sell for £100M but rollover £20M? Ask yourself: would I invest £20M in this plan if they weren't buying my company? Buffett only invests at two thirds of value. Why should you gamble on theirs? https://f.mtr.cool/speqlcyuvx #MA #ExitStrategy https://f.mtr.cool/agrntnttbx
They hoped a small cool company could transform a bigger legacy one. During the acquisition. While over-leveraged. Three years later, neither business modernized. The world moved forward. They didn't. https://f.mtr.cool/oqflngwqmy #MA #Transformation https://f.mtr.cool/rrxddnkjos
January 29, 2026 at 4:06 PM
They hoped a small cool company could transform a bigger legacy one. During the acquisition. While over-leveraged. Three years later, neither business modernized. The world moved forward. They didn't. https://f.mtr.cool/oqflngwqmy #MA #Transformation https://f.mtr.cool/rrxddnkjos
PE merged a modern, future-focused company with a legacy incumbent that had no option but to stay legacy. Seemed like a good idea at the time. It wasn't. https://f.mtr.cool/bteigxzrvc #MA #PrivateEquity #Strategy https://f.mtr.cool/jjkrbgfnll
January 28, 2026 at 4:03 PM
PE merged a modern, future-focused company with a legacy incumbent that had no option but to stay legacy. Seemed like a good idea at the time. It wasn't. https://f.mtr.cool/bteigxzrvc #MA #PrivateEquity #Strategy https://f.mtr.cool/jjkrbgfnll
£230M valuation. £190M in debt. Covenants breached. PE's solution? Ask the founder they pushed aside three years ago to buy it back and fix their mess. This is what over-leverage looks like. https://f.mtr.cool/nxpsgvzhwf #MA #PrivateEquity https://f.mtr.cool/sndttxnodv
January 27, 2026 at 4:09 PM
£230M valuation. £190M in debt. Covenants breached. PE's solution? Ask the founder they pushed aside three years ago to buy it back and fix their mess. This is what over-leverage looks like. https://f.mtr.cool/nxpsgvzhwf #MA #PrivateEquity https://f.mtr.cool/sndttxnodv
PE bought a business, ran it for 3 years, and offered to sell it back to the founder for a fraction of what they paid. Another deal: £12M acquisition now worth less than £500K. Same patterns. Different disasters. https://f.mtr.cool/buiyujpzeg #MA #Leadership https://f.mtr.cool/gunhqoachn
January 26, 2026 at 4:03 PM
PE bought a business, ran it for 3 years, and offered to sell it back to the founder for a fraction of what they paid. Another deal: £12M acquisition now worth less than £500K. Same patterns. Different disasters. https://f.mtr.cool/buiyujpzeg #MA #Leadership https://f.mtr.cool/gunhqoachn
Success stories inspire. Failures teach. We're wired to chase wins, but the real gold is in what went wrong and learning from someone else's mess before it becomes yours. https://bit.ly/3Ym4Nzg #Leadership #Growth https://linktr.ee/JimStevenson
January 25, 2026 at 4:03 PM
Success stories inspire. Failures teach. We're wired to chase wins, but the real gold is in what went wrong and learning from someone else's mess before it becomes yours. https://bit.ly/3Ym4Nzg #Leadership #Growth https://linktr.ee/JimStevenson
McDonald's sells burgers but makes money on real estate. What's your real business?
#BusinessModel #Strategy #Clarity
#BusinessModel #Strategy #Clarity
January 18, 2026 at 4:32 PM
McDonald's sells burgers but makes money on real estate. What's your real business?
#BusinessModel #Strategy #Clarity
#BusinessModel #Strategy #Clarity
Tasks remove empowerment. Outcomes unlock it. Empowered people deliver happy customers.
#Leadership #Empowerment #Outcomes
#Leadership #Empowerment #Outcomes
January 17, 2026 at 4:31 PM
Tasks remove empowerment. Outcomes unlock it. Empowered people deliver happy customers.
#Leadership #Empowerment #Outcomes
#Leadership #Empowerment #Outcomes
90% of managers focus on output. Wrong game. Manage outcomes instead.
