Screw it, Just Do it

Eugene Amo-Dadzie has been fast his whole life. He knew it. His teachers knew it. His parents knew it.He just never actually tried.From the age of nine, Eugene was the fastest kid in the school. He grew up watching Usain Bolt and dreamed of the track. But running was always just a hobby — something to enjoy, never something to pursue. His parents pushed academics. His culture valued qualifications. And somewhere along the way, Eugene made a quiet peace with never finding out how good he actually was.For years he was the guy who said: if I had tried, I could have done it.Then, at 26, standing beside an athletics track in Woodford, his best friend turned to him and said: think you could put a pair of spikes on and beat these guys?In this Bite-Sized episode of Screw It Just DO It, Eugene tells the story of what happened when he finally said yes. A debut season that ended with a torn hamstring. A British Championship silver medal. A sub-10-second 100 metres. And a semi-final at the World Athletics Championships — where he lined up against the Olympic champion, the World champion, and the Commonwealth champion in the same race.All of it starting at 26. All of it built around a full-time accounting career, a wife, a daughter, and a job he loves.Key Takeaways- Why Eugene spent years believing in his talent without ever testing it — and what finally changed- What the Parable of the Talents taught him about buried potential- How to handle a setback that arrives before you have even properly started- What it takes to balance elite sport with a full-time career, a family, and faith

Caryl Meyers was a professional West End dancer. An injury ended her career with no plan B.That same no-plan-B mentality drove her from Apple business specialist to digital course builder to one of the most practical voices on AI implementation for founders in the UK.In this episode of Screw It Just DO It, I sit down with Caryl to talk about why most founders are getting AI completely wrong, why tools without infrastructure create more problems than they solve, and how her Simplify, Automate, Amplify framework helps founders compete at scale without a large team.We get into speed to lead, the opportunity quadrant, and why the founders who do not adapt now will find themselves looking up at competitors they did not even know existed.Key Takeaways• Why choosing tools over infrastructure is the number one AI mistake founders make• The Simplify, Automate, Amplify framework explained step by step• How AI levels the playing field for a team of one• What happens to founders who wait

If you're buying or selling internationally, there's a good chance you're losing money - without realising it.In this episode, Lawrence Bennett (UK Country Manager of WorldFirst) breaks down the hidden costs most founders overlook when scaling globally.We cover:- Why "convenience" is costing you margin- The double conversion trap- How FX impacts your bottom line- What founders should actually be doing insteadIf you're scaling internationally, this is something you need to understand early.NOTE:The views expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and are provided for general informational purposes only. Nothing in this episode constitutes financial advice, investment advice, tax advice, or a recommendation to enter into any financial transaction.Foreign exchange (FX) products, including forward contracts, involve risk. You should seek independent professional advice before entering into any FX transaction.World First UK Limited is a UK registered limited company with company number 05022388 and is authorized by the Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA") as an Electronic Money Institution under the Electronic Money Regulations 2011 with FCA Firm Reference number 900508.

Kirk Miller spent five years as a plumber who hated every day of it.He was in shape. He had the body. He looked like he had it together. Internally, he was miserable.In 2010, he won the Men's Health cover model competition and used that moment as the proof he needed to jump. He quit with five hours of personal training booked, no car, and a borrowed work van to get around Coventry. As long as he could pay his bills, eat, and keep a roof over his head, he was going.Twenty years later, Kirk runs Built To Last, a six-pillar performance coaching system used by founders, CEOs, and high-net-worth entrepreneurs who want to stop treating their health as an afterthought and start building it as a competitive advantage.In this episode of Screw It Just DO It, Kirk and Alex unpack why the systems that worked in your twenties will not carry you through building a business, why willpower is not a strategy, and what two decades of coaching high performers has taught Kirk about the real cost of founders ignoring their health.Key Takeaways:- Why most founders are using outdated health systems built for a life they no longer live- The three non-negotiables to schedule every week before anything else- Why your state drives your decisions and what that costs you in business- The difference between emotional confidence and the confidence tied to your bank balance- What the most emotionally content and consistently wealthy entrepreneurs Kirk coaches all have in common

Thousands of people were already building their own version.No brand. No product. No one selling to them.She saw it… and decided to build anyway.In this Bite-Sized episode of Screw It Just DO It, Laura Fullerton talks about the Screw It Just DO It moment that led her to build a hardware and software business from scratch, why fundraising nearly broke her last year, and the one thing she believes every founder gets wrong before they get it right.We also get into what it actually costs to build a company, why quitting is not even an option for a certain type of founder, and why your network is the only asset that compounds in the same way as your ambition.Key Takeaways:Why markets often exist before businesses doThe importance of noticing behaviour, not ideasWhat early-stage building actually demands mentallyWhy network becomes leverage under pressure

Dr Guy Sandleowsky spent six years becoming a vet. He was seeing 20 to 30 pets a day. He was heading toward a specialist surgery career. And he chose to walk away.Not because it was not working. Because it was not enough. He wanted to help hundreds of thousands of animals, not dozens. And he believed a business could get him there.In this episode of Screw It Just DO It, Guy explains how he left a clinical career everyone around him supported to do an MBA no one thought he needed, how he co-founded Omni using novel proteins to address a dog health crisis most owners do not know exists, and what happened when he and his co-founder walked into Dragons' Den with a dog that immediately ate six portions and was sick on camera.Key Takeaways:- Why the moment that almost stopped him was not failure but fear of wasted sacrifice- How 91% approval from raw-meat-feeding dog owners proved the product before a single ad was spent- What Stephen Bartlett and Deborah Meaden actually said when the cameras stopped rolling- Why Guy has refused to hide who he is despite losing investment deals because of it- The practical advice for anyone sitting on a business idea while still in a job

Roxie Nafousi went from addiction, no purpose and rock bottom… to building a global brand and selling over 1 million books.In this episode, she shares the real turning point that changed everything — and why success isn't always linear.We also talk about:What rock bottom really felt likeThe moment everything shiftedBuilding a brand that sells out in 48 hoursAnd why her latest launch didn't go to planListen to the full episode and let us know your biggest takeaway.

