What Clients Say
Real stories from business owners who scaled, exited, and thrived with our guidance.
C. Allen
Highly recommended
Very good, concise business book that is easy to read and useful advice. Highly recommended 👌
Lucas Vigilante
If you own a business, definitely read this.
There’s some excellent, straightforward to implement advice for business owners in this little, easy to read book. I enjoyed the several well explained exercises I could go through to make me more effective, and my business more profitable. Thank you Simon. I suspect your coaching services are in extremely high demand.
James Vincent
Simple... challenging... just what I needed
This book is simple and extremely practical and makes a difference to getting things done. No complications, and could finish the book fast. What I liked most was the rocket up my back side to get things done!... "The job you never start takes the longest to finish".
Online Shopper 84
Quick read that simple and easy!
I loved this book! Every chapter had a great Learning point for me. I’m a simple guy and like things simple. This book gave me just that. Short, sweet and to the point :)
Peter Magee
Simple, practical & impactful
A great book to highlight how self sabotage holds so many business owners back & more importantly how to deal with it. Well worth a read!
Julie Wagstaff
Not just a teacher
Simon Ellson is worth listening to, he's done it personally and coached many to incredible successes.
S. Hindmarch
Clear, concise and full of great ideas.
A book that is clear, concise and full of great ideas, direction and challenges. I love a book that is simple to read but really makes me think and this one gave me the push I needed. Loved it!
katie
Everyone who owns a business
will relate to this book
Anyone who owns a business will relate to this book. It’s full of real- life scenarios and examples of how to get out of your own way in the quest for business growth. I particularly enjoyed the questions at the end of each chapter which, if you take the time to answer and reflect on, could make a huge difference to how you think about your business.
Simon Smiddy
Highly Recommended
I got this book on Kindle but also listened to it and it really hit home. From the start, I felt like the author was speaking directly to me. I realised I had been my worst enemy, constantly falling into habits that were holding me back. His no-nonsense approach was refreshing, no sugarcoating, just clear talk about the self-sabotage creeping into daily routines. I found myself nodding along as he challenged me to rethink the way I do things and take real control of my work life. It felt like having an honest conversation with a friend who isn't afraid to tell the hard truths. I left the book feeling motivated, ready to make the changes I've been avoiding for too long.
Neil Greenway
Invaluable tool to grow your business
Simple, easy to read, full of insights, with some immediate actions to grow your business. It is an invaluable tool. No person who is serious about wanting to improve their business - and their personal life - should be without it.
Adam
Read this book!
If you're starting a business and are flummoxed by all the other business books - then read this book.
If you're established and are keen to grow - then read this book.
If you can't get your head round the problems in your business - then read this book.
It's a perfectly concise step by step guide to helping you run your business.
Anu Khanna
Confronting Self-Sabotage
to Unlock Your True Potential
This insightful book explores the hidden ways we sabotage our success in business and life, often without realising it. The author delves into the psychology behind self- sabotage, including fear of failure, imposter syndrome, and comfort-zone mentality. Through relatable anecdotes, practical advice, and actionable strategies, the book encourages readers to confront limiting beliefs and replace self-destructive habits with empowering ones.
It's a wake-up call to take ownership of your actions, embrace discomfort, and align your mindset with your goals. A must-read for anyone looking to break through their own barriers and unlock their full potential.
Alistair Carter
A Must-Read for Ambitious Entrepreneurs
Head Down Balls Up is an outstanding guide for anyone looking to elevate their life and business to the next level. Simon Ellson expertly breaks down the steps needed to help your business achieve £1,000,000+ in turnover, presenting his advice in simple, clear, and honest terms that anyone can follow.
What sets this book apart is its straightforward approach-there's no jargon or unnecessary complexity, just practical guidance rooted in real-world experience. Simon's insights are both motivating and actionable, making this a must-read for business owners, entrepreneurs, or anyone starting out on their business journey.
As someone who has been coached by Simon and benefited first hand from his success, I can only say if you're ready to take your business to new heights, Head Down Balls Up provides the roadmap to success.
