In this episode of the podcast, Tom Griffiths is joined by Gerard O’Donovan, a multifounder with extensive experience in both the insurance and coaching industries. Gerard shares his journey from serving in the Royal Marines to building and running successful businesses, including Noble Manhattan Financial Services and his international coach training school.

The conversation explores the key factors behind Gerard’s long-term business success, particularly the importance of building and empowering strong teams. He reflects on how having talented individuals with complementary skills—ranging from IT and finance to leadership and training—has been critical to scaling his ventures and navigating challenges. Gerard also highlights the pivotal role of delegation and strategic structuring, referencing the influence of Timothy Ferris’ 4-Hour Work Week in helping him implement a master distributor model. This approach allows his coaching programs to operate across 25 countries, expanding reach while maintaining quality and sustainability.

Gerard discusses how his businesses adapted during crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, when traditional in-person training was no longer possible. The team’s agility and technical expertise enabled a seamless transition to online delivery, safeguarding both client satisfaction and financial stability. He also shares insights into his financial management strategy, emphasizing careful reinvestment of profits, a strong in-house finance team, and robust partnerships with chartered accountants.

Listeners will gain practical advice on scaling businesses, structuring international operations, and fostering resilient teams. Gerard also touches on the importance of personal focus, highlighting how he and his wife divide responsibilities across their ventures to optimise performance and maintain work-life balance.

Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a business leader, or someone interested in coaching, this episode offers a compelling look at leadership, strategy, and sustainable growth in multi-faceted businesses.

To Contact Gerard: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gerardodonovan/

In this episode, host Tom Griffiths speaks with John Lamerton, author of The False Exit, about why many entrepreneurs focus on selling their businesses when they should instead be building ones that can run — and thrive — without them.

John shares the story behind his book, beginning with a near-sale of his sports-betting business for £2 million. When the deal fell through, he and his business partner realised the company still depended heavily on them — a major red flag for any buyer. What followed was 18 months of deliberate systemisation: creating standard operating procedures, decision-making frameworks, and automated processes that allowed the business to function independently. The result? A company that no longer needed its founders for day-to-day operations — and an owner who finally had time and freedom.

The conversation explores why most small businesses fail to sell, with owner dependency, poor systems, and messy finances as key reasons. John argues that the goal shouldn’t always be a full exit but rather a false exit: removing yourself from operations while keeping the business as a profitable, self-sustaining asset. Ironically, the same work that enables a false exit also makes a company far more attractive — and valuable — to potential buyers.

They also discuss the emotional side of selling, including the loss of purpose many founders face, and the importance of building a business that supports freedom and longevity rather than burnout.

John closes by sharing insights from his 1% Club, a coaching community that helps business owners make continuous, small improvements each week — turning firefighting into fire prevention and creating businesses built to last.

To contact John: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnlamerton/

In this episode, host Tom Griffiths sits down with Damone, founder of Turtle Enviro, to explore how he’s built one of the UK’s leading manufacturers of underground drainage and water treatment products. With over three decades in the drainage industry, Damone shares the lessons, missteps, and values that have shaped his entrepreneurial journey — from starting out at his dining table in 2016 to running a £6 million business today.

Damone opens up about his guiding principle: “Stick to your knitting — do what you know best.” After decades of experience and several ventures, he’s learned that the secret to long-term success lies in consistency — delivering reliable products, maintaining strong service standards, and building trusted relationships.

The conversation digs into how Turtle Enviro has scaled through strategic partnerships, loyal supply chains, and UK-based manufacturing. Damone explains why he prioritises loyalty and mutual support with suppliers, likening it to a marriage: success depends on commitment, communication, and respect. He also shares how the business weathered the pandemic by focusing on supply chain resilience rather than short-term savings — a move that continues to pay off years later.

Tom and Damone discuss how the company’s products, from manholes to flow control systems, solve critical yet often overlooked problems in the construction industry. They explore how Turtle Enviro supports major housebuilders, contractors, and merchants through tailored designs, strong relationships, and a data-led approach to customer service.

