The Grown UP Business Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

What if the secret to scaling your business isn't working harder — but mastering the mental and physical strategies that elite performers use to stay at the top of their game? In this episode of The Grown Up Business Podcast, Paul Avins continues his conversation with Jim Steele — CEO and founder of the Holistic Performance Lab, author of Unashamedly Superhuman, and performance consultant who has spent over 25 years helping leaders, entrepreneurs, and elite athletes unlock their potential without burning out. This powerful second part dives deep into Jim's personal journey of completing an Ironman triathlon after three years of setbacks, injuries, and a global pandemic. Jim shares the exact recovery protocols, breathwork strategies, and nervous system hacks he used to finish the race feeling better at the end than at the beginning. Together, Paul and Jim unpack the science of oscillation, why recovery is not a luxury but a necessity, how to use peripheral vision to calm your nervous system under pressure, and why most entrepreneurs are burning out because they never learned how to recharge. This episode is essential listening for founders and CEOs who want to perform at their peak, build sustainable energy systems, and understand that adaptation beats endurance every single time. Key Takeaways How Jim completed an Ironman triathlon solo during lockdown — and what he learned about performance under pressure The two goals every challenge needs: an end goal and a performance goal Why being in flow is exhausting — and how to build recovery into your day The oscillation model used by special forces: stress, recovery, stress, recovery Why a one-hour speech can have the same physical strain as a two-hour run How to use active recovery breaks to recharge cognitively and physically between high-stakes calls The peripheral vision hack that drops your heart rate in 60 seconds and switches off your stress response Why burnout doesn't happen overnight — and how to prevent it with daily protocols The power of non-sleep deep rest, breathwork, and ice baths for nervous system regulation Why the more you can adapt, the less you have to endure About the Guest Jim Steele is CEO and founder of the Holistic Performance Lab, a leadership and performance consulting organization specializing in helping entrepreneurs, executives, and elite athletes achieve peak performance without burnout. Jim is the author of Unashamedly Superhuman and has over 25 years of experience working with global organizations, sports professionals, and high-performing teams. His work focuses on the science of performance, mindset mastery, and building sustainable strategies for clarity, momentum, and well-being. Next Steps Apply it now Schedule three 10-15 minute active recovery breaks into your day. Walk outside, do breathwork, or engage your peripheral vision. Notice the difference in your energy and focus. Learn more from Jim Steele Get your copy of Unashamedly Superhuman and discover the frameworks elite performers use to stay at the top of their game. Available on Amazon here https://amzn.eu/d/0bskT9l6 Join Jim at Scale-Up Summit 2026 Jim will be speaking at Scale-Up Summit on April 29-30, 2026. Secure your ticket now at https://www.scaleupsummit.co.uk Scale with Paul If this episode resonated, Paul's work focuses on helping founders step out of the day-to-day and scale with structure and confidence. Connect with Paul: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulavins/ Book a call with Paul: https://www.paulavins.com/book-a-call Subscribe to the Scale-Up Newsletter: https://www.paulavins.com/newsletter-opt-in About Paul Avins Paul Avins is a scale-up business coach and founder of the Grown-Up Business framework. He works with founders and CEOs to help them move from operator to scale-up leader — building businesses that grow sustainably, scale beyond the founder, and create real enterprise value. Paul's work focuses on disciplined leadership, high-performing teams, and systems that replace chaos with clarity. Level Up. Team Up. Scale Up. Fire Up.

