Callum Laing
@callumlaing.bsky.social
I help ambitious people raise capital, get board seats, take companies public. Let's get more entrepreneurs and builders on bsky!
Author of 4 best selling business books
Author of 4 best selling business books
Pinned
Boardroom Blueprint
boardroom-blueprint.com
Get your free copy of Boardroom Blueprint and learn how hundreds have people have engineered access to their very first board seat:
boardroom-blueprint.com
boardroom-blueprint.com
Optimize your profile. Forget the algo, it constantly changes. Look at profiles of a dozen successful people on LinkedIn and update yours to look similar.
December 15, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Optimize your profile. Forget the algo, it constantly changes. Look at profiles of a dozen successful people on LinkedIn and update yours to look similar.
LinkedIn no longer nice to have if you're serious about career. Next level your network - connect with peers and leaders, but keep door open to others. Never know where best opportunities come from.
December 15, 2025 at 4:00 PM
LinkedIn no longer nice to have if you're serious about career. Next level your network - connect with peers and leaders, but keep door open to others. Never know where best opportunities come from.
5. Acceptance - keep head down, hopefully someone will recognise you. Might have worked 50 years ago, won't work today. Need to leverage role, network, knowledge, profile. Only one person cares about your career - you.
December 15, 2025 at 10:00 AM
5. Acceptance - keep head down, hopefully someone will recognise you. Might have worked 50 years ago, won't work today. Need to leverage role, network, knowledge, profile. Only one person cares about your career - you.
4. 'My priority is me!' Absolutely look after number 1. But don't be upset when those with different attitude keep getting ahead. Those who get ahead create more value for right people. 10% more compounds.
December 15, 2025 at 4:00 AM
4. 'My priority is me!' Absolutely look after number 1. But don't be upset when those with different attitude keep getting ahead. Those who get ahead create more value for right people. 10% more compounds.
3. Don't want to stand out - but building profile increases opportunity chances. If 20k people know you're good, chances of one NOT having better opportunity is low.
December 14, 2025 at 10:00 PM
3. Don't want to stand out - but building profile increases opportunity chances. If 20k people know you're good, chances of one NOT having better opportunity is low.
5 reasons your career stalled: 1. Weak network - people get ahead because of who they know. 2. You know it all - done with learning means you're done. Career success involves continuous learning.
December 14, 2025 at 4:00 PM
5 reasons your career stalled: 1. Weak network - people get ahead because of who they know. 2. You know it all - done with learning means you're done. Career success involves continuous learning.
I used to be a freelance journalist.
I wasn't very good.
Lance is still in prison.
- Lee Mack.
I wasn't very good.
Lance is still in prison.
- Lee Mack.
December 14, 2025 at 12:21 PM
I used to be a freelance journalist.
I wasn't very good.
Lance is still in prison.
- Lee Mack.
I wasn't very good.
Lance is still in prison.
- Lee Mack.
If starting new business today, first thing I'd do is build Advisory Board. Doesn't need to cost anything to set up. Would save a fortune in mistakes. Advisory boards are water wings for entrepreneurs.
December 14, 2025 at 10:00 AM
If starting new business today, first thing I'd do is build Advisory Board. Doesn't need to cost anything to set up. Would save a fortune in mistakes. Advisory boards are water wings for entrepreneurs.
330 million businesses out there. Less than 1% have active board. Yet every successful company you've heard of has a board. 'Too small' 'Can't afford it' Yeah, no.
December 14, 2025 at 4:00 AM
330 million businesses out there. Less than 1% have active board. Yet every successful company you've heard of has a board. 'Too small' 'Can't afford it' Yeah, no.
Journey will have bumps. Many factors outside my control determine if I hit the goal. But if I fall short, it's worthwhile if I grow. Took me way too long to learn this. How do you balance goals and journey?
December 13, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Journey will have bumps. Many factors outside my control determine if I hit the goal. But if I fall short, it's worthwhile if I grow. Took me way too long to learn this. How do you balance goals and journey?
Journey is more important than destination. I'm ambitious and goal oriented, but I no longer set goals unless I'll enjoy the journey regardless of outcome. Will it teach me? Push me? Align with values?
December 13, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Journey is more important than destination. I'm ambitious and goal oriented, but I no longer set goals unless I'll enjoy the journey regardless of outcome. Will it teach me? Push me? Align with values?