As the episode closes, Damone reflects on leadership, financial discipline, and his vision for the future — aiming to grow Turtle Enviro to £10 million in revenue by 2027, while staying grounded in the principles that got him there: quality, consistency, and care.

To Contact Damone: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damone-armstrong-2300a543/

In this episode, Tom Griffiths speaks with Adam Fleming, founder and Managing Director of Fastline, a family-run business specialising in warehouse safety and infrastructure solutions. Since launching in 2016, Fastline has grown from a one-person consultancy into a ten-strong team serving major names such as Amazon, Aldi, and Lidl.

Adam shares the story behind Fastline’s beginnings — how a single contract opportunity became the catalyst for launching his own company. He reflects on the challenges of building credibility in a competitive industry, from developing more efficient line-marking and impact protection systems to earning quality accreditations like ISO 9001 and SafeContractor.

The conversation explores the evolution of the warehousing industry, driven by e-commerce growth and automation. Adam discusses how Fastline’s focus on safety, operational efficiency, and long-term value sets them apart — emphasising that their approach goes beyond compliance to create genuinely safer, more efficient environments.

Tom and Adam also delve into resilience and adaptability, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic when Adam and his wife stepped in to keep operations running themselves. That hands-on approach not only sustained the business but strengthened its reputation and client relationships.

Later in the episode, Adam talks about Fastline’s family-driven culture, sustainable growth strategy, and partnerships with global brands like A-SAFE. He also highlights the importance of collaboration, community giving, and mentoring young entrepreneurs — sharing a touching story about inspiring a student to pursue her own business idea.

This episode offers valuable insights into what it takes to grow a purpose-led business in a fast-changing industry, balancing innovation, integrity, and impact.

To Contact Adam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fastlineservices/

In this episode, Tom Griffiths welcomes Phil Tregous Evans, CEO and co-founder of Giraffe Social, to explore the journey of building and scaling a successful social media agency. Phil shares insights from over 13 years of experience, reflecting on the challenges and lessons learned while growing Giraffe Social from a small startup to a team of 14 working with large global brands.

The discussion begins with Phil’s background and the origins of Giraffe Social, highlighting the early focus on survival and the gradual shift towards strategic growth. A significant portion of the conversation revolves around the challenges of hiring and managing people, particularly as the agency expanded. Phil emphasises the importance of creating a supportive environment, providing team members with a clear vision, and empowering them to make an impact.

Another key theme is the critical role of financial oversight in scaling a business. Phil explains how his partnership with CFO Kane has been vital for sustainable growth, combining creative optimism with financial discipline. The conversation delves into how Giraffe Social transitioned from traditional deliverable-based packages to retainer models, which improved profitability, reduced team stress, and enhanced client outcomes.

Phil also shares insights into the agency’s approach to client work, focusing on strategy-driven social media management for established brands in sectors such as healthcare, finance, fintech, and education. He highlights common challenges faced by clients, particularly a lack of coherent social media strategy, and explains how Giraffe Social positions itself as both a strategic partner and a flexible extension of a client’s team.

Finally, Phil offers advice for aspiring agency founders: seek mentorship, connect with others in the industry, and learn from those who have walked the path before. He also introduces his book, Human First Marketing, which encapsulates the agency’s philosophy of putting people at the heart of marketing strategies.

To contact Phil: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-treagus-evans/

In this episode, Callum Woodcock, co-founder of WineFi, discusses the unique challenges and opportunities in the fine wine investment space. The conversation delves into how WineFi has revolutionized the market by combining traditional fine wine with modern data analytics, offering investors a more accessible, diversified, and tax-efficient investment option.

Callum explains the basic premise behind WineFi, highlighting its ability to lower the cost of entry for wine investment and provide a transparent, data-driven approach to selecting wines with the highest potential for appreciation. WineFi allows investors to co-own fine wine through syndicates, starting with as little as £3,000, which is a fraction of what would traditionally be required for a diversified portfolio. This innovative model is designed to bring quantitative analysis to an industry that has not seen such rigorous data-driven investment strategies.