He couldn't read. Couldn't write. And was told he had no chance of running a business.So he started one anyway.Decades later he runs a £30 million-plus portfolio: commercial property, a luxury wedding venue, a mastermind for business owners stuck at the two million pound mark, and a growing personal brand.In this episode of Screw It Just DO It, I sit down with James Martin to unpack the full story. From cutting grass on a mower with a swapped-out engine to walk into contracts, to buying back his own tree surgery company from a receiver for fifty grand after a corporate buyer destroyed it, to building an entire business model around neurodiverse thinkers.We talk about growing up in a pub with a dyslexia diagnosis that felt like a life sentence, why he treats his teacher's words as fuel rather than scars, how he learned to run a business without being able to read a book, and what he now tells every founder who is stuck getting out of the van.If you are building something and feel like the system was not designed for you, this one is for you.Key TakeawaysWhy being underestimated can become leverageThe role of defiance in early entrepreneurshipWhy traditional paths don't fit everyoneHow failure tolerance changes decision-making

It was meant to be a side project. Six months. No real risk.Two years later, he had quit his job, spent his life savings, and there was no way back.In this Bite-Sized episode of Screw It Just DO It, I sit down with Ben Branson, founder of Seedlip, to unpack how nine generations of farming, a dad in brand design, and one disgusting pink mocktail led to him creating the category of premium non-alcoholic spirits.We talk about how the business almost never existed, why naming is a horrible process, what standing at a Selfridges shelf for three weeks teaches you about customers, and the moment Ben realised he absolutely loves numbers.If you are building something and wondering whether to go all in or keep it as a side project, this one is for you.Key Takeaways- When a side project quietly becomes your main riskWhy most founders don't notice the point of no returnThe difference between planning and commitmentWhy finishing something changes everything

Gurthro Steenkamp won a Rugby World Cup. He coached at the highest level in European rugby. He had every reason to stay in that world.Then his daughter asked him why she could never see him like the other children saw their dads.That broke him.In this episode of Screw It Just DO It, Coach G explains how he walked away from a full-time coaching role at La Rochelle at 44 and went all in on his own business, why he stopped chasing a vision and started chasing an identity, and what it actually means to be fulfilled versus just successful.We talk about the scrum of entrepreneurship, what rugby taught him that nothing else could, why authenticity is the only real growth strategy, and why vision without action just remains a dream.Key TakeawaysThe moment success stops feeling meaningfulWhy identity matters more than external achievementThe cost of staying in the wrong role too longWhy action creates clarity, not the other way around

She had no experience. No funding. And every reason to stay where she was.Instead, she chose a path where failure was almost guaranteed.In this Bite-Sized episode of Screw It Just DO It, Bonita Norris shares the exact morning she chose to explore Everest, what it actually felt like in the dead zone at altitude, and why the summit was nothing like she imagined.Key Takeaways:The decision that came before any proof or supportWhy clarity matters more than confidenceWhat extreme pressure does to your thinkingWhy the outcome rarely feels how you expectThis is not an adventure story. It is a lesson in choosing difficulty on purpose.

He was hiding £24,000 of debt from everyone... until one question exposed everything.Sammie Ellard-King had been hiding £24,000 of debt from everyone around him. His friends. His girlfriend. His family.Then someone asked him how much he needed to retire.He didn't have an answer. And worse, he realised how far behind he really was.In this episode of Screw It Just DO It, I sit down with Sammie, founder of Up the Gains and the new app Gains, to unpack how a personal debt crisis became a financial education brand with millions of views, and why the gap in UK financial literacy is still dangerously wide.We cover the moment he decided to stop hiding and start learning, why the online Lambo lifestyle influencers are genuinely dangerous for young people, the six things you need to understand to be ahead of 95% of this country, and what financial freedom actually means when you strip away the noiseThis is not motivational content. It is a real conversation about money, mindset, and the decision to build something that mattersKey TakeawaysThe question that forced him to face £24,000 of hidden debtWhy most people delay learning about money until it's too lateThe simple rule that stopped his impulse spendingHow he turned personal debt into a business and audience

They hit December with no money left.No salary. No backup plan.Just one decision to make:quit... or remove the option to quit completely.Simon Gardiner built Carrington West from a garage during the worst recession in decades.But the real turning point wasn't the start.It was the moment there was no way out.In this Bite-Sized episode of Screw It Just DO It, Simon shares the moment he and his co-founder James sat in a pub at Christmas with no funds, no revenue, and a stark choice: fold the business or grind it out from scratch. They chose to grind.That decision built what is now a £100 million revenue business and the UK's recognised best employer.We talk about why Simon wants it to take 10 years, why early struggle is not something to hide from, and why building a facade of success before you have earned it is one of the most dangerous things a founder can do.Key Takeaways• Why there is no substitute for the resilience built in the early years• What happened when they reframed the entire business at Christmas with no money left• Why Simon never wants to sell and what European founders understand that UK founders often miss• The danger of flooding your environment with luxury before you have earned it

