Building a £100m business in public

As 2023 is coming to an end, so is season 2 of Future Fit Founder Podcast.

Today, I am taking a moment to reflect on what I learned from the guests on this podcast.

Ultimately, it all starts with you as a founder.

Here are my top 5 ways to help yourself:

1. Be patient with yourself, as a founder, the journey you are embarking on will be longer than you are planning for
2. Be kind to yourself, the pressure you are feeling is often self-inflicted. 
3. Be fair to yourself, comparison is the thief of joy and grass is always greener on the other side. Water and take care of your garden first.
4. Prioritise yourself, you will survive longer and enjoy the journey more.
5. Trust yourself, your gut instinct will serve you more than listening to outside opinions.

Tune in and listen to the last episode of 2023, as I share my thoughts on how you can get more out of your business and create more sustainability in your day-to-day life, as a founder.

Want to know how Future Fit you are? Take 3 mins to benchmark yourself with our Founder Fitness Test on peer-effect.com. You might discover some surprising gaps!

Or just follow James on LinkedIn for more thoughts around coaching and being future fit.

Sharath is the Founder of Intrinsic Labs. Sharath is a recognised author and trainer on inflection points, coming up with a new book in January called “Inflection”.

Sharath is no stranger to navigating tough leadership moments.

He has dedicated his career to guiding organizations through inflection points.

Sharath focuses on the inflection points, to guide leaders towards making informed decisions.

He shares his expertise on how to anticipate these moments and start prepping for them well in advance.

Sharath argues that the best leaders are those who can see these moments coming and start preparing for them in advance.

In today’s episode, we also talk about:

• The cost of inaction
• The power of reflection moments
• Using the threat of the future to shift the present 

Tune in and listen to Sharath Jeevan share his expertise and offer a roadmap for turning these challenging moments into opportunities for growth and transformation. This episode provides a valuable resource for leaders seeking to navigate their own inflection points, whether you're in the midst of a crisis or simply curious about the concept.

Want to know how Future Fit you are? Take 3 mins to benchmark yourself with our Founder Fitness Test on peer-effect.com. You might discover some surprising gaps!

Or just follow James on LinkedIn for more thoughts around coaching and being future fit.

Tim is the Founder of EchoMany. In its first year, they secured 45 blue-chip clients in the first year.

But Tim had dark times ahead

In February 2018, the Cambridge Analytica scandal happened. 

Facebook clamped down on all data access which led to lost clients and campaign struggles.

He was all in but with no way to deliver his product.

He’d shut a successful tech development agency to focus on this big potential product which had gained insane traction.

What could he do now?

In today’s episode, we also talk about:

• Difficult decisions to make when things are going wrong
• Making the best of a negative situation
• The importance of an exit strategy

Tune in and listen to Tim Redgate’s inspirational story. He provides a firsthand account of navigating a start-up through a major crisis and making difficult decisions. This episode offers valuable insights and lessons that entrepreneurs and business leaders can apply to their journey.

Want to know how Future Fit you are? Take 3 mins to benchmark yourself with our Founder Fitness Test on peer-effect.com. You might discover some surprising gaps!

Or just follow James on LinkedIn for more thoughts around coaching and being future fit.

Eli is the Founder of Instafloss. His company has $2.7m of pre-orders and  $1.3m in equity, with a product launch happening soon.

But Eli is no stranger to big mistakes.

In 2014, Eli made one of the worst decisions of his career.

He believed hiring from the top down was the right move. But he was wrong…

Backed by the confidence of a successful crowdfunding campaign, he made two hires that cost the company he was building $1m.

After making peace with his mistake, Eli took a step back and hired a marketing executive. 

This decision helped his business more than the big-name hires.

Eli and I discussed his process to build a committed team, which not only helped bring the product to life but also ensured its effectiveness in solving a real problem.

He soon understood that building a great team doesn’t happen by chance, but is backed by strategy and making difficult decisions.

In today’s episode, we also talk about:

• The reality of big-name hires and building a team from the top down
• The right approach to a probation period
• The necessity of making tough decisions and letting people go.

Tune in and listen to Eli’s journey with Instafloss. Eli provides powerful takeaways for any aspiring entrepreneur who is looking to build the right team. He offers a practical approach to scaling, and an alertness to potential pitfalls and how to turn a start-up into a thriving, successful business.