The episode also covers the business model of WineFi, including the company's transparent fee structure, which is distinct from traditional wine merchants who profit from markups on wine. Instead, WineFi charges a one-off administrative fee that covers storage, insurance, and other administrative costs for up to five years.

Callum shares insights into the journey of building WineFi, from its initial seed funding to scaling the business with innovative distribution partnerships. He discusses how LinkedIn and word-of-mouth have been key in attracting early investors, and how these relationships have been instrumental in the company's growth. He also explains the importance of maintaining a hybrid approach to customer engagement, combining self-service with opportunities for personalized consultations.

Lastly, Callum reflects on the types of investors WineFi attracts, including high net worth individuals and professionals looking for alternative, tax-efficient investments. This episode offers an intriguing look at how wine can be redefined as an investment asset in the 21st century.

To contact Callum: https://www.linkedin.com/in/callumwoodcock/

In this episode, Tom Griffiths sits down with Liam Corcoran, a coach and investor who helps tech founders scale their businesses from $1M to $10M in annual recurring revenue without burning out. Liam shares insights drawn from over 20 years of experience building, scaling, and investing in companies across AI, Web3, SaaS, and e-commerce.

The conversation explores the common challenges founders face at this growth stage. Liam highlights the founder bottleneck—where every decision depends on the CEO—and the critical importance of hiring the right people for the business’s stage. He also delves into financial management, sharing how cash flow forecasting and retention strategies can transform a company from month-to-month survival to predictable profitability.

Liam introduces his proprietary framework, Clarity OS, which provides founders with structure, rhythm, and systems to run their businesses effectively. Through this framework, he helps leaders remove themselves from day-to-day operations, enabling the business to operate as a system while they focus on strategy and growth.

The episode also covers scaling and exit strategies. Liam discusses how he supports founders in securing investment, growing to the next revenue milestone, and preparing for exits or acquisitions. He stresses the importance of making decisions quickly, using data to validate intuition, and continuously learning from outcomes.

Listeners will gain actionable advice on structuring teams, managing cash flow, commercialising products, and scaling operations with clarity and discipline. Whether you’re a founder aiming to grow your tech business, an investor seeking operational insight, or simply interested in scaling strategies, this episode offers practical guidance grounded in real-world experience.

To Contact Liam: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liamcorcorancoach/

In this episode, Tom Griffiths is joined by Neil Ackroyd, founder of Precision Corporate Finance, to explore the realities of buying and selling businesses in the UK—particularly for owner-managed SMEs.

Neil shares his background in corporate finance, having qualified at KPMG before spending over 20 years advising on company sales. Rather than focusing on specific sectors, Neil champions a generalist approach, arguing that expertise in the sale process matters more than industry knowledge—especially as AI can now perform buyer research faster and more accurately than human analysts.

A major theme of the discussion is the flawed nature of the small business M&A market. Neil critiques many corporate finance brokers whose business models focus more on charging upfront fees than achieving successful outcomes, with some completing as few as 7% of deals. He explains how confidentiality, fear, and emotional complexity make business owners reluctant to discuss selling, likening it to the secrecy surrounding infidelity.

The conversation also addresses the harsh truth about business valuations: unless a company is generating at least £1 million in EBITDA, it is unlikely to be sellable—despite what many brokers promise. Neil highlights the lack of viable buyers for smaller firms, noting that trade and private equity buyers generally ignore businesses under £10 million in value.

To address this, Neil introduces two key initiatives: a diagnostic quiz for owner-managers ("Can I Sell My Business?") and Retire Today or Retire Tomorrow, a program offering transition or closure solutions for unsellable businesses.

Packed with practical advice and sharp insights, this episode is a must-listen for any business owner thinking about succession, exit, or the future of their company in a rapidly changing landscape.

To contact Neil: https://www.linkedin.com/in/neiljackroyd/