Entrepreneurship and success is just a game. Much to learn from leaders who thrived under more serious conditions. What historic figures still inspire you today?
December 13, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Entrepreneurship and success is just a game. Much to learn from leaders who thrived under more serious conditions. What historic figures still inspire you today?
'If you're going through hell, keep going.' - Churchill. 'Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.' 4 G's when things are tough: Grit, Grace, Gratitude, Generosity.
December 13, 2025 at 4:00 AM
'If you're going through hell, keep going.' - Churchill. 'Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.' 4 G's when things are tough: Grit, Grace, Gratitude, Generosity.
Long haul flights are my most productive space. 7+ hours, zero distractions, no wifi. Make list of outcomes, set up resources, plough through work. Honestly not sure I'd have finished my books without flights.
December 12, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Long haul flights are my most productive space. 7+ hours, zero distractions, no wifi. Make list of outcomes, set up resources, plough through work. Honestly not sure I'd have finished my books without flights.
Flexible work doesn't reduce productivity. We can procrastinate equally well in office or at home. Environments impact performance. Set clear outcome expectations, not process. Finish the draft, don't just work 2 hours.
December 12, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Flexible work doesn't reduce productivity. We can procrastinate equally well in office or at home. Environments impact performance. Set clear outcome expectations, not process. Finish the draft, don't just work 2 hours.
Angel investing can be first step toward bigger board opportunities. Have you made an angel investment? Were you invested to learn or just earn?
December 12, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Angel investing can be first step toward bigger board opportunities. Have you made an angel investment? Were you invested to learn or just earn?
Consider backing a startup not for returns but insight. As angel you'll learn about founders and building challenges. Be prepared to lose money and give more than money. One investment unlocks learning and relationships.
December 12, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Consider backing a startup not for returns but insight. As angel you'll learn about founders and building challenges. Be prepared to lose money and give more than money. One investment unlocks learning and relationships.
Every week I interview individuals for Veblen. Biggest mistake I see: people waiting for the perfect moment to start their board journey. Perfect moment doesn't exist. Start now.
December 11, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Every week I interview individuals for Veblen. Biggest mistake I see: people waiting for the perfect moment to start their board journey. Perfect moment doesn't exist. Start now.
The only thing worse than starting something and failing is not starting something. - Seth Godin
December 11, 2025 at 4:00 PM
The only thing worse than starting something and failing is not starting something. - Seth Godin
Joining Apple's board might be a pipe dream, but there are a million other companies interested in you sitting on their board for a few hours per month. Incredibly lucrative and fascinating.
December 11, 2025 at 10:00 AM
Joining Apple's board might be a pipe dream, but there are a million other companies interested in you sitting on their board for a few hours per month. Incredibly lucrative and fascinating.
Conventional wisdom: everyone should have a side hustle. But what if you're damn good at what you do and don't want to sell hand stitched finger puppets on Etsy? Not everyone's cut out to be an entrepreneur.
December 11, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Conventional wisdom: everyone should have a side hustle. But what if you're damn good at what you do and don't want to sell hand stitched finger puppets on Etsy? Not everyone's cut out to be an entrepreneur.
'Sophisticated' doesn't mean studied or qualified. It means you have more money. Person with $10k studying markets nightly can't access great deals. Trust fund kid with millions and zero interest can. Rich get richer.
December 10, 2025 at 10:00 PM
'Sophisticated' doesn't mean studied or qualified. It means you have more money. Person with $10k studying markets nightly can't access great deals. Trust fund kid with millions and zero interest can. Rich get richer.
Governments 'protect' retail investors. Means average investor gets safe investments with high fees and low returns. 'Sophisticated' investors get Private Equity, Hedge Funds, double digit returns.
December 10, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Governments 'protect' retail investors. Means average investor gets safe investments with high fees and low returns. 'Sophisticated' investors get Private Equity, Hedge Funds, double digit returns.
It's SO easy to get ahead if you get basics right. You might not have education, connections, background, talent. But do basics right and you stay in the game. Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard.
December 10, 2025 at 10:00 AM
It's SO easy to get ahead if you get basics right. You might not have education, connections, background, talent. But do basics right and you stay in the game. Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard.
Same week: student intern and senior exec looking for board role both came for career favours. Both let themselves down by not showing up or showing up late and unprepared.
December 10, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Same week: student intern and senior exec looking for board role both came for career favours. Both let themselves down by not showing up or showing up late and unprepared.