Why a 5-min letter could fuel a hundred more?
Five minutes won’t change a life. But the right five minutes — at the right moment, with the right perspective — can sometimes illuminate a hundred others. That’s what these letters aim to do.
For nearly a decade, I’ve coached scale-up leaders one-to-one, behind closed doors, in the moments when clarity truly matters. Close to 300 CEOs and founders, across Europe and the United States, most of them post-Series A or B. At that level, coaching rests on a few fundamentals: absolute trust, no shortcuts, deep work.
It’s given me a rare vantage point and puts me face to face with the demands of high-stakes leadership, day after day.
Advice is everywhere. Content has exploded on social media. the word “coaching” is fading as it gets overused — claimed by many, mastered by very few. But coaching is a craft — and, let’s say it plainly, coaching is a professional art.
The leaders I work with all tell me the same thing: they don’t need more noise, they need the right perspective at the right time. Something that lets them step back, pause, think clearly, and see differently.
That’s why I write these letters. Not to dispense generic lessons, but to share a point of view on concrete leadership problems I tackle every day — and to do it in a way that’s useful and anchored in reality.
Each week, I write to a young, fictional CEO. He or she could be any one of us. Each situation is taken from the field: team tensions, time pressure, a fraying company culture, a dysfunctional board, personal stress, strategic choices, hard conversations. Some letters are direct, others more introspective. All share the same intent: to offer leaders a pause in their week, to think differently and act with more clarity.
The value of this correspondence lies as much in its rhythm as in its content: short breaths, simple and sustainable over time. On LinkedIn or Substack. Consistency sometimes matters more than intensity. Read week after week, I hope these letters will strengthen leaders’ posture and clarity — like drops of water that, over time, shape the stone.
Every Wednesday, I send you a Coaching Letter. A 5-minute read. Inside, you’ll find:
Real coaching situations reflecting common leadership challenges
Professional insights — grounded in data and coaching science
Practical exercises and resources to move forward
A space to chat with me — if you want to go further
No glitter or grand promises. Just a letter. A quiet space to spark something — and maybe help you self-coach.
You can read the letters in your inbox or browse the archive here. Subscribing is free — and if a letter ever speaks to something you’re holding, you can always reach out. I’ll try to respond, and if I can, help you take your thinking one step further.
Glad you’re here. Glad to start this correspondence with you.
See you next Wednesday,
Adri.
FAQ
Here are some of the questions I often get — and my answers.
Why only five minutes?
Because that’s the time most leaders can realistically spare — and it’s enough. A well-placed question or a shift in perspective can do more than an hour of generic advice.
Why a letter?
Because a letter is quieter, more focused, and made to last. It’s not something you just scroll past — it’s a moment you can keep.
What makes this different from other leadership content?
It comes from real coaching work, not theory. I’ve spent nearly a decade working with almost 300 CEOs and founders, across Europe and the US. Every situation I write about is drawn from those rooms, where clarity really mattered.
Can five minutes really change anything?
Yes. Sometimes a single insight, or the right question at the right time, is enough to shift how you see a whole week, a team, or a decision.
Who are you writing for?
For leaders in the arena — seasoned or emerging, CEOs and founders who actually carry the weight of building and scaling. Not spectators, not commentators.
Who are you?
I’m Adrien Falcon — a.k.a. Adri for most people who know me and work with me. I’ve been coaching scale-up CEOs and founders for nearly a decade, mostly post-Series A. Before that, I built and led teams myself. You can learn more about me on LinkedIn or on my site adrien-falcon.com.
How much does it cost?
Nothing. Subscribing is free — you get the letters in your inbox, once a week.
Where should I follow your letters — LinkedIn or Substack?
On LinkedIn, you’ll get a shorter version — a quick, suspended note to catch in your daily scroll. On Substack, you’ll find the full letter — deeper, with coaching science and exercises, and space to chat and go further together.
Do you also write in French?
Yes — en français aussi ! You’ll find all the French letters at coaching-letters.com.
Can I reply if a letter resonates?
Yes. You can write back. I may not always have time for long answers, but I do my best to respond — and sometimes that’s enough to spark the next step in your thinking.