She sold her business.And in the process, gave away something she should never have signed over.Calypso Rose built multiple businesses from scratch with just £2,000. One became the number one product in Selfridges. Another she scaled and sold.But the biggest lesson didn't come from building.It came from the deal she wishes she could undo.In this episode of Screw It Just DO It, I sit down with Calypso Rose, serial entrepreneur and founder of Offscript, to talk about what three businesses built without investment have taught her, why she champions lifestyle businesses over scale-up culture, and the mistake she made at the exit table that every founder needs to hear.We talk about designing a business around your life, knowing when to walk away, and why most founders stay three years too long.Key Takeaways• Why she signed over her Instagram in a deal and immediately tried to buy it back• How she built The Institute to give her freedom, cash positivity, and flexibility from day one• The moment the boxes hit the ceiling and she knew it was time to move• Why starting with a minimal viable product will always beat building before you launch

Lain Ward was doing a medical trial for extra cash when an MRI scan found a stage three brain tumour in his head.He was 31. His prognosis was one to five years.His first reaction? Bollocks.His second? A plan.In this Bite-Sized episode of Screw It Just DO It, Iain explains how a brain cancer diagnosis became the clearest direction he had ever been given, why he calls himself the luckiest unlucky man in the world, and how he turned a prognosis into a pursuit of two Guinness World Records and a mission to raise millions for cancer charities.We talk about the difference between a diagnosis and a prognosis, why cancer gave him a road he did not have before, and what it looks like to build a following of over over nine million people one video at a time, without ever knowing how much time you have left.Key Takeaways• Why finding cancer accidentally in a medical trial MRI was the luckiest thing that ever happened to him• How he went from solutions mode to world record pursuit within a week of his prognosis• Why cancer was the best thing that happened to his life• What it looks like when every single daily action is connected to one goal

Jason thought he had already failed at 22.He was 22 years old when he found out he was going to be a father.He was living in a flat, going out every weekend, talking about the business he was going to start one day.Then everything changed.He moved 26 miles away to a town where he knew nobody, walked away from his social life, and started an electrical engineering company in a garden shed. No fanfare. No safety net. Just a decision to stop waiting.In this episode of Screw It Just DO It, Jason and Alex talk about what financial freedom actually means, why most entrepreneurs are chasing the wrong goal, and how Jason grew a YouTube channel to half a million subscribers with zero ad spend and generated 12 million dollars through a single funnel in under a year.Key Takeaways• Why chasing financial freedom is often the wrong goal• How one week of reading YouTube analytics changed everything• The product ecosystem thinking that generated 12 million dollars in 10 months• Why most content creators fail from day one• How to know when enough is enough

Darren O'Reilly spent his early years on the professional rugby pitch, representing giants like Leinster and Harlequins and playing in an underage World Cup for Ireland. In that world, his nutrition was meticulously managed by club staff; every meal was tailored for recovery and performance.Then he made the transition to corporate life, and the system broke.Without a team of nutritionists, Darren found himself skipping breakfast and relying on "nutritionally disastrous" meal deals, leading to an unintentional 20kg weight loss. He realized he wasn't alone; the corporate office was a breeding ground for poor nutritional habits that affected focus and energy.In this episode of ScrewItJustDoIt, Darren explains why he teamed up with senior nutrition lecturer Dr. Brian Carson to launch Wholesup, how they spent two and a half years bootstrapping the business before seeking investment, and the massive logistical hurdles they faced navigating Brexit shipping between the UK and Ireland.We also unpack the science behind functional superfoods like organic cherries and beetroot, the decision to invest in home-compostable packaging that costs two-thirds more than plastic and why being "all in" is the only way to survive the manufacturer "plug-pulling" of the startup world.This is not just about a protein shake. It is about redefining the ritual of functional food for the modern lifestyle.Key Takeaways • How to transition the discipline of a professional athlete into the startup world • The reality of bootstrapping a physical product for over two years • Navigating the "silent pandemic" of poor nutrition in the corporate environment • Why sustainability and B Corp values must be built into the brand from day one

In this episode of Screw It Just Do It, I sit down with Nishant Sharma, founder of Rutland Square Spirits and the mind behind Rutland Square Gin.Nishant didn't arrive in Scotland with investors or a master plan.He arrived with £500 in his pocket and the determination to build a life from scratch.He had a roof over his head and food on the table, but no real direction. What followed was years of hustling, questioning what success actually means, and learning that sometimes achieving the things you dream about still leaves you asking one powerful question — what's next?In this conversation, Nishant opens up about the relentless pressure of entrepreneurship, the moment he pushed himself so hard it resulted in a heart attack, and the mindset shift that forced him to rethink everything.We talk about believing in yourself before anyone else will, why founders sometimes need to be shameless in pursuing opportunity, what investors are really betting on when they back a startup, and the deeper philosophy behind ambition, money, and purpose.This is a raw conversation about risk, resilience, and the reality of building something meaningful from almost nothing.⸻Key TakeawaysBelief comes first.If you don't believe in yourself, no investor or partner will either.Investors bet on people.Numbers, charts, and projections matter — but ultimately investors back the founder.Relentless hustle has a cost.Entrepreneurship demands everything, and ignoring your health can push you to dangerous limits.Success doesn't end the journey.Even when you achieve the things you once dreamed of, the bigger question often becomes: what's next?Nishant Sharma didn't plan to build a spirits empire.He was on a lucrative corporate path, working as a high-paid contractor for global giants like HSBC and BlackRock. He was "living the dream" with a big SUV and a comfortable salary, but he felt like a misfit without a true purpose.Then, the death of his grandmother in 2017 changed everything. During his trip home to India, he discovered his family's "inception story": his great-grandfather had run an illegal spirit-blending "side hustle" with a Scottish officer decades earlier.That was the spark.In this episode of Screw It Just DO It, Nishant shares how Rutland Square Spirits was born "from the fire of a cremation," how he arrived in Scotland as a student with only £500, and how he survived failing three times before his brand took flight.We talk about the "brutal reality" of startup stress—including the heart attack that nearly killed him—the power of "shameless" tenacity, why he cold-emailed 1,000 people in a single weekend to save his business, and how he eventually landed a major celebrity investor.This is not a story about chasing a quick payout.It's about building a legacy, refusing to have an "exit plan," and the sheer grit required to turn a family story into a global brand.Key TakeawaysThe "Shameless" Founder: Why you must keep "paddling" even when you're drowning.The Heart Attack Warning: The physical and mental cost of the "hustle".Story-Led Branding: Why modern consumers are choosing meaning over "Big Alcohol".Tenacity vs. Desperation: How sending 1,000 emails can change your business trajectory.The India Opportunity: Why the world's youngest population is the next frontier for craft spirits.