What if the secret to scaling your business isn't working harder — but mastering the mental and physical strategies that elite performers use to stay at the top of their game? In this episode of The Grown Up Business Podcast, Paul Avins is joined by Jim Steele — CEO and founder of the Holistic Performance Lab, author of Unashamedly Superhuman, and performance consultant who has spent over 25 years helping leaders, entrepreneurs, and elite athletes unlock their potential without burning out. Jim shares his remarkable journey from leaving school at 16 feeling like a failure, to spending a decade in corporate sales, to working alongside personal development giants like Tony Robbins, Stephen Covey, and Brian Tracy. Together, Paul and Jim unpack the science of performance, why most entrepreneurs are sitting on a list of interferences they can't let go of, and how to build psychological resilience in high-pressure environments. Jim reveals the simple equation that transforms performance, why competency doesn't predict success under pressure, and how to build recovery strategies that prevent burnout before it happens. This episode is essential listening for founders and CEOs who want to perform at their peak, lead with clarity, and build businesses that scale without sacrificing their health, relationships, or sanity. Key Takeaways Why the education system wasn't built for entrepreneurs — and how to reframe your strengths The performance equation: Performance = Potential – Interference How to identify and eliminate the interferences holding you back from your goals The power of the filter: If you can't accept it, affect it. If you can't affect it, accept it. Why competency doesn't guarantee performance — and what actually does How your emotional state determines whether your skills show up under pressure The oscillation model used by special forces: stress, recovery, stress, recovery Why recovery isn't a luxury — it's a necessity for sustainable performance How to close out your day to set yourself up for success tomorrow Why focusing on what you can control is the ultimate performance hack About the Guest Jim Steele is CEO and founder of the Holistic Performance Lab, a leadership and performance consulting organization specializing in helping entrepreneurs, executives, and elite athletes achieve peak performance without burnout. Jim is the author of Unashamedly Superhuman and has over 25 years of experience working with global organizations, sports professionals, and high-performing teams. His work focuses on the science of performance, mindset mastery, and building sustainable strategies for clarity, momentum, and well-being. Next Steps Apply it now Write down every interference that's getting in the way of your goals. Then ask: Can I accept it or affect it? Focus your energy only on what you can change. Learn more from Jim Steele Get your copy of Unashamedly Superhuman and discover the frameworks elite performers use to stay at the top of their game. Available on Amazon here https://amzn.eu/d/0bskT9l6 Scale with Paul If this episode resonated, Paul's work focuses on helping founders step out of the day-to-day and scale with structure and confidence. Book a call with Paul: https://www.paulavins.com/book-a-call Subscribe to the Scale-Up Newsletter: https://www.paulavins.com/newsletter-opt-in About Paul Avins Paul Avins is a scale-up business coach and founder of the Grown-Up Business framework. He works with founders and CEOs to help them move from operator to scale-up leader — building businesses that grow sustainably, scale beyond the founder, and create real enterprise value. Paul's work focuses on disciplined leadership, high-performing teams, and systems that replace chaos with clarity. Level Up. Team Up. Scale Up. Fire Up.

What if the secret to scaling your business isn't working harder — but hiring smarter? In this episode of the Grown Up Business Podcast, Paul Avins sits down with Graham Brown — former military medic turned recruitment expert with over 24 years of experience, author of the upcoming book Too Many Hats, and one of Team Purple's specialist coaches in team dynamics and executive search. Graham shares his remarkable journey from serving in the Gulf War as a trumpet-playing medic to building a 39-office recruitment franchise, surviving a painful business collapse, and emerging as one of the UK's leading experts in helping CEOs find their perfect second-in-command. Together, Paul and Graham unpack the brutal truth about why most CEOs fail at hiring, the three pillars of successful recruitment that most founders ignore, and why 50% employee engagement is costing your business hundreds of thousands in lost productivity. They dive deep into the seven types of COO, the difference between competency-based and traditional interviewing, and why understanding energy profiles is the unlock to building high-performing teams that scale. If you're a CEO drowning in operational work, struggling to find the right leadership team, or wondering how to hire someone who can actually take weight off your shoulders instead of adding to it, this conversation is essential listening. Key Takeaways From Gulf War medic to recruitment expert: How Graham's military background shaped his approach to building resilient, high-performing teams The brutal reality of franchising: Why Graham scaled to 39 offices before deciding to shut it down and start again The three pillars of successful hiring: Skills & ability, natural energy alignment, and culture & values fit — miss one and you've got a problem Why most CEOs aren't ready for an A-player — and how to know when you actually are The seven types of COO: Executor, Change Agent, Other Half, Mentor, Heir Apparent, MVP, and Partner — and how to choose the right one for