James Routledge

is an entrepreneur, writer and coach. He is the founder of Sanctus, Author of 'Mental Health at Work' and coach to startup founders who want to scale and enjoy the ride.

Taking a holiday is good for business
Opinion
December 17, 2025
Taking a holiday is good for business
Founders: not being able to switch off isn’t just an emotional weakness. It’s a systems problem
James Routledge
Founders, stop paying yourself like a martyr
Opinion
November 12, 2025
Founders, stop paying yourself like a martyr
Pay yourself a good and fair salary, writes serial entrepreneur James Routledge. Your business will thank you for it
James Routledge
Stop worrying about your business, it’s making things worse
Opinion
October 1, 2025
Stop worrying about your business, it’s making things worse
Founders and CEOs are some of the most talented worriers I’ve ever met, says serial founder James Routledge — but don't let concerns fester
James Routledge
Founders, before you scale, you’ve got to learn to grieve
Opinion
March 14, 2025
Founders, before you scale, you’ve got to learn to grieve
Any founder building a company needs to get comfortable with loss and leaving things behind
James Routledge
What should founders actually do after they exit?
Opinion
March 7, 2025
What should founders actually do after they exit?
I find it baffling that we have so little discussion about what happens to founders after an exit
James Routledge
Founders: be more selfish
Opinion
February 3, 2025
Founders: be more selfish
Running yourself into the ground will hurt you — and your startup — in the long-term
James Routledge
Is any founder truly happy with their exit?
Opinion
January 22, 2025
Is any founder truly happy with their exit?
You don't have to look far to find an 'exited' founder — but finding a happily exited founder is much harder
James Routledge
Is founding a startup the best way to change the world?
Opinion
November 9, 2022
Is founding a startup the best way to change the world?
Startups are changing the way we work, shop and live — but is founding a company really the best way to have an impact?
James Routledge
Founders, can we all be more honest?
Opinion
October 19, 2022
Founders, can we all be more honest?
Founders are undermining their credibility and undermining trust by exaggerating their company’s performance.
James Routledge
How to build your founder brand without sounding like bragging
Opinion
January 28, 2022
How to build your founder brand without sounding like bragging
Personal brand building can be key for founders. But how to do it authentically — without sounding like you're blowing your own horn?
James Routledge
We celebrate unicorns, so why is money still taboo at startups?
Opinion
October 29, 2021
We celebrate unicorns, so why is money still taboo at startups?
Startups love to talk about valuations and cash. So why is talking about money when it relates to salaries and financial health still taboo?
James Routledge
Bootstrapping vs VC: choosing the best way to fund your startup
Opinion
September 17, 2021
Bootstrapping vs VC: choosing the best way to fund your startup
Funding is never black and white, unicorn or zebra. It's often a combination of the two.
James Routledge
Founders, you don’t have to be CEO
Opinion
July 30, 2021
Founders, you don’t have to be CEO
Founders don’t always make the best CEOs or enjoy the job — and it shouldn’t be taboo to admit that and find someone else.
James Routledge

James Routledge

Taking a holiday is good for business

Founders, stop paying yourself like a martyr

Stop worrying about your business, it’s making things worse

Founders, before you scale, you’ve got to learn to grieve

What should founders actually do after they exit?

Founders: be more selfish

Is any founder truly happy with their exit?

Is founding a startup the best way to change the world?

Founders, can we all be more honest?

How to build your founder brand without sounding like bragging

We celebrate unicorns, so why is money still taboo at startups?

Bootstrapping vs VC: choosing the best way to fund your startup

Founders, you don’t have to be CEO