Most founders focus on raising capital.Dom focused on timing, expertise and people.In this Bite Sized episode of Screw It Just DO It, I sit down with Dominic McGregor, co founder of Social Chain and founder of Fearless Adventure. Dom started Social Chain at just 20 years old and helped scale it into one of the most influential social media agencies in the world before exiting through a $200 million IPO.But the journey was not built on hype or overnight success.Dom explains the moments that mattered. The decisions that changed the trajectory of the company. And the lessons founders miss when they focus too much on capital instead of capability.We also discuss sobriety, personal discipline and why scaling a company is ultimately about people and timing rather than ideas alone.If you are building something and wondering what it really takes to scale, this conversation offers a rare look behind the scenes of a founder who did it before turning thirty.Key TakeawaysTiming matters more than ideas: Many founders obsess over originality. Dom argues timing is often the real difference between success and failure.Expertise beats capital: Raising money is not the hardest part of scaling. Building the right team with real experience is.People determine scale: The fastest growing companies are rarely built by one person. They are built by strong teams aligned behind the same mission.

They didn't grow up in the drinks industry. They didn't have investors lined up. They had £12,000, two corporate jobs, and a spicy margarita made on a balcony during lockdown.In this episode of Screw It Just DO It, I sit down with Alice Parmiter and Wynter Karo, co-founders of Pimentae, to unpack how they turned a tequila knowledge gap into one of the UK's fastest-growing tequila cocktail brands.From discovering real tequila culture in Mexico to spotting a gap in UK supermarkets, they bootstrapped their first 1,400 bottles, hand-delivered influencer hampers, and then put £20,000 down to run a festival bar with no safety net.That decision funded their business.Since then, they've raised £2 million, scaled into grocery, travel and festival spaces, navigated a product recall, and built a brand rooted in community and authenticity.This is not a “glam startup” story. It's about blind optimism, operational mistakes, difficult fundraising conversations, and staying aligned as co-founders.Key Takeaways• Why blind optimism is often required at the start• How bootstrapping builds stronger commercial discipline• The risks of taking the wrong investor too early• Why festivals became their most powerful customer acquisition tool• How authenticity protects your brand as you scale

Claire Warner helped build Belvedere Vodka for 15 years.She created 13 expressions. She climbed the ranks inside LVMH. She understood how premium alcohol brands scale.Then she made a call most people would avoid.She decided the world did not need another vodka.In this Bite-Sized episode of Screw It Just DO It, Claire explains why she left a secure leadership position to build Æcorn Drinks, how a forgotten 16th century acorn wine recipe became the foundation of a modern aperitif, and why launching three complex products at once was a risk worth taking.We also unpack what it means to build your own identity as the sister brand to Seedlip, how Covid disrupted their first real summer, and why innovation in this space has to be flavour-led, not alcohol-led.This is not about sobriety. It is about redefining the ritual.Key Takeaways• Why experience in a category can become a reason to leave it• The strategic risk of launching multiple SKUs at once• How to build brand distinction when linked to a market pioneer• Why aperitif culture matters more than alcohol percentage

Rory MacFadyen never planned to run an apparel brand.He was on a solid corporate trajectory in sport. Middle East sponsorship deals. Major events. A comfortable path.Then he saw the scale of waste in sportswear.At the same time, his best friend Pete discovered how to turn unlimited plastic waste into performance fabric.That was the spark.In this episode of Screw It Just DO It, Rory shares how Reflo was born, why they spent two and a half years developing sustainable performance fabrics before launching, and how they went from being doubted to landing partnerships with the Australian Open and the WM Phoenix Open.We talk about rejection, tall poppy syndrome in the UK, raising growth capital, bringing Harry Kane in as an investor, and why entrepreneurship is far harder than people think.This is not a fast-fashion story.It's about long-term thinking, graft, resilience, and trying to flip an industry on its head.Key Takeaways• Why there is never a perfect time to launch• How to build credibility before you look big• Why founders must sell, not just manage• The truth about hustle culture and burnout• How to build a brand rooted in mission, not marketing

When Dr Leah Totton applied for The Apprentice, she was a full-time NHS doctor with no business experience and a clear career path ahead in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.She didn't expect to win.But winning meant walking away from certainty and stepping into the unknown with Lord Alan Sugar as her business partner.In this episode, I sit down with Leah to unpack what really happened after the cameras stopped rolling. The cash flow stress. The competitor who copied her business model before she even opened. The shock of realising that even after national TV exposure, nobody was queuing outside the clinic.This is the reality of building a service-based business.Leah shares the mindset shift from doctor to entrepreneur, the discipline of sector expertise, and why quality control matters more than rapid scale. We also dive into her seven-year journey to launch a skincare line that she refused to rush, despite pressure to “just put something out”.If you are thinking of starting a clinic, a product brand, or any service-led business, this conversation is a masterclass in resilience and execution.Key TakeawaysGetting customers is harder than launching: Opening the doors is easy. Building trust takes years. Especially in health and aesthetics.Sector expertise protects your business: If you cannot deliver the core service yourself, scaling becomes fragile.Thick skin is not optional: Business is not personal. The sooner you understand that, the faster you grow.Quality compounds: Short-term speed can damage long-term trust. Leah chose slower growth with stronger foundations.