#LeadershipLessons #OutcomesDriven #Management
#LeadershipLessons #OutcomesDriven #Management
January 16, 2026 at 4:31 PM
90% of managers focus on output. Wrong game. Manage outcomes instead.
#LeadershipLessons #OutcomesDriven #Management
#LeadershipLessons #OutcomesDriven #Management
Engineers gamed at 1 AM, then coded until 3 AM. Most productive hours.
#ProductivityHacks #Leadership #Results
#ProductivityHacks #Leadership #Results
January 15, 2026 at 4:31 PM
Engineers gamed at 1 AM, then coded until 3 AM. Most productive hours.
#ProductivityHacks #Leadership #Results
#ProductivityHacks #Leadership #Results
Great culture makes mediocre strategy work. No culture kills perfect strategy.
#CompanyCulture #Leadership #Strategy
#CompanyCulture #Leadership #Strategy
January 14, 2026 at 4:33 PM
Great culture makes mediocre strategy work. No culture kills perfect strategy.
#CompanyCulture #Leadership #Strategy
#CompanyCulture #Leadership #Strategy
The work from home debate misses the point.
This came up in a conversation about what leaders should actually care about.
The real issue is the bit nobody talks about.
Full clip below.
https://f.mtr.cool/dazwksjjdj
https://f.mtr.cool/pebmjgamoq
#Leadership #FutureOfWork
This came up in a conversation about what leaders should actually care about.
The real issue is the bit nobody talks about.
Full clip below.
https://f.mtr.cool/dazwksjjdj
https://f.mtr.cool/pebmjgamoq
#Leadership #FutureOfWork
January 13, 2026 at 4:32 PM
The work from home debate misses the point.
This came up in a conversation about what leaders should actually care about.
The real issue is the bit nobody talks about.
Full clip below.
https://f.mtr.cool/dazwksjjdj
https://f.mtr.cool/pebmjgamoq
#Leadership #FutureOfWork
This came up in a conversation about what leaders should actually care about.
The real issue is the bit nobody talks about.
Full clip below.
https://f.mtr.cool/dazwksjjdj
https://f.mtr.cool/pebmjgamoq
#Leadership #FutureOfWork
Your organization isn’t siloed by mindset. It’s siloed by design.
This came up in a conversation about why collaboration keeps failing.
The real issue is the bit nobody talks about.
https://f.mtr.cool/ldavigldoe
https://f.mtr.cool/qdmaumzplb
#Leadership #Transformation
This came up in a conversation about why collaboration keeps failing.
The real issue is the bit nobody talks about.
https://f.mtr.cool/ldavigldoe
https://f.mtr.cool/qdmaumzplb
#Leadership #Transformation
January 12, 2026 at 4:32 PM
Your organization isn’t siloed by mindset. It’s siloed by design.
This came up in a conversation about why collaboration keeps failing.
The real issue is the bit nobody talks about.
https://f.mtr.cool/ldavigldoe
https://f.mtr.cool/qdmaumzplb
#Leadership #Transformation
This came up in a conversation about why collaboration keeps failing.
The real issue is the bit nobody talks about.
https://f.mtr.cool/ldavigldoe
https://f.mtr.cool/qdmaumzplb
#Leadership #Transformation
What if 30% of your team’s effort is going nowhere?
This came up in a conversation about why capable organizations underperform.
The real issue is the bit nobody talks about.
Full clip below.
https://f.mtr.cool/ffolhdomad
https://f.mtr.cool/baknrzhbrf
#Leadership #Strategy
This came up in a conversation about why capable organizations underperform.
The real issue is the bit nobody talks about.
Full clip below.
https://f.mtr.cool/ffolhdomad
https://f.mtr.cool/baknrzhbrf
#Leadership #Strategy
January 11, 2026 at 4:31 PM
What if 30% of your team’s effort is going nowhere?
This came up in a conversation about why capable organizations underperform.
The real issue is the bit nobody talks about.
Full clip below.
https://f.mtr.cool/ffolhdomad
https://f.mtr.cool/baknrzhbrf
#Leadership #Strategy
This came up in a conversation about why capable organizations underperform.
The real issue is the bit nobody talks about.