your stage of growth Competency-based interviewing vs traditional interviewing: How to dig deeper and test for what really matters The 50% flow problem: Why half your team is operating at half capacity — and how that's costing you £600K+ per year in lost productivity Why talent acquisition should be treated like customer acquisition — with the same level of strategy, marketing, and investment The TEAM framework: Trust & Transparency, Empower & Energize, Alignment & Accountability, Measurement & Metrics, Safety & Security How to know if you need a COO, Chief of Staff, Operations Manager, or EA — and why hiring the wrong role at the wrong time can be a disaster About Graham Brown Graham Brown is a former military musician and medic who served in the Gulf War before transitioning into recruitment over 24 years ago. He founded the first ex-military recruitment agency in the UK in 2001 and has since helped over 10,000 service men and women transition into civilian careers. Graham built and scaled a recruitment franchise to 39 offices before navigating a painful business restructure that taught him invaluable lessons about resilience, team dynamics, and the importance of hiring right. He's now a specialist executive search consultant focusing on helping scale-up CEOs find their perfect COO or second-in-command. As one of Team Purple's expert coaches, Graham specializes in team dynamics, profiling, and leadership development. He's the author of the upcoming book Too Many Hats, which unpacks everything he's learned about helping CEOs escape operational overwhelm by building the right leadership team around them. Resources & Links Get free team dynamics resources → teamdynamics.com Download Graham's free e-books on recruitment, interviewing, and onboarding → teamdynamics.com Connect with Graham Brown on LinkedIn → Graham Brown | LinkedIn Follow Paul Avins for Scale Up insights → Paul Avins | LinkedIn Read Second in Command by Cameron Herold → Available on Amazon Next Steps Action Now: Write down the 3 actions from this episode you'll apply in your business over the next 72 hours. Think Bigger: Ready to stop wearing too many hats and build the leadership team that sets you free? Download Graham's free hiring guides at teamdynamics.com Scale Up: Get actionable tips from Paul in your inbox every Saturday, Subscribe to Scale Up Saturday Newsletter Level Up: Book a Call with Paul and Get ready to level up your business and transform your life!

Think you're ready to sell your business? Think again. Selling your business is one of the biggest decisions you’ll ever make — second only to marriage and kids. But how do you know when you’re actually ready to sell? In this episode of the Grown Up Business Podcast, Paul Avins speaks with Ken Gorman, Regional Director at Transworld M&A and author of three books on selling businesses, to uncover the reality behind preparing your company for a successful exit. Together, they break down the myths, including why most business owners aren’t ready to sell, how accountants can unknowingly sabotage deals, and why 75% of businesses that go to market never sell at all. Ken shares his personal story from California to London and his 8+ years in sell-side M&A, with over 60 closed deals under his belt. If you’re a CEO or founder thinking about exit planning or simply wanting to build a grown-up business worth buying, this episode is a must-listen. Key Takeaways The “Switch in the Heart”: You’re ready to sell when the emotional shift happens — the moment you know it’s time to do something else in life. Profit is the #1 Value Driver: Buyers don’t buy passion, they buy predictable profits — and your job is to maximise and prove them. Get yourself out of the business: If the company can’t function without you, it isn’t ready to sell (or worth as much as you think). The truth about deferred deals & earnouts: Why the “wedding cake” model of deal structures (cash, deferred payments, earn-outs, rolled equity) matters, and how to protect yourself as a seller. Accountants can derail deals: Not through incompetence — but because they often lack deal experience, especially around working capital negotiations. 75% of sales fail: Selling is as much about EQ as IQ — success depends on managing people, egos, and expectations at every stage. Not all buyers are equal: You don’t want just a buyer, you need the right new owner who can fill the leadership void you leave behind. About Ken Gorman Ken Gorman is a seasoned M&A Advisor, Certified Business Valuer, and Regional Director at Transworld M&A, one of the world’s largest global dealmaking firms. With over three decades in business across the US, UK, and Europe, Ken has personally been involved in 100+ project teams and 60+ closed transactions. He specialises in helping owner-operators prepare their businesses for sale, find the right new owners, and secure life-changing exit deals — all while keeping heart and human dynamics central to the process. Resources & Links Grab Ken’s book “Selling Your Business” — Selling Your Business Connect with Ken Gorman on LinkedIn — linkedin.com Learn more about Transworld M&A — Transworld Follow Paul Avins for Scale Up insights on LinkedIn — Paul Avins | LinkedIn Transform your business at the Grown Up Business Retreat — The Grown Up Business Retreat 2025 Next Steps Action Now: Write down the 3 actions from this episode you’ll apply in your business over the next 72 hours. Think bigger: Thinking about selling in 2–3 years? Start now. Building enterprise value takes time — get your free resources at Paul Avins Scale Up: Get actionable tips from Paul in your inbox every Saturday, Subscribe to Scale Up Saturday Newsletter Level Up: Book a Call with Paul and Get ready to level up your business and transform your life!

