EDITION 1123
1 JUNE 2026

On this day in 1907, English engineer and inventor Frank Whittle was born. His pioneering work on the jet engine transformed aviation and helped shape the modern world. Yet for many years his ideas were dismissed, underfunded and regarded as impractical. Innovation often begins as a minority opinion.

This week's edition of 10 THINGS explores resilience, optimism, demographic change and the importance of looking beyond immediate circumstances to recognise future possibilities. As Whittle demonstrated, today's challenges and setbacks often contain the seeds of tomorrow's breakthroughs.

Last week’s poll explored what matters most in your career today. This week we’re asking whether one job is enough. As someone whose working life currently includes leadership, mentoring, driving, writing and tennis, I may not be entirely impartial.

William Montgomery
Editor

1. How to Turn Adversity into Advantage. Most CVs tell us what someone has done. Few tell us what they have overcome. Recently, I received a note from a reader who had stepped away from a successful career to raise children, support a husband overseas, nurse a loved one through terminal illness, and later rebuild her life following bereavement. Despite qualifications, experience and determination, she now faces the challenge of finding work at the age of sixty. Her story reminded me that some of life’s greatest leadership lessons are learned not in boardrooms, classrooms or training courses, but through adversity. Leadership is not measured by how smoothly life unfolds. It is measured by our willingness to keep moving forward when it doesn’t. The question is not what happened to us. The question is what we choose to do with it. READ MORE

2. Britain’s lost generation? The UK could be heading towards a worrying milestone. A government commissioned report warns that more than one million young people aged 16 to 24 are now not in education, employment or training (often referred to as NEETs). Without intervention, the figure could rise further in the years ahead. The long-term consequences extend far beyond economics. Work provides more than income. It creates structure, confidence, purpose, relationships and opportunity. For many people, their first job is where they learn responsibility, resilience and teamwork. I joined the Royal Navy at 16. It gave me direction, discipline and a sense of belonging that shaped the rest of my life. Leadership is not simply about creating jobs. It is about ensuring the next generation has a pathway into meaningful work, purpose and contribution. A society that fails to do so risks wasting some of its greatest potential.

3. Why Clarity Matters. A recent social media post suggested that modern dating has become less about relationships and more about situationships, ghosting, mixed signals and keeping options open. Whether or not that is entirely fair, it highlights a broader challenge facing modern life: a lack of clarity. Technology has given us more ways to connect than ever before, yet many people report feeling more confused and uncertain. The same can be true in organisations. Teams become frustrated when expectations are unclear, priorities constantly change or people avoid difficult conversations. The best leaders understand that clarity is a form of kindness. People do not need all the answers. They do, however, need honesty, consistency and a clear sense of direction. Confusion creates anxiety. Clarity creates confidence.

4. The Power of Showing Up. This year has been designated International Volunteer Year by the United Nations, recognising the enormous contribution made by volunteers around the world. Research shows that volunteering improves mental wellbeing, strengthens social connections, creates a sense of purpose and belonging, and even contributes to better long-term health. An estimated one billion people volunteer globally, most through small, often unrecognised acts that quietly hold communities together. The leadership lesson is simple. Contribution is a muscle. It grows when we use it. Whether coaching a sports team, supporting a local charity, mentoring a colleague or helping a neighbour, service connects us to something larger than ourselves. I volunteer for Speakers for Schools and Inspiring the Future, helping young people explore opportunities and fulfil their potential. If you are a teacher looking for support, please feel free to get in touch. We may already be halfway through the year, but it is not too late to start. Leadership is not measured by what we intend to do. It is measured by the difference we make when we show up.

5. The Rise of Income Stacking. A record 1.35 million people in the UK now have at least two jobs. Known as "income stacking", the trend reflects both economic reality and changing attitudes towards work. Rising living costs, job insecurity and the growth of freelance and online opportunities are encouraging more people to develop multiple sources of income. The benefits are obvious. Additional income provides financial security, new skills and protection against unexpected job loss. Yet there are risks too. Juggling multiple commitments can lead to exhaustion, blurred boundaries and burnout. The leadership lesson is that resilience increasingly depends on adaptability. For previous generations, a single employer often provided security. Today, many people are building portfolios of work, skills and relationships instead. The challenge is not simply earning more. It is doing so without sacrificing the wellbeing that makes success worthwhile. Which statement best reflects your view? VOTE HERE

6. More Temperature Records Ahead. A new report from the World Meteorological Organisation and the Met Office suggests the next five years are likely to bring record or near-record global temperatures. By 2030, average temperatures could briefly exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, while economists warn that extreme heat may significantly reduce productivity in some of Europe’s largest economies. The leadership lesson is not about debating the causes. It is about preparing for the consequences. Heatwaves are already affecting sport, transport, infrastructure, agriculture and public services. Good leaders recognise when the environment is changing and adapt accordingly. As any navigator knows, arguing with the weather rarely improves the forecast. The challenge is not predicting the future perfectly. It is being ready when it arrives.

7. Blair Warns Labour Against Drifting Left. Former Prime Minister Tony Blair has warned that Labour risks abandoning the political centre ground and losing touch with moderate voters. In a lengthy essay, he argues that the party lacks a coherent economic vision and is pursuing policies that could alienate business and undermine electoral success. Blair insists that changing leaders alone will not solve Labour’s problems if the underlying strategy remains unchanged. The leadership lesson extends beyond politics. Every leader faces pressure from competing interests, particularly after a period of success. Some demand bold change. Others want loyalty to established principles. The challenge is knowing when to listen to supporters and when to lead them. Leadership is not simply about representing the loudest voices in the room. It is about making decisions that serve the long term interests of the organisation, even when they prove unpopular in the short term.

8. Stewardship Matters More Than Wealth. At a time when headlines suggest the wealthy are abandoning Britain, a new survey by Survation paints a more nuanced picture. Three quarters of UK millionaires say they would be willing to pay more tax to help strengthen the country’s future, while many are more concerned about losing doctors, entrepreneurs and young talent than losing fellow millionaires. It is a useful reminder that leadership is not simply about accumulation. At its best, it is about stewardship. Strong societies rely on a sense of shared investment, where those who have benefited most from a system recognise a responsibility to help sustain it for the next generation. Whether one agrees with higher taxes or not, the principle itself is thought provoking.

9. Rewilding Ourselves A new survey suggests nearly half of UK adults spend three hours or less in nature each week, despite most remembering fondly the time they spent outdoors as children. The Wildlife Trusts are encouraging people to “rewild” their inner child and reconnect with nature through small daily actions. The leadership lesson is an important one. We often treat time outdoors as a luxury rather than a necessity. Yet some of our clearest thinking happens away from screens, meetings and notifications. I have already spent more than fifty hours mowing the lawn this season. At this rate Wimbledon may well ask me to prepare Centre Court. But the real benefit has not been the grass. It has been the opportunity to think, reflect and reconnect with the world beyond a keyboard. Sometimes the best way to move forward is to spend a little time outside. Click HERE to see this year’s progress in my Cotswolds garden.

10. The Bottom Line. With 1.25 million young people potentially facing a future outside work, education or training, Britain risks more than an economic problem. Work provides purpose, confidence and belonging as well as income. I joined the Royal Navy at sixteen and have worked every day since. It gave me opportunities that shaped the rest of my life. Leadership begins by opening doors. The question is whether we are opening enough of them for the generation that follows.