Want to know how Future Fit you are? Take 3 mins to benchmark yourself with our Founder Fitness Test on peer-effect.com. You might discover some surprising gaps!

Or just follow James on LinkedIn for more thoughts around coaching and being future fit.

Matt is the Co-Founder of Omneky. His company raised $11m and presented at Techcrunch Disrupt in 2022 (before the generative AI wave!)

In August 2021, Matt joined Omneky as a Chief Business Officer.

The first month went well. Working side by side with the founder Hikari they hit record numbers.

The second month he took full responsibility. And sales crashed…

The calendar was nearly empty, leads weren’t inquiring and he started to worry.
But he quickly fell back on his years of experience at AT&T and worked hard to uncover the reasons for this.

Matt and I discuss short-term fluctuations in lead enquiries, and what the best strategies are to make sure you are networking properly and building trust with your contacts.

He soon understood that short sprints of pressure can stimulate innovative thinking, but it is crucial to allow for periods of rest to prevent burnout.

In today’s episode, we also talk about:

• Understanding short-term fluctuations and how to combat them
• The importance of networking and the power of reconnecting with old contacts
• The impact of generative AI on the content landscape

Tune in and listen to Matt’s journey, a lesson about the unpredictability of market fluctuations and the importance of testing different messaging strategies consistently.

This discussion is a humane, insightful, and personal exploration of the world of startups, sales, networking, and AI technology.

Want to know how Future Fit you are? Take 3 mins to benchmark yourself with our Founder Fitness Test on peer-effect.com. You might discover some surprising gaps!

Or just follow James on LinkedIn for more thoughts around coaching and being future fit.

Christoffer is the Co-Founder of KiteX.tech, the first truly affordable wind turbines for off-grid housing & rural homes. KiteX.tech has recently done a successful Kickstarter campaign and is about to do their product launch.

In March 2020, Christoffer was navigating a challenging time. He and his co-founder Andreas were about to close down their business.

He sat down with Andreas and the team, they discussed the closing down situation and ended up brainstorming.

This led them to shift their vision, take their failures and turn them into lessons.

The potential of their game-changing wind turbine technology inspired the team to continue their work, even in times of uncertainty. 

In this episode, Chris shares the importance of taking small steps and having the right people around you to create a sustainable business. 

In today’s episode, we also talk about:

• The idea of failing and succeeding as a team
• Focusing on the internal goals rather than the outside pressure
• The importance of choosing the right investors

Today’s podcast is a lesson, in which we learn that after a major setback, Chris and his team turned their crisis into an opportunity, channelling their passion for technology and prototyping into creating a game-changing wind turbine. 

This isn’t just about technology—it’s about strategic growth and the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people. 

Want to know how Future Fit you are? Take 3 mins to benchmark yourself with our Founder Fitness Test on peer-effect.com. You might discover some surprising gaps!

Or just follow James on LinkedIn for more thoughts around coaching and being future fit.

Veronika is the CFO of Everphone, a one-stop solution for corporate smartphones and tablets, with over 300 employees and over 350k devices out in the market.

Looking back at her journey, Veronika can confirm being a CFO is more than meets the eye.

Veronika opens up about the vital role of trust in her relationship with the founder of Everphone. 

With her financial insights, see how marketing strategies and operations decisions can be informed and directed. 

In this episode, Veronika and I take a deep dive into the world of a CFO and the value they bring beyond the balance sheet.

In today’s episode, we also talk about:

• The importance of involving the CFO in key business decisions
• When a founder should consider hiring a CFO
• The broader scope of a CFO’s responsibilities.

Veronika also shares some valuable advice for future founders. 

Building and retaining the right team, fostering trust, and maximising resources are essential for success. Involving the CFO in key decisions can help founders make the best use of their resources and reach their goals.

This podcast episode is a testament to the unseen value of the CFO, providing a fresh perspective on the pivotal role they play in business success.

Tune in and listen to Veronika explain that CFOs are not just number crunchers, but strategic powerhouses shaping the success of businesses.

Want to know how Future Fit you are? Take 3 mins to benchmark yourself with our Founder Fitness Test on peer-effect.com. You might discover some surprising gaps!

Or just follow James on LinkedIn for more thoughts around coaching and being future fit.