From family start-up to global brand: the Wolf Eyewear growth story. Paul Avins sits down with CEO Tom Wolfenden to unpack the exact moves behind building a world-class sales team, scaling across borders, and keeping values intact while chasing exponential growth. Discover how Wolf Eyewear scaled from a family business into a global brand with 2,000+ retailers. CEO Tom Wolfenden shares lessons on sales teams, culture, and scale-up strategy with Paul Avins. What does it take to transform a family-run brand into a global scale-up with thousands of retail partners—while never losing sight of your values or community? In this episode of the Grown Up Business Podcast, Paul Avins sits down with Tom Wolfenden, CEO of Wolf Eyewear Group, to unpack how he took over the family business and steered it towards ambitious growth, culture, and global expansion. If you’re a CEO ready to quadruple your business, build a world-class sales team, and expand across markets without losing culture, this is your playbook. Key Highlights Mindset matters: The bold shift from hustler to scale-up CEO. Sales engine = growth engine: Why building and leading a 17-person sales team unlocked Wolf Eyewear’s growth. Resilience in crisis: How they survived Covid by loaning over £500k of stock to support customers — building loyalty money can’t buy. Leadership at scale: How to deal with underperforming team members while protecting business culture. Investment in yourself = investment in the business: Why Tom doubled down on coaching and retreats to accelerate Wolf Eyewear’s expansion. This isn’t just a story of scaling eyewear. It’s a blueprint for any ambitious CEO who wants to build a grown-up business that wins globally About Our Guest – Tom Wolfenden Tom Wolfenden is the CEO of Wolf Eyewear Group, a UK-based independent eyewear company stocked in over 2,000+ retailers and expanding internationally. Known for bold design and strong community values, Wolf Eyewear is a flagship example of how a family business can scale into a global brand—without losing its heart. Resources & Links Connect with Tom Wolfenden on LinkedIn – Tom Wolfenden | LinkedIn Explore the Wolf Eyewear Group brand – UK Eyewear Brand | Wolf Eyewear for Independent Opticians Follow Paul Avins for scale-up insights on LinkedIn – Paul Avins | LinkedIn Transform your business at the Grown Up Business Retreat – The Grown Up Business Retreat 2025 Next Steps Action now: Write down the 3 actions from this episode you’ll apply in your business over the next 72 hours. Think bigger: Ready to build your own “grown up” business that scales globally? Explore free resources at ScaleUpCoaching.com. Scale Up: Get actionable tips from Paul in your inbox every Saturday, Subscribe to Scale Up Saturday Newsletter Level Up: Book a Call with Paul and Get ready to level up your business and transform your life!

