👋 Hi, I’m Ben

At 30, I thought I had life figured out.

My startup was exploding. I had over 100 employees and we’d raised over $70m from investors. I was young, rich (at least on paper), and successful. Other than a big head, I was winning at life. What could go wrong?

Then I got cancer.

I struggled back to work, but soon fell into one of the worst burnouts of my life. Eventually I had to step down from my company and, honestly, I didn’t know who I was without it.

🧘 Being the coach I wish I had

I kept telling myself: I should do this. I should do that.

For six months, I pushed myself to chase the next 'should', but for the first time, I didn’t know what my next move was.

"You only ever experience two emotions: euphoria and terror. And I find that lack of sleep enhances them both." - Marc Andreesen

Looking back, I realised that the hardest moments of my own journey weren’t about raising money or scaling a company. They were about the isolation, the pressure, the relentless highs and lows.

That’s when it hit me: I wanted to help founders.

🌍 195 Countries - I used to hide part of myself

The second thing I decided was that I was going to take a trip. Not just any trip. I was going to visit every country in the world.

At first, I didn’t tell my professional network. I worried people wouldn’t take me seriously if I was taking their calls from the edge of the Nile or up a mountain in Vietnam.

But over time, I started sharing my journey with some of the long-term founders I coach. And the response was always the same: “Tell me more!”

Over time I realised that my travelling actually made me a better coach.

🚀 Growth is Everywhere

Growth doesn’t just happen in boardrooms. I’ve learned so much from the cultures and people I’ve encountered.

• 🌍 Scarcity makes us strong - How people in Makoko slum build businesses with almost nothing

• 💸 Why Bhutan prioritises Happiness over Growth - why more isn’t always better

• 💪 How Singapore made diversity its strength - how a nation that was doomed to fail became an economic success story

This newsletter is about those lessons—the ones I’ve found in unexpected places—and how they apply to building and scaling businesses. Because growth doesn’t just happen in boardrooms.

What to expect:

✅ Short, shares from my travels

💡 Practical takeaways for your entrepreneurial journey

🌍 A global perspective on hustle, creativity, and growth

So whether you're pitching investors, scaling a team, or figuring out what comes next, I hope Go, Learn, Build becomes a source of insight, inspiration, and maybe even unlocks a few “aha” moments.

See you on the road,

Ben Jones

P.S. Ever learned something surprising from your travels? Hit reply—I’d love to hear your story!