When I sat down with Robert Hanna, I did not hear a story about failure. I heard a story about comfort.He was a director at a legal recruitment firm. Well paid. Progressing. Respected. By most standards, successful.But approaching his 30th birthday, he realised something uncomfortable. He was building someone else's legacy, not his own.That realisation led to a decision. Start his own legal recruitment agency. Then take a bigger risk. Launch The Legally Speaking Podcast, not as a hobby, but as a long-term personal branding strategy.Today, that podcast is a global legal careers platform. It attracts high-quality clients, builds community in the legal industry, and has secured sponsorship from a $5bn legal tech unicorn.In this episode, we break down how personal branding, niche community building, strategic partnerships and content repurposing can transform a professional services business.If you are a founder thinking about building authority, launching a podcast, or turning content into commercial leverage, this conversation is practical and direct.Key TakeawaysComfort can quietly limit ambition. Ownership changes everything.Personal branding is not vanity. It is commercial leverage.Niche communities outperform broad audiences in professional services.Evergreen content becomes an asset when treated strategically.Strategic partnerships accelerate growth faster than going alone.

Jay Morton spent 14 years in the British military, including 10 Jay Morton spent 14 years in the British military, including 10 years in the SAS Special Air Service.Then one quiet moment in the Alps changed everything.In this Thursday Bite-Sized episode of Screw It Just DO It, Jay shares the exact moment he realised there was more to life than chasing promotion inside the Special Forces.Standing on a mountain ridge, eating a sandwich, he made a decision that would take him from elite military operator to two-time Mount Everest summitier and high performance expedition leader.We talk about:Leaving a high-status career without a rigid planWhy Everest became the next proving groundThe difference between physical toughness and mental resilienceWhy growth only happens when you deliberately make life hardJay reflects on summiting Everest twice, guiding clients through extreme pressure, and why he refuses to reach the end of life with regret.

In this episode of Screw It Just DO It, I sit down with Dr. Raphael Sofoluke, founder and CEO of the UK Black Business Show.Raphael didn't start with funding.He didn't start with a team.He didn't even start full-time.He had an idea, six months, and a belief that representation mattered.From a 500-person event at the QE2 Centre to a week-long series attracting 16,000 attendees, Raphael shares the real story behind building one of the UK's most impactful business platforms.We talk about speed over perfection, juggling a full-time job while building something bigger, why being audacious matters, and how the new partnership with Stephen Bartlett and Flight Story aims to drive £100 billion in economic impact over the next decade.This conversation is about execution, ambition, and refusing to think small.Key TakeawaysSpeed beats perfection. First to market with strong execution wins.Learn and earn before you leap. Industry experience compounds.Longevity matters more than hype. Execute with excellence consistently.Impact is the real metric. Revenue follows vision and representation.

Timo Mullen is the co-founder of Foam Life, a sustainable flip flop brand built after he and his co-founder lost their six-figure jobs during the pandemic.In this Bite-Sized episode of Screw It Just DO It, Timo shares the moment they stopped waiting for certainty and chose action instead. From designing their first product in a week to securing pre-orders, raising investment, and expanding into international markets, this conversation breaks down what really happens when founders remove the safety net.Timo also explains why regret became a bigger risk than failure, how accountability drives momentum, and why word of mouth matters more than paid marketing when you are building something real.Key TakeawaysRegret is heavier than failure when you do not actRemoving the safety net forces clarityMomentum comes from action, not planningSustainability works when it is built in from day one

In this episode of Screw It Just DO It, I sit down with Sahar Hashemi OBE, co-founder of Coffee Republic and the force behind Buy Women Built.Sahar shares the moment that changed everything. Trapped in a legal career that did not fit, she was forced to confront how short life really is. Instead of waiting for clarity, confidence, or permission, she acted.We talk about why most founders overthink instead of starting, why customer experience always wins, and why small, doable steps matter more than perfect plans. Sahar also explains why female entrepreneurship in the UK still lags behind other developed countries and what Buy Women Built is doing to change that.This conversation is for anyone sitting on an idea, feeling restless, or waiting for the right moment.Key TakeawaysWhy waiting is often riskier than taking actionHow starting small creates momentum and clarityWhy customer obsession builds resilient businessesHow visibility and role models change belief and behaviour

In this bite-sized episode of Screw It Just DO It, I speak with Cemal Ezel OBE, CEO and founder of Change Please.Cemal shares the defining moment that reshaped his life and career. On a long bus journey in Vietnam, a stranger asked him a question that forced deep reflection. Sitting in a rocking chair at ninety, what legacy would he leave behind. That question led Cemal to build Change Please, a social enterprise using coffee to tackle homelessness.Today, Change Please trains homeless people as baristas, pays a living wage, provides housing support, and reinvests all profits into reducing homelessness. The business is stocked nationwide in Sainsbury's and is expanding internationally while maintaining strong environmental standards across its supply chain.This episode explores purpose-led entrepreneurship, building the right team, choosing mentors carefully, and why founders must take time to recognise progress.Key TakeawaysWhy reflecting on legacy clarifies decision makingHow small actions can scale meaningful impactThe importance of surrounding yourself with experienced mentorsWhy founders must pause to acknowledge progress