Dimitar is the VP and General Manager of CrossBeam, the world's first and most powerful partner ecosystem platform. Dimitar is also a two-time Founder, has been on Exec teams 3 times and is also an Angel Investor.

Looking back, in the summer of 2019, Dimitar was in a different headspace.

At the time, he had two young kids at the time and a company under two years old.

Dimitar was juggling a lot of responsibilities.

This led him to feel as if he wasn’t doing 100% in either place: at home or at work.

Later on, the challenges and responsibilities of being a founder, a husband and a father caught up with him, as he tried to overcompensate and ended up feeling burned out.

In this episode, Dimitar and I are going through the struggle of measuring success when your identity is inextricably tied to your company. This was a struggle Dimitar faced head-on and had to navigate the fog of failure and make the tough call between perseverance and letting go.

In today’s episode, we also talk about:

• The importance of the right balance between family time and growing your business 
• The difficulties of having an “Olympic athlete mindset”
• Understanding when it’s time to push harder and when it is time to back away

Lastly, we explored the significance of benchmarking and assessing growth, and how founders can navigate their choices when faced with formidable decisions.

Dimitar's journey taught him the paramount importance of self-care and understanding individual priorities, which can be instrumental in making informed decisions for one's business.

Tune in and listen to Dimitar as he shares his entrepreneurial journey and invaluable advice, serving as a compass not only for those currently grappling with similar challenges but also for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Want to know how Future Fit you are? Take 3 mins to benchmark yourself with our Founder Fitness Test on peer-effect.com. You might discover some surprising gaps!

Or just follow James on LinkedIn for more thoughts around coaching and being future fit.

Bryan is the CEO and Co-Founder of GreenPal, a self-funded app. Today, there are over 300,000 people using it to get their lawns mowed and it has $30M of revenue through the platform.

Bryan’s platform is a real success now, but it wasn’t always the case.

Looking back, around 10 years ago, things were looking a lot different.

Brian had a great idea and was determined to succeed.

But that was not enough. 

He followed his initial plan and spent 50k on development, and 50k on door hangers.

Despite all this, around 100 people signed up and 10 transacted.

A year passed and that was what he had to show for it.

He didn’t have enough money left, or any data to go by. 

He even asked for a close friend to help by using the app, but he didn’t.

Bryan was left feeling disappointed in the people close to him and not knowing what to do about his platform.

But he has always been intrinsically motivated, so his enthusiasm didn’t fade despite all of the challenges that came along the way.

In this episode, Bryan and I are going through the reality of building a business from scratch, how to take negative customer feedback and turn it into a positive outcome, and staying passionate about the vision you had when you first started.

In today’s episode, we also talk about:

• The importance of using customer feedback to your advantage 
• The critical role co-founders make in the success of your business
• The change in mindset and actions that follow when you need to wear multiple hats

Tune in and listen to Bryan as he walks us through the highs and lows of his journey and how he managed to keep going and enjoy every step of the way.

Want to know how Future Fit you are? Take 3 mins to benchmark yourself with our Founder Fitness Test on peer-effect.com. You might discover some surprising gaps!

Or just follow James on LinkedIn for more thoughts around coaching and being future fit.

Kene is a co-founder of Millicent Labs who recently won the prestigious G20 Techsprint 2023 held by The Bank of International Settlements and Reserve Bank of India.

He was struggling to drive interest in his business. People were caught up in the idea of 20% interest rates with Luna Crypto — when the concept behind Millicent Labs was the opposite.

It wasn’t feasible. Traditional. And quite contrary to what crypto was.

Shortly after Luna crashed, and then FTX — but instead of the industry going in Kene's favour.  All trust was gone. 

But he was clear on his mission, and trusted that the narrative would change.

In this episode, Kene and I discuss the battles of being a founder, striving to believe in your idea... when it seems like no one else does.

We talk about

• Challenging hustle culture and understanding priorities
• What helped him to stay in the habit of carving out time for loved ones
• The validating turning point in the industry that helped Kene to get where he is now

Kene’s story is packed with setbacks, balanced out by signs that he was going in the right direction — that was all just a year ago! Tune in to hear where he is today. 

Want to know how Future Fit you are? Take 3 mins to benchmark yourself with our Founder Fitness Test on peer-effect.com. You might discover some surprising gaps!

Or just follow James on LinkedIn for more thoughts around coaching and being future fit.