Duncan
Simon Ellson's Head Down
Balls Up isn't just another business
book-it's a mirror!
Reading it forced me to reflect deeply on my own journey, and at times, I had to confront some uncomfortable truths about the moments where I've dropped the ball. Simon's honest, practical advice helped me uncover-and sometimes rediscover-the reasons behind those setbacks, and more importantly, how to learn and move forward.
What makes this book stand out is its authenticity. Simon's writing doesn't preach; it pushes you to look at yourself, take responsibility, and take action. If you're serious about growth-personally or professionally-this is a book you'll want on your shelf (and in your hands).
A powerful, thought-provoking read. Highly recommended.
Salman Arshad
A wake-up call for business owners!
I couldn't put this book down! It called out all my bad habits-procrastination, overthinking, perfectionism-and gave me practical strategies to fix them. It's already transforming how I run my business. Highly recommend!
Seb E
Excellent and eye opening!
I was lucky enough to get an early copy of this. Read it on holiday and it was an easy, excellent and eye opening read! If you're a business owner (or even if you're not), grab a copy and hear some home truths that might be hard to hear but will transform the way you think!
Warren Randolph
Saw the final proofs before publication
Excellent summary of the self sabotage challenge we all face. Especially liked the analysis parts at the end of each chapter. It's short and hard hitting, well worth a read.
Jason Lee
Great read
A really good read that "homes in" on 10 of key areas where small business owners hit the buffers with helpful ways to self-review and straightforward guidance to help you move forward. Highly recommend.
Garry Crosby
100 pages of pure business and personal gold!
The author makes this statement early on and lives up to the promise of telling it like it is. If you own and run a business and it isn’t working how you’d like it to, it’s probably your fault! How many times have you read a 300-page business book where they take ten pages to make their point? 100 pages and the rest is fluff! That’s not the case here – it’s 100 pages of bang-on advice about how working on yourself is the most powerful thing you can do in business.
The points are laid out clearly, whether you’re working your fear of letting go, getting out of your comfort zone, or overcoming procrastination – each chapter has self-reflection questions, practical exercises and a summary. It’s perfect if you own a business and it won’t take you long to pick up the many gems in its pages. Highly recommended.
Richard Charles
Superb read for all business owners
A brilliant book which gets to the root of self-sabotage and what to do about it. The author explores procrastination really well and introduces the 2-minute rule: if you can do something in 2 minutes, then do it now! A great read for all business owners.
Lucas Vigilante
The blueprint to developing as a business owner.
Another great book from the mind of Simon. He certainly knows how to ask powerful questions. This isn't just thought provoking though, its the blueprint to developing as a business owner by recognising what's holding you back. In this book Simon is unpacking something fundamental to success - who we need to be to and how we mentally shape ourselves accordingly.
This isn’t business coaching fluff. It’s the uncomfortable, practical, liberating truth about what it really takes to scale, exit, and build a business that doesn’t need you.
Why 80% of business owners sabotage their own success — and how to stop.
Out NowWhy not knowing who you are limits your potential in business and in life.
Out NowWhy growth hurts, alignment breaks, and good businesses stall — and how to get through it.
Coming March 2026Why most business culture advice is nonsense — and how to build a team that actually performs.
Coming October 2026How to build a business someone actually wants to buy — and will pay handsomely for.
Coming March 2027The business owner’s guide to building a life-first company that works without you.
Coming October 2027Join the list and get exclusive pre-release bonuses.
Set clear targets, build a repeatable engine, and measure success at every level.
A hard-nosed look at what makes a business valuable — and what kills deals.
Understand your team’s behaviours, fix communication breakdowns, and lead better.
Score your business across the 6 key areas that drive buyer confidence and sale value.
"We used Simon’s valuation checklist ahead of a trade sale — the buyers were shocked at how prepared we were.”
The DISC tool changed how our leadership team communicates. Less drama, more delivery.”
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I help £1M–£20M business owners scale properly, exit profitably, or finally build a business that works without them
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