What happens when a five-year-old girl changes the entire course of your life? In this thought-provoking episode of the Grown Up Business Podcast, Paul Avins sits down with High-Performance Coach and former JP Morgan derivatives head Rich Waterman to explore one of the most powerful transformations you’ll hear on the show. Rich shares the moving story of Leonor — his friend’s young daughter whose battle with a terminal illness became the catalyst for his life’s work. Helping to raise emergency funds for her treatment opened his eyes to the power of community, commitment, and the extraordinary impact of turning pain into purpose. Together, Paul and Rich unpack how entrepreneurs can channel suffering into fuel for growth, how presence is the new currency of leadership, and why sometimes the shortest lives leave the greatest legacies. If you’ve ever wondered how to reframe setbacks into rocket fuel, or how to build a business and life truly aligned to your legacy, this episode is essential listening. Key Takeaways Turning Pain into Purpose: The most powerful catalyst for personal and professional growth is learning how to transform suffering into service. The Power of Commitment: Rich’s moment of saying “we’ll make this happen” for Leonor’s treatment shaped his philosophy on leadership and focus. Past, Present, Future Model: How to reframe your thinking by using the past as a resource, the present as practice, and the future as full-colour vision. Presence is Leadership: Top performers plateau when they fail to manage switching “on” and “off.” Learning to be present is now a strategic advantage. Legacy is not Time-Based: The measure of a life well-lived isn’t length, it’s the scale of impact on others. Leonor remains a profound example of this truth. About Rich Waterman Rich Waterman is a High-Performance Coach, mentor, and speaker with a unique background that bridges finance, sport, and psychology. After a decade as Head of Derivatives Structuring at JP Morgan, Rich went on to launch sports analysis businesses working with the England Rugby World Cup-winning team and international cricketers. He later became the first UK-based Senior Trainer for Tony Robbins, coaching teams and teaching leadership at global events. Today, Rich runs Get Rich Coaching, helping entrepreneurs, executives, and athletes unlock performance, presence, and purpose. Resources & Links Connect with Rich Waterman — richwaterman.com Connect with Rich Waterman on LinkedIn — linkedin.com Follow Paul Avins for Scale Up insights on LinkedIn — Paul Avins | LinkedIn Transform your business at the Grown Up Business Retreat — The Grown Up Business Retreat 2025 Next Steps Action Now: Write down the 3 actions from this episode you’ll apply in your business over the next 72 hours. Think bigger: Thinking about selling in 2–3 years? Start now. Building enterprise value takes time — get your free resources at Paul Avins Scale Up: Get actionable tips from Paul in your inbox every Saturday, Subscribe to Scale Up Saturday Newsletter Level Up: Book a Call with Paul and Get ready to level up your business and transform your life!

“How can one video generate $12 million in 10 months?” That’s exactly what happened for Jason Graystone — and in this episode, he reveals to Paul the mindset, money frameworks, and freedom principles that made it possible. Jason is a renowned entrepreneur, investor, and founder of Graystone Education, and he’s on a mission to help people become Always Free — creating lives of freedom through smart money systems, mindset mastery, and intentional action. In our conversation, Jason breaks down exactly what Always Free means, and why mental, mobility, and financial liberation must all align if you truly want lasting independence. We go deep into building assets (both tangible and intangible), how to delegate effectively, and why defining what freedom means to you personally is the real unlock. This episode isn’t about hustle hacks — it’s about clarity, leverage, and building a business and life around your values so you can live with purpose. Key Takeaways: A single video can change everything — Jason’s $12M YouTube case study proves the power of effective assets. Financial literacy is an essential life skill — freedom begins with understanding how money works. Delegation and knowing your true value are the levers that unlock scale and sustainability. Freedom has three dimensions: mental, mobility, and financial — all must be developed in tandem. Assets create independence — whether intellectual property, digital content, or recurring systems. Defining your personal goals and values is what ensures business growth aligns with fulfillment. Resources & Links Grab Jason's book “Always Free” — Selling Your Business Follow Jason to learn more — Jason Graystone - YouTube Learn more about Jason Graystone — jasongraystone.com Follow Paul Avins for Scale Up insights on LinkedIn — Paul Avins | LinkedIn Transform your business at the Grown Up Business Retreat — The Grown Up Business Retreat 2025 Next Steps Action Now: Write down the 3 actions from this episode you’ll apply in your business over the next 72 hours. Think bigger: Tired of chasing revenue but never feeling free? Stop trading time for money. Freedom starts when you build assets that generate income without you. Start building the life you want now — get your free resources at Paul Avins Scale Up: Get actionable tips from Paul in your inbox every Saturday, Subscribe to Scale Up Saturday Newsletter Level Up: Book a Call with Paul and Get ready to level up your business and transform your life!

