Steve Phillips on building Zappi6 guides and articles
The hard bits of running a business.
Your team needs you to be sure. Your investors want the plan. So the hardest calls often get made late at night, on your own.
These guides cover the parts of the job nobody prepares you for: isolation, stress, burnout and falling out with a co-founder, and what has helped Helm members through them.
Start here. The three guides to read first
CEO isolation
The first time a CEO realises how isolated the job is, it usually happens in a specific moment. A board meeting has just ended. A hard decision has just been…
Read the guideHow to navigate co-founder conflict before it breaks the business
Most co-founder relationships fail quietly, long before they fail loudly.
Read the guideBurnout prevention: how to thrive as a business owner
Yet somewhere between your first £1m in revenue and your £10m milestone, the intensity shifts. The 50-hour weeks become 60, then 70. The emails at midnight…
Read the guideQuestions founders ask. The hard bits: the short answers
Why do founders feel so isolated?
Because there's almost nobody they can be fully honest with: not the team, not investors and often not family. A confidential group of peers who have felt the same is one of the most effective answers.
How do I handle co-founder conflict?
Early, and openly. Agree roles, decision rights and what happens if one of you leaves before you need to. Our guide covers how members have worked through it.
Is what I say at Helm confidential?
Yes. Forum is fully confidential: nothing leaves the room. Other Helm events run under the Chatham House Rule.
- 28 Jan 2027 · Location TBCDiscipline Is Overrated: What Founders Can Learn From Special Forces About High Performance Without the High Price
- RecordingLeading through crisis: Lessons from The British Army
- RecordingThe 7 Powers of Human Potential: how to understand and realise it
- RecordingMindstrong: How to strengthen your mental wellbeing
- RecordingHow to recession-proof your business
The hard bits. Every guide, article and interview on the hard bits
Founder mental health and loneliness: UK support and resources
The mental-health reality of founders in the UK is well-documented and badly under-addressed.
Read the guideHow to overcome imposter phenomenon
Discover effective strategies to conquer imposter phenomenon and boost your confidence. Transform self-doubt into self-assurance with our expert insights.
Read the articleFollow these three simple rules to manage stress better
Discover three simple rules to effectively manage stress and improve your well-being. Start your journey to a calmer life today with Helm.
Read the article
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