Two major record deals, and Billy Lockett walked away from both with nothing to show for it. Then his own manager told him an idea was career suicide, he did it anyway, and it changed everything!Billy Lockett is a self-taught singer-songwriter and pianist from Northampton who has spent over a decade in the music industry, including two major label deals (Warner, and a Virgin-affiliated US label) that both collapsed without ever recouping. After going fully independent, Billy (working alongside his mum) started posting real, unedited concert ticket sales numbers on TikTok and Instagram. One video hit 5-6 million views, hundreds of other artists have since copied the format, his monthly Spotify listeners have grown by 200,000-300,000, and his latest self-produced album hit No.1 in the UK indie charts.Chapters0:00 Welcome, Billy1:34 He Could Play Piano Before Anyone Taught Him3:03 The Loner Who Couldn't Fit In Anywhere8:09 The Talent Show That Changed Everything10:12 A Standing Ovation and a Drug Addict's High14:14 The Cost of Being "The Brand"17:18 Burning CDs and Selling to His Mates25:57 A Backstage Rider Full of Blank CDs and Cash28:15 Bin Bags Full of Money in a Fiat33:03 The Cancer Treatment His Dad Refused38:00 The Handshake Before His Dad Died41:37 A Year of Cocaine and Alcohol49:00 Warner Walks Into His Gig Unannounced52:03 "They Own You": Life Inside a Major Label55:47 Walking Away From Warner56:29 The Song That Reached James Corden1:01:03 Paying a Rapper a Fortune for Nothing1:04:07 The Idea His Manager Called Career Suicide1:14:14 The Video That Hit Six Million Views1:22:54 What Success Actually Looks Like NowSubscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs, founders and high performers.Follow Billy:https://www.instagram.com/billylockett/?hl=enFollow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pchttps://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/Get frequent behind the scenes updates from Olly: https://whatittakes.kit.com/51cd36dc35

Watch full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtU5289Jn1sJulia Baldet left a successful career in investment banking and private equity after years of relentless pressure, burnout and serious health issues.In this episode of What It Takes, Julia shares the complete story behind building Elevate Smoothie Bar, one of London's fastest-growing wellness brands.This is an honest conversation about risk, discipline, resilience and what it actually takes to build a business from scratch.Subscribe for more conversations with entrepreneurs, founders and high performers.Follow Julia:https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliabaldet/https://elevatewellness.uk/Follow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pchttps://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/Get frequent behind the scenes updates from Olly: https://whatittakes.kit.com/51cd36dc35

Watch the full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwbREb-yihwKirk Haworth has been through every challenge the hospitality industry can throw at someone.From training in some of the world’s best kitchens, to having his career completely stopped by chronic illness, to rebuilding everything from the ground up.We go into the realities of kitchen culture, the physical toll of the industry, and the moments that force you to rethink everything. You'll learn about standards, pressure, and what it really means to start again when you’ve already put years into something.Follow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pchttps://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/Get frequent behind the scenes updates from Olly: https://whatittakes.kit.com/51cd36dc35Follow Kirk:https://www.instagram.com/kirk_haworth/

Watch full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DpfEW1uBYh4

Rosie Skus3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAACul1k0Bsjk-QJlAwwFbCgAhd7DZInTUE4gnt agency, two weeks before Covid shut down the entire hospitality and music industry.

Today, Molto provides the entertainment for some of the most prestigious venues in the world: The Dorchester, The Savoy, Hermès, Google, and the 50 Best Hotels.

In this conversation, Rosie's tell us about:

— Why starting with nothing is actually an advantage

— The moment she made up the numbers in her first ever pitch and won

— What she looks for in musicians that has nothing to do with talent

— The real state of luxury hospitality right now

— Why "if you're a diva, I don't want to work with you"

Follow Olly:

https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/

https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

https://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/

Get frequent behind the scenes updates from Olly: https://whatittakes.kit.com/51cd36dc35

Follow Rosie:

linkedin.com/in/rosie-skuse-1512aa185/?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAACul1k0Bsjk-QJlAwwFbCgAhd7DZInTUE4g

Rosie Skuse launched Molto Music Group, a live music and entertainment agency, two weeks before Covid shut down the entire hospitality and music industry. Today, Molto provides the entertainment for some of the most prestigious venues in the world: The Dorchester, The Savoy, Hermès, Google, and the 50 Best Hotels. In this conversation, Rosie's tell us about:— Why starting with nothing is actually an advantage— The moment she made up the numbers in her first ever pitch and won— What she looks for in musicians that has nothing to do with talent— The real state of luxury hospitality right now— Why "if you're a diva, I don't want to work with you"Chapters:0:00 Introducing Rosie1:42 Why acting led to a business4:02 Moving to London at 18 with nothing5:08 What theatre school taught her about discipline10:08 How she handles rejection13:33 The art of giving creative feedback19:01 Spotting the gap in hotel music23:07 Launching Molto two weeks before lockdown26:27 The Dorchester rooftop 31:02 Why naivety is your superpower at the start34:25 Building a team with no HR experience43:49 Talent isn't everything 52:43 What venues are looking for in musicians56:58 The state of luxury hospitality right now1:03:42 The Pokémon Christmas party story1:05:44 What's next for live musicFollow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pchttps://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/Get frequent behind the scenes updates from Olly: https://whatittakes.kit.com/51cd36dc35Follow Rosie:linkedin.com/in/rosie-skuse-1512aa185/?miniProfileUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_miniProfile%3AACoAACul1k0Bsjk-QJlAwwFbCgAhd7DZInTUE4g

