In this episode, I sit down with Toby, co-founder of Hexa Padel, one of the leading padel court installers in the UK.

We talk about spotting early market opportunities, scaling a business in a booming industry, and what really happens behind the scenes when you’re building fast. Toby shares how he went from coaching tennis to installing over 200 courts a year, managing thousands of inbound enquiries, and navigating the operational chaos that comes with rapid growth.

We dive into cash flow crises, business partner dynamics, contracts, failure, and the emotional toll of entrepreneurship. Toby explains why resilience, communication, and long-term thinking are what separate founders who survive from those who burn out.

This is a powerful episode for anyone building a business, considering a pivot, or trying to scale in a competitive market while protecting their mental health and financial future.

🔗 Connect with me

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-lawrence-5a4b3357

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousmindspodcast

YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@AmbitiousMindsPodcast

Spotfy:https://open.spotify.com/show/6OzMUZkmjs9PHEi6qHU3Qi

Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ambitious-minds/id1731311239?ls=1

📰 Free newsletter: Fuel Your Ambition

Weekly insights on money, investing, career growth, and ambition:

👉 https://fuelyourambition.substack.com/

Website:

https://www.ambitiousmindspodcast.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I sit down with Nicole Soames, a leadership and performance coach who works with senior executives, founders, and high performing teams.

We talk about emotional intelligence, feedback, and why your ability to communicate, listen, and handle difficult conversations is what truly separates good leaders from elite ones. Nicole explains how leadership is less about control and authority, and more about influence, clarity, and creating the conditions for others to perform at their best.

This is a powerful episode for anyone who wants to grow in leadership, improve their confidence in high pressure situations, and build stronger relationships through better communication.

🔗 Connect with me

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-lawrence-5a4b3357

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousmindspodcast

YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@AmbitiousMindsPodcast

Spotfy:https://open.spotify.com/show/6OzMUZkmjs9PHEi6qHU3Qi

Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ambitious-minds/id1731311239?ls=1

📰 Free newsletter: Fuel Your Ambition

Weekly insights on money, investing, career growth, and ambition:

👉 https://fuelyourambition.substack.com/

Website:

https://www.ambitiousmindspodcast.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From starting with £50k and family loans to building one of London’s fastest-growing suit brands, this episode breaks down what it really takes to build a fashion business from scratch.

The lads behind Batch London open up about why most brands fail, how their made to order model changed everything, and how they turned a smash and grab robbery into their biggest marketing moment ever.

We talk cash flow, sustainability, celebrity customers, founder sacrifice, and the brutal reality of chasing something bigger than comfort.

This is what building a £5M brand actually looks like.

02:45 Why Fashion Brands Fail

05:30 Made To Order Explained

08:40 Killing Fashion Waste

11:20 Does Sustainability Sell

14:10 Choosing The First Store

17:00 Building The Flagship

20:10 Life Before Batch

23:30 Starting The Company Fast

26:10 Making A Fashion Brand

29:40 Side Hustle Grind

33:10 Why Brand Matters

36:20 Cash Flow Advantage

39:20 Would You Wait 8 Weeks

42:20 Why Stores Build Trust

45:30 The Robbery Story

49:20 Turning Crisis Into Growth

52:30 Celebrities Wearing Batch

55:20 No Influencer Marketing

58:10 The Barber Shop Effect

1:01:10 Founder Sacrifice

1:03:30 What Success Means

1:05:20 The Future Of Batch

🔗 Connect with me

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-lawrence-5a4b3357

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousmindspodcast

YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@AmbitiousMindsPodcast

Spotfy:https://open.spotify.com/show/6OzMUZkmjs9PHEi6qHU3Qi

Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ambitious-minds/id1731311239?ls=1

📰 Free newsletter: Fuel Your Ambition

Weekly insights on money, investing, career growth, and ambition:

👉 https://fuelyourambition.substack.com/

Website:

https://www.ambitiousmindspodcast.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I sit down with Simon Jeffries, a former Royal Marine and Special Forces operator turned performance coach for CEOs and founders.

We talk about stress, discipline, and why your thoughts and emotions are something you can train, just like your body. Simon explains how building a strong routine and personal “operating system” is what really creates control and consistency in life.

This is a powerful episode for anyone who wants to perform better under pressure and take real ownership of how they show up every day.

02:15 Royal Marines to Special Forces Journey

05:40 Why Stress Is About Your Response, Not Events

09:30 Thoughts and Emotions Are Just Data

13:10 Training Your Mind Like the Gym

17:45 Performance Under Pressure Explained

21:30 Military Lessons for Everyday Life

25:10 Building a Personal Operating System

28:55 Discipline vs Motivation

32:20 Handling Negative Self Talk

36:05 Being Hard vs Being Kind to Yourself

39:40 Celebrating Wins and Building Confidence

43:15 Why Successful People Still Feel Stressed

46:50 Alignment, Purpose, and Fulfilment

50:40 Leaving the Military and Finding Direction

54:10 Control, Freedom, and Starting Your Own Path

57:30 Morning Routines of High Performers

01:01:10 Phone Addiction, Focus, and Dopamine

01:04:30 Setting Boundaries and Deep Work

01:08:20 Mindset as a System, Not a Hack

01:12:00 Training Consistency and Long-Term Change

01:15:20 What Real High Performance Looks Like

01:18:30 Final Lessons on Control and Discipline

__________

🔗 Connect with me

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-lawrence-5a4b3357

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousmindspodcast

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@JayLawrenceBusiness

Spotfy:

https://open.spotify.com/show/6OzMUZkmjs9PHEi6qHU3Qi

Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ambitious-minds/id1731311239?ls=1

📰 Free newsletter: Fuel Your Ambition

Weekly insights on money, investing, career growth, and ambition:

👉 https://fuelyourambition.substack.com/

Website:

https://www.ambitiousmindspodcast.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I sit down with Jordan Schlipf, someone who’s lived several entrepreneurial lives; building tech startups, investing as a global VC partner, and eventually stepping in as CEO of the well-known beauty brand Cowshed.