Full clip below.
https://f.mtr.cool/ffolhdomad
https://f.mtr.cool/baknrzhbrf
#Leadership #Strategy
Your team is working 60-hour weeks. That’s the problem.
This came up in a conversation about why busy organizations stall.
The real issue is the bit nobody talks about.
Full clip below.
https://f.mtr.cool/leecmboflt
https://f.mtr.cool/aawdtfrwkn
#Leadership #Strategy
This came up in a conversation about why busy organizations stall.
The real issue is the bit nobody talks about.
Full clip below.
https://f.mtr.cool/leecmboflt
https://f.mtr.cool/aawdtfrwkn
#Leadership #Strategy
January 10, 2026 at 4:03 PM
Your team is working 60-hour weeks. That’s the problem.
This came up in a conversation about why busy organizations stall.
The real issue is the bit nobody talks about.
Full clip below.
https://f.mtr.cool/leecmboflt
https://f.mtr.cool/aawdtfrwkn
#Leadership #Strategy
This came up in a conversation about why busy organizations stall.
The real issue is the bit nobody talks about.
Full clip below.
https://f.mtr.cool/leecmboflt
https://f.mtr.cool/aawdtfrwkn
#Leadership #Strategy
Every founder chase funding. That’s the mistake.
This came up in a recent conversation about what actually builds durable businesses.
The real issue is the bit nobody talks about.
Full clip below.
https://f.mtr.cool/eiagtrutxp
https://f.mtr.cool/srxjlidgqp
#Leadership #Strategy
This came up in a recent conversation about what actually builds durable businesses.
The real issue is the bit nobody talks about.
Full clip below.
https://f.mtr.cool/eiagtrutxp
https://f.mtr.cool/srxjlidgqp
#Leadership #Strategy
January 9, 2026 at 4:04 PM
Every founder chase funding. That’s the mistake.
This came up in a recent conversation about what actually builds durable businesses.
The real issue is the bit nobody talks about.
Full clip below.
https://f.mtr.cool/eiagtrutxp
https://f.mtr.cool/srxjlidgqp
#Leadership #Strategy
This came up in a recent conversation about what actually builds durable businesses.
The real issue is the bit nobody talks about.
Full clip below.
https://f.mtr.cool/eiagtrutxp
https://f.mtr.cool/srxjlidgqp
#Leadership #Strategy
You cannot compartmentalize growth.
This clip digs into why leaders who separate personal, professional, and business growth hit the ceiling first.
The real issue is the bit nobody talks about.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wbv2JeUqlfo
https://linktr.ee/JimStevenson
#Leadership #Growth
This clip digs into why leaders who separate personal, professional, and business growth hit the ceiling first.
The real issue is the bit nobody talks about.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wbv2JeUqlfo
https://linktr.ee/JimStevenson
#Leadership #Growth
January 8, 2026 at 4:05 PM
You cannot compartmentalize growth.
This clip digs into why leaders who separate personal, professional, and business growth hit the ceiling first.
The real issue is the bit nobody talks about.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wbv2JeUqlfo
https://linktr.ee/JimStevenson
#Leadership #Growth
This clip digs into why leaders who separate personal, professional, and business growth hit the ceiling first.
The real issue is the bit nobody talks about.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wbv2JeUqlfo
https://linktr.ee/JimStevenson
#Leadership #Growth
If nobody disagrees with your transformation, you're not leading; you're administrating.
Real transformation isn’t universally understood. It isn’t comfortable. And it certainly isn’t obvious to everyone at the same time. Full clip: https://f.mtr.cool/smeeybqjhw
Real transformation isn’t universally understood. It isn’t comfortable. And it certainly isn’t obvious to everyone at the same time. Full clip: https://f.mtr.cool/smeeybqjhw
December 21, 2025 at 3:02 PM
If nobody disagrees with your transformation, you're not leading; you're administrating.
Real transformation isn’t universally understood. It isn’t comfortable. And it certainly isn’t obvious to everyone at the same time. Full clip: https://f.mtr.cool/smeeybqjhw
Real transformation isn’t universally understood. It isn’t comfortable. And it certainly isn’t obvious to everyone at the same time. Full clip: https://f.mtr.cool/smeeybqjhw