Matt Richards MBE is a two time Olympic champion who understands pressure at the highest level. In this episode of Screw It Just DO It, Matt shares how self belief was built early, tested at the 2024 Olympics, and later applied to building a business while still competing at an elite level.We talk about dealing with doubt, staying consistent when outcomes are uncertain, and why feedback and focus matter when you are building something new.Key TakeawaysHow Matt rebuilt belief under Olympic pressureWhy consistency beats confidence during uncertain momentsWhat elite sport teaches you about execution and focusHow feedback shaped Matt's move into business

Simon Alexander Ong is a speaker, coach, and author of Energize. In this Bite-Sized episode of Screw It Just DO It, Simon explains why energy sits at the centre of fulfilment, performance, and progress.We talk about acting before the timing feels perfect, building relationships without expectation, and learning to filter feedback properly. Simon shares the moment he realised that waiting creates regret and why fulfilment starts with decisions made in the present.Key TakeawaysWhy waiting for the right moment often leads to regretHow energy is shaped by people, environments, and internal storiesWhy relationships grow stronger without expectations attachedHow to filter feedback into signal and ignore the noiseThis episode is for founders and leaders who feel drained, distracted, or stuck waiting for clarity.

This Festival of Entrepreneurs panel brings together founders who experienced The Apprentice from the inside and lived with the consequences after the cameras stopped rolling.Tre Lowe, Sabrina Stocker, and Daniel Elahi share why they chose visibility, what the show really gave them, and where it genuinely helped or hindered their businesses. We talk about personal brand, resilience, teamwork under pressure, and the difference between short-term attention and long-term value.This episode, hosted by James Burtt, founder of Phonic Content, is not about reality TV. It is about making deliberate decisions when exposure, risk, and reputation are on the line.Key TakeawaysWhy visibility accelerates opportunity when values are clearHow resilience is built under pressure, not comfortWhen personal brand helps and when it becomes noiseWhy certainty and teamwork matter more than tactics

Adam Kamani has scaled businesses by focusing on the one area founders struggle with most. People.In this Bite-sized episode of Screw It Just DO It, Adam explains why hiring decisions shape everything that follows, how strong teams compensate for leadership gaps, and why personality matters more than skill when a business starts to grow.What You'll LearnWhy managing people becomes harder as businesses scaleHow hiring for personality protects culture long termWhy strong teams fill leadership and capability gapsWhat founders often get wrong about people decisionsThis episode is for founders and leaders who want to scale without losing trust, accountability, or momentum.

Henry Firth and Ian Theasby are the founders of BOSH!, one of the UK's most influential plant-based food brands. What started as frustration with corporate life became a deliberate decision to build an audience before building products.What You'll LearnWhy starting with content de-risked their entire businessHow £20k funded the first critical leapThe discipline behind focusing on the UK before global expansionWhat founders misunderstand about slow, steady scaleThis is a practical conversation about focus, restraint, and building something meaningful without rushing scale.

Growing on TikTok becomes easier when you understand how the platform thinks. Timothy Armoo explains the system with complete clarity.Most founders post on TikTok without understanding how the platform decides who sees what. In this Bite sized Screw It Just DO It episode, Timothy Armoo strips away the guesswork. He explains why niche dominance matters, how to warm the algorithm, and why video level performance beats follower count every time. His approach is built from running campaigns for global brands and seeing what actually drives reach. These insights apply to any founder trying to grow an audience, test messaging or build trust online. His view of TikTok as a behaviour engine rather than a social network gives you a clearer way to work with the platform instead of fighting it.Guest Note:Timothy Armoo is the co founder of Fanbytes, one of Europe's largest Gen Z marketing agencies.Key TakeawaysWarm the algorithm before posting to improve distribution.Build content for one niche to help TikTok identify your audience.Create episodic content to increase watch time and return visits.Use trends to give the algorithm a shortcut for matching your videos to intent.

Sandra Byrne never set out to be an entrepreneur. She left school at fifteen, had no qualifications, and started in retail to get by. What followed was a twenty-one-year journey that led her to build the biggest Lush store in the world on Liverpool's high street.What You'll LearnWhy acting like an owner matters even when the business is not yoursHow community and experience replaced marketing budgetsWhat it takes to scale without losing cultureHow to stay entrepreneurial inside a large organisationThis episode is a practical lesson in leadership, ownership, and building something meaningful without waiting for permission.

This episode features Richard Harpin MBE, founder of HomeServe and one of the UK's most experienced scale up operators. Recorded before his recent MBE award, this conversation shows exactly why his contribution to British business has been recognised.Richard shares how he grew a simple plumbing insurance idea into a global business valued at over £4 billion. He breaks down his nine step framework for building and scaling companies, from copying and pivoting early, to securing the right investor, replacing yourself as founder, and choosing steady evolution over dramatic change.We also cover international expansion, backing yourself when capital is tight, and why mentorship has played a defining role throughout his career. Today Richard is focused on helping the next generation of founders through Growth Partner and Business Leader, with a clear ambition to support a significant share of the UK's mid sized businesses.Key takeawaysFollow a clear framework and focus on execution not ideasSecure the right mentor early and listen to themEvolve constantly to avoid becoming irrelevantExpand internationally with local leadership in placeStrip your business back to its core value and commit fully

Scaling a startup into a national or international brand is rarely clean, predictable, or glamorous.Recorded live at the Festival of Entrepreneurs, this panel brings together founders who have scaled in very different industries but faced the same uncomfortable decisions along the way. From compliance and capital to branding, product reality, and investor relationships, this conversation focuses on what actually holds when growth accelerates.Guests:Mark Rushmore, Co-founder of SURI Laura Fullerton, Founder of monk Claire Warner, Co-founder of Aecorn Melissa Snover, Founder of Remedy Health & Nourished Jeannette Linfoot, Host of Brave Bold Brilliant (moderator)In this episode, you'll learn:Why compliance and financial clarity cannot be delayedWhen rebuilding is the real growth decisionHow to think about scale before demand explodesWhat raising capital really looks like in tougher marketsIf you are building something you want to last, this episode will help you see scale more clearly.