What do you do when 12 years of building gets wiped out overnight? For Nicolas Manuel, Founder of Aim Graphics London, that nightmare became reality. After building a multi-million-pound family print and signage business, a combination of bad debts, soaring material costs, and the Russia-Ukraine war led to its collapse almost overnight. But instead of staying down, Nick fought back. Within just 12 months, he rebuilt from zero to seven figures — all while carrying the weight of personal guarantees, family responsibility, and the lessons of painful failure. In this episode of the Grown Up Business Podcast, Paul Avins sits down with Nicolas to reveal the hard-earned lessons of resilience, scaling under pressure, and why systems and financial controls are non-negotiable for any founder who wants to survive and thrive. Key Takeaways Collapse to Comeback: Why business failure doesn’t have to define you — it can fuel your most successful chapter. Systems over Stress: The hidden cost of not having financial forecasting and operational controls in place. Rebuilding at Speed: How Nicolas rebounded to seven figures in under 12 months by focusing on core systems, leverage, and team culture. The “Yes Team” Mentality: Why building a client-first, can-do culture is the ultimate differentiator when scaling. Resilience is a Skill: Health, mindset, and being part of a supportive community are what get you through the darkest days of entrepreneurship. Sales First: Founders should delay stepping out of sales too early — being able to sell remains the ultimate survival skill. About Nicolas Manuel Nicolas Manuel is a creative entrepreneur and the founder of Aim Graphics London and Trade Workspace Films, businesses dedicated to simplifying print, signage, and production services with speed, flexibility, and a client-first culture. Starting as a teenage apprentice in the signage industry, Nicolas worked his way into the high-pressure world of London’s creative agencies, serving major brands from Nintendo to Virgin. After co-founding and growing his own family print business to nearly £3m turnover, he endured the devastating collapse of the company during Covid’s aftermath and the global cost crisis. Learning from failure, Nicolas rebuilt stronger and faster — scaling Aim Graphics back to seven figures in just 12 months, with a renewed focus on systems, forecasting, and the “Yes Team” mindset that defines his client relationships. Resources & Links Connect with Nicolas Manuel on LinkedIn — linkedin.com Discover Aim Graphics London — aim-graphics.co.uk Follow Paul Avins for Scale Up insights — linkedin.com/in/paulavins Build a grown-up business at the Scale Up Retreat — paulavins.com Next Steps Action Now: Write down the 3 actions from this episode you’ll apply in your business over the next 72 hours. Think bigger: Do you have the right systems and forecasting in place, or are you relying on luck? Start strengthening your foundation now — get your free resources at Paul Avins Scale Up: Get actionable tips from Paul in your inbox every Saturday, Subscribe to Scale Up Saturday Newsletter Level Up: Book a Call with Paul and Get ready to level up your business and transform your life!