Jordan talks honestly about the ups and downs of entrepreneurship: the long hours, the sacrifices, and the moments where you’re forced to question what you actually want from your career.

We get into how he rebuilt his routines, how he learned to lead bigger teams, and the reality of making tough decisions during a company restructure.

This episode is full of practical lessons; whether you’re running a startup, moving into leadership, or trying to figure out your next step. Jordan is refreshingly real about what it takes to grow, evolve, and keep your ambition intact.

00:00 Introduction

01:57 Soul Searching and Career Transition

14:45 The Realities of Entrepreneurship

20:57 The Importance of Health and Routine

26:18 Challenges of Company Restructuring

34:02 The CEO's Evolving Role

34:34 Defining a Good CEO

36:39 The Importance of Recruitment and Culture

38:11 Knowing When to Step Down

41:27 Avoiding Business Pitfalls

45:13 Diverse Business Ventures

49:57 Investment Strategies and Wealth Management

55:22 Reflections on the Finance Industry

01:02:11 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

🔗 Connect with me

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-lawrence-5a4b3357

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/ambitiousmindspodcast

YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@AmbitiousMindsPodcast

Spotfy:https://open.spotify.com/show/6OzMUZkmjs9PHEi6qHU3Qi

Apple Podcasts:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ambitious-minds/id1731311239?ls=1

📰 Free newsletter: Fuel Your Ambition

Weekly insights on money, investing, career growth, and ambition:

👉 https://fuelyourambition.substack.com/

Website:

https://www.ambitiousmindspodcast.com/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

So many ambitious people today feel like they’re doing everything right, getting the degree, working hard, climbing the ladder... and yet still struggling to make real financial progress.

It’s not your imagination.

The old playbook that worked for previous generations doesn’t work anymore.

In this solo episode, I break down the truth behind why so many Millennials and Gen Z feel stuck, frustrated, or left behind… and more importantly, what actually works today.

Drawing on over a decade of experience advising clients as an Investment Manager, I explain:

• Why housing, wages, degrees and social mobility have completely shifted

• How wealth moved from income → ownership (and why that matters for you)

• Why your parents’ roadmap no longer applies in today’s economy

• The modern playbook for building wealth sustainably and realistically

• How to increase your earning power, not just your savings

• Why a second income stream is becoming essential, not optional

• How your network can accelerate your career more than any qualification

• Why redefining your timeline can unlock huge opportunities

Follow me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-lawrence-5a4b3357/

Subscribe to my Substack: https://substack.com/@fuelyourambition

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Christine Nicholson is a award-winning business mentor, author, and exit strategist. In this episode we unpack what it really takes to build, scale, and successfully exit your business.

With over a hundred business sales under her belt, Christine shares real-world lessons on the three types of exits every founder should understand, how to prepare for due diligence long before you sell, and why financial freedom starts outside your business.

From the emotional rollercoaster of letting go to the practical steps that protect your wealth, this episode is packed with hard-earned wisdom for entrepreneurs who want to create lasting value, and a life beyond the business.

00:00 Introduction

01:54 Preparing for Business Exit

06:44 The Importance of Delegation

13:40 The Psychological Toll of Due Diligence

19:31 The Role of Preparation in Due Diligence

23:16 Personal Entrepreneurial Journey

29:28 The Overlooked Strategy: Acquiring to Exit

30:26 The Reality of Business Dependency

33:59 Preparing for Wealth Outside the Business

34:54 The Pitfalls of Not Planning Ahead

42:07 The Gender Dynamics in Business Ownership

44:57 The Challenges of Selling a Business

47:52 The Importance of Building Business Controls

49:43 The Motivation Behind Helping Others

53:39 The Impact of Upbringing on Success

55:57 Final Thoughts and Where to Find More Information

Contact Christine:

https://christinenicholson.co.uk/

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Colin Campbell is the host of Cambro Conversations and a top-performing sales coach.

When Colin was made redundant from his sales director role, he didn’t panic, he pivoted. He used that moment of uncertainty to rebuild his career on his own terms, turning a side project into a full-time coaching business. In this episode, he breaks down how to juggle a side hustle alongside a demanding job, stay financially sharp, and keep moving forward when life throws you off track.

We also explore how AI tools can streamline sales, why consistent follow-ups are a game-changer, and how to stay market ready no matter how secure your job feels.

If you’re thinking about going out on your own, or just want to build something meaningful on the side, this episode is packed with insights to help you do it the smart way.

00:00 Intro

03:17 Building a Side Hustle and Market Testing

09:30 Financial Realities and Planning for Self-Employment

18:54 Sales Coaching and Structuring Your Business

28:47 The Importance of Follow-Up in Meetings and Podcasts

29:30 Effective Communication and Clear Actions

29:57 Leveraging Guest Introductions and Networking

30:47 Structuring Follow-Ups for Success

34:00 The Role of AI in Sales and Follow-Ups

35:43 Utilizing AI Tools for Efficiency

41:03 Cold Outreach and Client Acquisition

46:28 Tailoring Sales Approaches to Client Needs

51:19 Final Thoughts and Personal Reflections

Connect with Colin:

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/col.cambro/
Email List - https://colcambro.kit.com/30bde23b0c
Email - Colin@colcambro.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.