Piers Linney MBE has spent years operating at the sharp end of business, investment, and technology. In this episode, recorded before his recent MBE award, Piers lays out a clear view of where AI is taking founders and why waiting is the biggest risk.He explains how AI already outperforms humans in speed, cost, and consistency across many cognitive tasks. The advantage now comes from knowing where humans still matter and where machines should take over. Founders who treat AI as a daily operating layer will move faster, build leaner teams, and make better decisions. Those who delay will struggle to catch up.This conversation is practical, grounded, and focused on action. It reflects why Piers was recognised with an MBE for services to business and entrepreneurship.Key Takeaways:• AI increases capacity without extra cost• Personalised content and voice agents boost revenue• AI uncovers insights hidden in everyday conversations• Founders who act early gain a long term advantage

What happens when you stop chasing money and start building around who you are. This episode breaks down mindset, performance, and discipline for founders who feel stuck and want control back.Leaving the Special Forces should have been a clean transition. It was not. Simon Jeffries walked away from military life into a corporate role that felt wrong, chased online business ideas that failed, and ended up broke and back at his parents' home.That low point forced a reset. Simon stopped chasing money and built around what he understood best. Mindset, performance, and discipline under pressure. In this conversation, we break down how founders train mindset as a skill, why small consistent changes beat radical overhauls, and how leadership fundamentals still matter in an AI driven world.This episode is for founders who feel overwhelmed, reactive, or stuck in their own heads and want a practical way forward.Guest: Simon Jeffries is a former Special Forces operator and co founder of The Natural Edge, where he works with founders and leaders on mindset and performance under pressure. Key takeawaysDiscipline is a trained skill and beats raw talent over timeMindset works when treated like physical training with structureSmall consistent changes create lasting performance shiftsLeadership basics matter more than tools or technology

James Haskell shares the realities of leaving a structured career for entrepreneurship and the discipline needed to build something on your own terms.Stepping out of professional sport and into business forces you to confront how you work, who you trust and what you want your life to look like. In this bite sized episode, I speak with James Haskell as he breaks down the shift from a highly structured rugby environment to the chaos that often defines the corporate world. He talks about the importance of boundaries, the trap of pointless meetings and the need to value your time as much as you value your effort. His honesty cuts through the noise that surrounds entrepreneurship and highlights a simple truth. You either take responsibility for your next chapter or someone else writes it for you.Guest note: James Haskell is a former England rugby international and entrepreneur.Key Takeaways:Discipline replaces structure when you leave a fixed careerBoundaries stop you wasting time on meetings that add nothingFocus on fewer ventures to reduce burnout and increase clarityA clear exchange of value builds better business relationships

Every year, I take one episode to step back and reflect. This is the countdown of the 10 Screw It Just DO It episodes you listened to most in 2025.This episode is a reflection on what really resonated with you in 2025. From founders starting in kitchens to building global brands, these conversations cut through the noise. We revisit lessons on resilience, timing, discipline, leadership, brand, AI, and long term thinking. Each guest earned their place by sharing honest stories about risk, doubt, growth, and momentum. This countdown is not about hype. It is about substance. If you want real insight into what it takes to build something meaningful, this episode brings together the voices that defined the year. It also marks a personal moment of reflection on a challenging year and a clear focus on what comes next.Guest note: This episode features highlights from ten previous guests including Pippa Murray, Aaron Gelbard, Julian Hearn, Richard Harpin, Piers Linney, Nell Daly, Richard Reed, Boris Diakonov, Juliet Barratt, and Al Barratt.Key TakeawaysYou do not need permission to startLong term thinking beats short term winsBrand and culture shape scaleResilience compounds over time

Rebranding a company is rarely neat, and James Clark makes that clear in this conversation. He talks through the pressure of changing a long established name, the internal tension that came with it and the need to build something that reflects future ambition rather than past comfort. His breakdown of stakeholder alignment, intellectual coherence and disciplined decision making gives founders a practical view of how to manage identity change at scale. It is a calm and honest look at the work behind a brand that now represents a fast growing venture capital firm with global reach.Guest note:James Clark is the Marketing Director at Molten Ventures, known for leading one of the most complex rebrands in European venture capital.Key TakeawaysA rebrand must reflect where the organisation is going, not where it has been.Stakeholder alignment matters more than visual design.Intellectual coherence gives a brand long term strength.Risk is part of the process but it must be managed with structure and clarity.