What if growing your business 10x wasn’t just possible…but actually EASIER than growing 10% at a time? In today’s inspiring conversation, Paul sits down with David B. Horne, founder of Add Then Multiply, to talk about scaling through Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) and shifting to a growth mindset. David shares his remarkable story of driving a business from £1 million to £28 million in just three years using the power of strategic M&A. Together, they explore why most founders think too small, uncover how AI is transforming the deal-making landscape, and walk through David’s practical FACE methodology — Fund, Acquire, Consolidate, Exit — a framework that helps ambitious leaders scale faster and smarter while setting up for an exit. Key Takeaways 10x growth is often easier than 10% — real results show scaling £1m → £28m in 3 years through acquisitions. M&A isn’t just for corporates — founders miss opportunities by assuming it’s “off-limits.” Build your deal team early — specialist accountants & lawyers are critical to navigate the complexity. Consolidation is where success is won or lost — integrating culture, systems and people decides deal value. AI is reshaping deal flow & due diligence — smart founders can leverage it for competitive advantage. About David B Horne David B. Horne is the bestselling author of Add Then Multiply and Funded Female Founders. As the Founder of Add Then Multiply, he helps entrepreneurs scale through ambitious growth strategies involving funding, acquisitions, and exit planning. Over his career, he has: Raised more than £110 million in funding Completed over 30 acquisitions and exits Become a #1 Amazon bestselling author (twice) Delivered his TEDx Talk, “The Fight For Fairer Funding”, now seen by more than 3 million people Founded Funding Focus, a social enterprise fighting to close the gender and diversity gap in funding access He’s on a mission to make M&A and growth strategies accessible to every ambitious founder — not just corporates. Resources & Links Connect with David B Horne on LinkedIn — David B Horne | LinkedIn Learn more about David B Horne — Add then Multiply Find out if you are funding-ready — The Funding Fitness Index Follow Paul Avins for scale-up insights on LinkedIn — Paul Avins | LinkedIn Transform your business at the Grown Up Business Retreat — The Grown Up Business Retreat 2025 Next Steps Action Now: Write down the 3 actions from this episode you’ll apply in your business over the next 72 hours. Think bigger: Ready to scale smarter and faster? Start now — get your free resources at Paul Avins Scale Up: Get actionable tips from Paul in your inbox every Saturday, Subscribe to Scale Up Saturday Newsletter Level Up: Book a Call with Paul and Get ready to level up your business and transform your life! 📚 Special Bonus from David Horne: Want to dive deeper into David’s financial framework for scaling? Get a FREE copy of his bestselling book Add Then Multiply (just cover shipping).

What really happens when you step into Dragons’ Den? For most entrepreneurs, pitching on BBC’s Dragons’ Den is the ultimate high‑stakes moment. For Emma Burke, founder of LACEEZE, that moment became a turning point in her journey, as she stepped into the Den, faced the Dragons, and walked out with an investment deal that put her grassroots sports brand on the fast track to growth. In this candid conversation with Paul Avins, Emma reveals the highs and lows behind the headlines – from running a multi‑million pound cleaning company, through the pain of business failure, to reinventing herself in the world of sport with an innovation solving one of football’s simplest but biggest problems. Beyond the Den lights and the deal, the discussion dives into the inner journey of entrepreneurship: knowing when to pivot, learning how to bounce back stronger, and why sharing your authentic story is as powerful as building the business itself. Key Highlights Building a successful business demands consistency, adaptability, and grit through challenges. Delegation is critical to free up the founder’s time for higher-value, strategic growth. Sharing your personal journey and engaging authentically builds a relatable brand that attracts loyal customers. Exposure through platforms like Dragon’s Den can enhance credibility, visibility, and open doors to new partnerships. Listen in for a raw, behind-the-scenes perspective on what it truly takes to grow a brand from kitchen table idea to a household name in grassroots sport. About Our Guest – Emma Burke Emma Burke is the founder of LACEEZE, one of the UK’s fastest‑growing grassroots sports brands, dedicated to solving everyday problems for young athletes. After securing investment on BBC’s Dragon’s Den, Emma has taken LACEEZE from start‑up idea to a business on track for seven‑figure revenues—all while keeping her mission of supporting grassroots sport at the heart of the brand. Resources & Links Connect with Emma Burke on LinkedIn — Emma Burke | LinkedIn Explore the Laceeze's brand — Laceeze | Soccer Accessories Follow Paul Avins for scale-up insights on LinkedIn — Paul Avins | LinkedIn Transform your business at the Grown Up Business Retreat — The Grown Up Business Retreat 2025 Next Steps Action now: Write down the 3 actions from this episode you’ll apply in your business over the next 72 hours. Think bigger: Ready to build your own “grown up” business? Explore free resources at ScaleUpCoaching.com. Scale Up: Get actionable tips from Paul in your inbox every Saturday, Subscribe to Scale Up Saturday Newsletter Level Up: Book a Call with Paul and Get ready to level up your business and transform your life!