Watch full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtC3qsGHGU0&t=341sPaul Ainsworth built one of the UK's most respected independent restaurant collections from scratch, in Cornwall, starting with sandwiches and cream teas.In this episode, Paul talks about growing up in a guesthouse, working six years under Gordon Ramsay at Royal Hospital Road (and being there for the third Michelin star), what Gary Rhodes taught him about precision, and the moment he got thrown off service on his first day.📍 Recorded at The Mariners, Rock, Cornwall, one of Paul's venues.Follow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pchttps://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/Get frequent behind the scenes updates from Olly: https://whatittakes.kit.com/51cd36dc35Follow Paul:https://www.instagram.com/paulainsw6rth/?hl=en

Full episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH8Xvqk2ZykPeony Li built Jude, a women's bladder health brand, in a category that almost nobody would fund, talk about, or believe in. Two years after appearing on Dragon's Den, she's doing £16 million in revenue and growing.In this episode, Peony talks about growing up in Hong Kong with entrepreneur parents she rarely saw, moving to the UK alone at 15, leaving investment banking because her intellectual curiosity was being suffocated, and how distributing 6 million pieces of PPE from her living room gave her the startup capital for Jude.Follow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pchttps://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/Get frequent behind the scenes updates from Olly: https://whatittakes.kit.com/51cd36dc35Follow Peony:https://www.linkedin.com/in/peonyli/https://www.wearejude.com/ecommerce/products/bladder-care-supplements-ppc?utm_source=google&utm_coupon=PPC20&tw_source=google&tw_adid=797298311884&tw_campaign=23562158549&tw_kwdid=kwd-1883578752614&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23562158549&gbraid=0AAAAAoRTlsGydo1cUDo6jv6rA7aXbVTSt&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_vnQBhCxARIsADcZyxIH_CX73-G9bGzZxmK47J2Ep3cN_HfK204shkfU1CF5wSPcVWjccAgaAq1aEALw_wcB

Peony Li built Jude, a women's bladder health brand, in a category that almost nobody would fund, talk about, or believe in. Two years after appearing on Dragon's Den, she's doing £16 million in revenue and growing.In this episode, Peony talks about growing up in Hong Kong with entrepreneur parents she rarely saw, moving to the UK alone at 15, leaving investment banking because her intellectual curiosity was being suffocated, and how distributing 6 million pieces of PPE from her living room gave her the startup capital for Jude.Chapters0:00 Growing up in Hong Kong4:05 Why she hated entrepreneurship and then followed it anyway7:05 Investment banking: intellectually suffocating in six months9:38 The mother community that got 10,000 members immediately11:15 Founders Factory and learning to observe13:06 Feeling like a failure for the first time14:33 PPE: 6 million pieces from her living room18:15 Overcoming challenges is a privilege18:30 The inception of Jude: standing in a Boots aisle22:05 Why she pivoted from pads to supplements23:08 The Austrian pumpkin seed and the Harvard professor27:29 How she funded the early growth30:33 Pitching 100 investors36:32 The hard year before Dragon's Den40:13 The content that improved acquisition cost by 40%46:03 Why she hustled her way onto Dragon's Den54:39 10x growth in 24 months 56:21 The biggest driver of growth 57:03 Team, people and personal leadership shift1:00:01 The vision: a global generational household brand1:03:20 What it takes to build JudeFollow Olly: https://www.instagram.com/olly.303/https://www.tiktok.com/@ollyfawcett303?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pchttps://www.linkedin.com/in/olly-fawcett-668566177/Get frequent behind the scenes updates from Olly: https://whatittakes.kit.com/51cd36dc35Follow Peony:https://www.linkedin.com/in/peonyli/https://www.wearejude.com/ecommerce/products/bladder-care-supplements-ppc?utm_source=google&utm_coupon=PPC20&tw_source=google&tw_adid=797298311884&tw_campaign=23562158549&tw_kwdid=kwd-1883578752614&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23562158549&gbraid=0AAAAAoRTlsGydo1cUDo6jv6rA7aXbVTSt&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_vnQBhCxARIsADcZyxIH_CX73-G9bGzZxmK47J2Ep3cN_HfK204shkfU1CF5wSPcVWjccAgaAq1aEALw_wcB