Recorded live at the Festival of Entrepreneurs, this panel brings together founders who are actively implementing AI in real businesses. We cover what AI first actually means in practice, how to start small without breaking existing operations, and why governance and visibility matter more than speed alone. The conversation moves beyond theory into workflows, automation, data, compliance, and personal brand growth. We also explore where AI is already creating new revenue models and how founders can future proof visibility as AI search replaces traditional discovery. This is a grounded discussion for operators who want clarity, not noise, and results that show up on the balance sheet.Guest panel: Piers Linney, James Smith, Dominic Kos, Sabrina Stocker. Hosted by Rob Hanna.Key takeawaysStart AI adoption with clear workflows and measurable ROIGovernance and visibility create confidence and safe scaleAI works best when paired with human judgementFounders must adapt content and branding for AI search

In this Bite-Sized episode, I revisit my conversation with George Kruis, former England international rugby player and co-founder of fourfive. George explains how he and Dom began building their wellness brand while recovering from operations, sitting on physio beds and asking themselves how to take control of their recovery. This clip focuses on the early execution stage. He talks openly about setting up the company, learning how to operate outside the structure of professional sport, and why delegation, speed, and clarity are essential when you move into business. His honesty about the transition and the steep learning curve will resonate with anyone starting something new.Guest: George Kruis, co-founder of fourfive and former England rugby player.Key Takeaways:The first version of any business requires fast learning and deliberate action.Delegation is a skill founders must develop early.Your network is an asset only if you use it intentionally.Co-founders need different strengths to build momentum.

A powerful five minute segment where David Yarrow reveals the moment he pivoted from sports photography to fine art and built a global brand.In this Bite-sized Screw It Just DO It session, I sit down with world leading fine art photographer David Yarrow to unpack the moment that changed his entire career. David explains how he went from struggling in finance to creating some of the most valuable photographic works in the world. He breaks down the thought process behind reinvention, why your subject choices define your relevance and how insecurity can fuel growth when channelled properly. This is an honest look at pivoting, risk taking and rebuilding from the ground up.Guest note: David Yarrow is one of the highest selling fine art photographers today, known for his cinematic wildlife and celebrity images.Key Takeaways:Reinvention demands a clear break from old identity and a willingness to start again.Creative success comes from choosing subjects that hold weight and meaning.Strong research separates average work from standout work.Insecurity is useful when it drives higher standards and sharper decisions.

Aliett Buttelman went from fashion model to co-founder of Fazit, a beauty brand that exploded after a viral Taylor Swift moment. This episode breaks down what actually drives real growth.In this episode I talk with Aliett Buttelman about what it takes to build a brand from scratch and survive hyper growth. Aliett explains how a decade in fashion modelling shaped his approach to creative work and why he walked away from consulting to build Fazit with co founder Nina LaBruna. She shares how their glitter freckles went viral when Taylor Swift wore them and what actually happens behind the scenes when sales jump by thousands of per cent overnight. We dig into supply chain pressure, copycats, international expansion and what it means to keep a brand focused when attention moves fast.Guest: Aliett Buttelman, co founder of FazitKey Takeaways:Virality only matters when a brand has the operational foundation to handle demand.Copycats are inevitable but innovation and strong brand identity create defensibility.International expansion requires clarity of vision, not speed for the sake of it.Founders need consistent decision making to avoid drifting away from their original mission.

Jim Cregan built Jimmy's Iced Coffee from a simple idea into a national brand. This episode captures how he pushed through debt, setbacks and doubt to create real momentum.Speaking with Jim Cregan reminded me how often founders underestimate the grind behind a brand that looks simple from the outside. Jim described the early days of Jimmy's Iced Coffee when he was £50,000 in debt, unsure of the next step and carrying the pressure of keeping the business alive. What shifted things was not luck. It was action. Handwritten letters, direct outreach, relentless product sampling and a refusal to step back when the numbers looked bleak. This Bite sized episode is a sharp reminder that momentum usually starts at the point where most people quit.Guest: Jim Cregan, Co founder of Jimmy's Iced CoffeeKey Takeaways:Momentum often begins when financial pressure is highest.Personal outreach can open doors large campaigns cannot.Simplicity and product quality build trust faster than branding claims.Resilience matters more than perfect planning in the early stages. 

Passenger started as a simple lifestyle idea yet grew into a purpose led brand with a loyal community and a clear mission. This episode breaks down how it happened and what founders can learn from the journey.Speaking with Richard Sutcliffe reminded me how often founders overlook the power of building something with clear intent. Passenger began as a small lifestyle project shaped by surf trips, long drives and a need for breathing space. It grew because the purpose was honest and the community saw themselves in the story. Ritchard talked openly about the pressure of personal challenges, the role of naivety, the importance of ego control and the reality that a brand must outgrow the founder to survive. This episode is a useful listen for anyone who wants to build something that lasts and still feels grounded in real purpose.Guest: Richard Sutcliffe, Founder of PassengerKey Takeaways:Purpose creates clarity when the business hits difficult stages.Community forms when the brand story is honest and consistent.Naivety can be an advantage when it removes assumptions.Founders must step back if they want the brand to scale.

The Atherton siblings built their careers on speed, resilience and control. What makes this bite sized episode powerful is how they used the same mindset to build a business. They went from dominating downhill racing to founding Atherton Bikes and taking ownership of their future rather than relying on sponsors or external decisions.In this segment they walk through the moment they committed to designing their own downhill bike. They teamed up with suspension engineer Dave Weigel and created more than one hundred prototypes to refine the fastest bike they could produce. They adopted 3D printed technology used in F1 and aerospace, built accuracy into every component and set standards that many brands avoid because they take too long.Their story highlights the discipline needed to shift from athlete thinking to business thinking. They learned to take calculated risks, build a team, trust specialists and stay patient through the early phases where nothing feels stable. Their approach shows founders what strong execution looks like. No shortcuts. No shortcuts. Just clarity, consistency and a willingness to build from the ground up.This is a valuable lesson for anyone at the early stage of a product idea. The Athertons show that excellence in performance transfers to excellence in business when you keep your standards high and your process simple.Key Takeaways:Calculated risks shape growth when backed by skill and preparationPrototyping reveals weaknesses quickly and strengthens final outputA strong team accelerates progress and keeps standards highInnovation grows when you learn from other industriesRacing discipline translates well into business disciplineOwnership creates independence and long term stability