Entirely and eternally unsure of what I’ve done, what I’m doing, or what I’ll do next.

Somehow, I’ve built and sold businesses, backed a few interesting ideas, and even scooped up awards as a photographer – despite being, well, pretty bad at it. I’ve made a career out of winging it, taking things as they come. Some ventures worked out; others we don’t talk about – those are saved for my therapist. I was an early investor in Monzo and Freetrade – the latter marking a successful exit in early 2025.

These days, I split my time between various projects, investments, and whatever grabs my attention. Occasionally, but not always, I even manage to contribute something useful.

Meeting good people and having fun is essential. If it’s not fun, it’s not worth it.

Refuses to ever wear a tie. Likes loud music, quiet conversations, and coffee.

I have owned companies, invested, and advised within the book publishing space since 2009. In that time, I’ve sold 950,000 (and counting) books, managed licensing deals, built several businesses, and eventually sold three of them. And one failed so miserably I considered quitting publishing forever.

• GS Publishing: Owner. 2009 - Present Day.

• Ernest Publishing: 50% Co-Owner. 2018 - Present Day.

• GJ Publishing: Started 2012. Sold 2022. My most successful venture so far. Changed everything.

• Wavy Publishing: Started 2018. Sold 2020.

• The Business We Don’t Talk About: Started 2018. Sold at a loss in 2020. Let’s leave it at that. Blame it on Covid. Perfect excuse.

Over 15 years in publishing has taught me two things: how to sell books and how to mess up in ways that are expensive, painful, and memorable. If you’d rather skip the hard lessons and focus on what works - or moonlight as my therapist for what didn’t - email me.

Fair warning: No one likes working for free. Not even me.

graham_smith@me.com

Business without the bullshit. No hustle worship, no 5 AM ice baths, no productivity cult nonsense. Just sharp, unconventional takes on what actually works—big and small, weird and brilliant, smart and stupid.

The rule-breakers, the scrappy upstarts, the ones who made it work by doing things differently. The weird, the smart, the dumb, and the painfully dull businesses that made money—plus the non-traditional ideas and strategies that break the usual rules.

In other words, I will make it up as I go along.

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