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Why Sector Light?

A letter from Founder,  Paul McCarney

  • LinkedIn

I've spent my life investing either my time or money into building companies. But recently, what I value changed. I no longer have the need to be the smartest, wealthier or famous. 

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I am now looking to invest time into people, to help innovative, creative thinkers achieve the freedom of time and mind that I am on a journey to attain. 

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Sector Light has come about after talking and listening to CEO founders about how lonely the CEO role is (my full PoV is here), realising how many founders are suffering from mental health challenges, and how many of them are on the lookout for people who can not only actively help, but truly empathise and advise.

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I have spent the past few years researching, being taught and reading many pixels of content on coaching, mentoring and startup advice (much of which I have lived). We are no longer short of information or knowledge on the topic, the Internet and AI is seeing to that.

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So, it seems what I was looking for sat between a coach, a mentor and an active Chairperson. It didn't exist exactly. So I am attempting to develop a CEO service that I wanted.  

 

I call it Active Mentoring.

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Combined, I've founded well over 10 companies, associations and charities. I've bought, sold and invested in scores of companies, been on the boards of big, small, listed and unlisted firms, involved in raising hundreds of millions in debt and equity.

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Whilst the successful ones have given me some freedom and options, the failures have taught me more than I could learn in any book. If you'd like a bio, a list of what I've done well and poorly, lessons learnt, and what I value now, download a PDF here. 

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I have been casually mentoring founders for over 20 years, but my services are now no longer free, (read why here). TLDR; There is a real value exchange and money was created to intermediate that. I have plans to grow, so well rounded founders can leverage their wisdom to help others. One thing AI won't be disrupting anytime soon.

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I'm on the lookout for 7 more post Series A CEOs (I have 3 already) I can help become successful.  

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Founder - Paul McCarney

What is a sector light?

A sector light is a navigational aid used in maritime navigation. Sector lights typically use coloured light to mark specific sectors or directions around hazards.

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Often found in lighthouses or on buoys, mariners use sector lights to help them navigate safely through channels or avoid obstacles by staying within the designated sectors indicated by the lights. 

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For example, coming into a narrow channel sailors will follow the line of the white light and avoid seeing the red or green lights, that denotes danger.

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What and Why for Investors

Having a CEO who is engaged and motivated is crucial to ROI, by having someone to provide;

  • Oversight that the CEO/Founder is focusing on the right things

    • Why - The urgent and tactical can often take over the strategic and important

  • That the CEO/Founder has a balanced, conscious and engaged mindset.

    • Why - Anxiety and depression are highly prevalent in startup founders. This survey says 49% of founders are  considering leaving in the next 12 months. 39% have had depression in the last 12 months.

  • The CEOs with options on why to use the certain tools and frameworks so that they make the right decisions.

    • Why - there is plenty of content on what and how to do certain things, but context on why is often missing. Experience and objectivity can help

  • The type of advice and oversight an experienced VC might provide.​

    • Why - As venture portfolios get bigger, its very hard to provide the quality and quantity of advice that is required by CEO

What and Why for CEOs

Having someone who not only understands the 'what and why' of your issues, and is 100% on your team, but;

  • Intimately understands the startup rollercoaster 

    • Why - Its easier to advise or facilitate the content of a solution if you have 'lived' the context. Good and bad.​

  • Actively listens and helps you not to act in fear or out of anger. Aligned to get the best outcome for you

    • Why - By learning to be curious, you can move beyond fear and process your emotions and the narratives you create.

    • Why - your mentor is not in fear, can act in your best interests, and can help you be more rational and objective.

  • Provide options on why to use the certain tools and frameworks so that you make the right decisions.

  • Why - there is plenty of content on what and how to do certain things, but context on why is often missing. Experience and objectivity can help

  • Holds you to account and focussed on what’s important 

    • Why - It can be hard to 'stay on target', ultimately everyone needs to be held to account.

  • Works with you to educate key stakeholders and manage expectations.

    • Why - CEOs wear multiple hats (Exec, Director and Shareholder). Learn how to build stakeholder trust with each hat 

  • Was on call when you needed them.

    • Why - CEO is a lonely role. To maintain sanity, sometimes you need to talk to it through.

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