I Build Companies That Sell For Millions And Teach Founders How to Do the Same

Pre-order my new book in my featured section. ⬇️

1994:  Born in London and sent to live in Ghana.
Age 11: Came back to South London living on a 4th floor council estate.
Age 14: Started tutoring biz. Made £500 (woop).
Age 17: Started EntrepreneurXpress (sold for £110,000 wooop).
Age 21: Started Fanbytes with my friends in uni.
Age 21 - 27: A blur. Grew the team to 80 people, raised $2m in funding. Won clients like Deliveroo, Samsung and the UK Government.
Age 27: Sold the company to independent agency Brainlabs in a multi 8 figure deal (wooooop).
Age 29: Brokered two more business exits.
Age 30:  Building more sellable companies with great founders.

_

Two years ago, I started writing the book I wish I had when I was 18. 

Growing up I had big dream but also bigger doubts.

→ I didn’t know how to start. I didn’t know who to call,
→ I didn’t know if I was even capable.

That’s why I wrote 𝘞𝘩𝘢𝘵’𝘴 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘠𝘰𝘶?.

Eleven chapters, each one a cheat code. Things like

→ How to build a network from nothing.
→ How to stop living by other people’s scorecards.
→ How to take action before you feel ready.

These are the same cheat codes that took me from being an anxious, self doubting, self hating kid in South London… 

...to building and selling a company for tens of millions, and now running a portfolio that does £47 million a year.

I wrote this book for one reason: to help you get out of your own way.

What’s Stopping You is available to pre-order now. And I’d be grateful if you did.

Everything I wish I knew when I started.

Pre-order the book in the featured section. ⬇️

Timothy Armoo

Most people think they missed their shot.

The smart ones made their own.

Let’s be really clear about something.

You’re not unmotivated.
You’re just waiting to feel ready.

Truth is: You’re stuck because you’re still waiting for the green light.

There’s a moment where FINALLY you say, “I’m done waiting.”

And nothing else matters.
Nothing is going to hold you back.

Here’s the real cheat code:
The biggest unfair advantage is your ability to take action.

Start broke.
Start unsure.
Start scared.

But start.

Start today.


♻️ This hit? Repost to help another entrepreneur
🔔 Follow me Timothy Armoo if you’re the person who starts anyway

Join My Book Launch For FREE On January 10th In My Featured Section ⬇️

If you want to make money, go niche.

Earlier this week I went to a Teachable creator event, and what I saw was wild.

It reminded me just how much power there is in niches.

A few examples:

1. A guy had built a dog-training community so specific that his content was tailored to individual dog breeds. The more specific the breed, the higher the conversions. A whole operation built on hyper-niche dog behaviour.

2. A woman teaching Excel had quietly amassed 30,000 students on Teachable alone!!

3. A ton of language communities with people building MASSIVE communities around helping people learn languages.

Where there is passion, there is community.
Where there is community, there is a business.

I’ve believed for a long time that this is the future of marketing.

Seeing it up close made me even more certain.

Smart move by Teachable to lean into what I think is the next era of online business.


P.S. If you're building something in a niche community/interest, I'd love to chat.

#TeachablePartner

Pre-Order My New Book “What’s Stopping You?” In My Featured Section ⬇️

This is what they don’t teach you in school.

(11 lessons about building, scaling, and exiting businesses)

I asked 11 of my millionaire friends for their best advice to make more money.

This is what they said 👇



P.S. I’ve got something incredible for you…

On January 10th, myself, Lara Acosta, Chris Donnelly, Daniel Priestley, Simon Squibb, Tim Campbell, Kit Chilvers, and more are hosting the UK’s BIGGEST live event for my book 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗼𝘂?

→ Win £10,000 in funding
→ Learn from 7 world-class speakers
→ Any question you have (with VIP)
→ Get a TON of pre-order bonuses

Get your free ticket: https://lnkd.in/eAdyFm2p

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Trish Adudu - bbc | LinkedIn

I Asked 11 Millionaires For Their Best Advice

Africa has the highest rate of entrepreneurship in the world.

1-in-3 people is either starting or running a business.

But a lot of business also fail, because most are doing it without a map. There’s limited infrastructure, no playbook, and a lack of mentorship.

That’s why I’m deeply honoured to speak at TEDx in Kampala in 2 weeks.

Not because of the stage.
But because of what the stage stands for - helping people who have started despite everything.

I grew up in Ghana. My neighbour sold secondhand jeans from her front room. My uncle ran a small restaurant by the side of the road.

Everyone was figuring it out in real time.

Since I came back to London when I was 10, I built and exited a company in an 8-figure deal. I hired 100+ people. I made every mistake in the book.

This talk is my way of giving back.

To show what's possible.

And to show that nothing is truly stopping you.


P.S. Have you ever been to Uganda? Send me your recommendations!

This brand reached $1.4B valuation by just selling water.

In beer cans with skulls.

(save this post for later)

Liquid Death didn’t ride trends.

It hijacked them.

→ Skull cans
→ Metal riffs
→ The tagline “Murder Your Thirst”

They didn’t win because of ads or influencers. It won because it rewired how people see the category.

It’s viral branding that meets anti-corporate energy.

Most founders would’ve killed the idea before launch.

Wrong packaging.
Wrong tone.
Wrong price.

And yet…

That’s what makes this one worth studying. Not copying (it hit completely flat in the UK), but definitely worth studying.

This 4-step playbook turns your weird into your secret weapon... 👇


♻️ Repost to help another entrepreneur
🔔 Follow Timothy Armoo for frameworks to make more money

This $1.4 Billion Company Just Sells Water

Waiting for validation is the most expensive mistake you'll make.

I learned this the hard way.

When I started FanBytes at 21, practically everyone around me doubted me.

"Influencer marketing? That's not a real business."
"You're too young to run a company."
"This won't scale past uni."

My own relatives told me to get a proper job. Clients we wanted to sign wouldn't return my emails. Prospects laughed us out of meetings.

Basically we were just three kids from uni trying to convince Nike to trust us…

And I just kept waiting for someone credible to say we were onto something.

That validation never came, so we just kept building.

6 years later - we sold for 8-figures.

After the same, those exact same people who didn’t believe in us told everyone they “always knew” we’d make it. Relatives brag about my exit at family dinners. People in the industry suddenly wanted coffee meetings.

It’s wild how success rewrites everyone's memory.

But waiting for their approval would've killed us.

The gap between doubt and belief isn't time.
It's evidence.

Build the evidence.

And one day they'll pretend they believed in you the whole time.

You won't care. You'll be too busy building the next thing they don't understand yet.



📌 Want to unlock your dream life?

I went from growing up in a council estate to building a company and exiting for 8-figures.

On January 10th, myself, Lara Acosta, Chris Donnelly, Daniel Priestley, and more are hosting the UK’s BIGGEST live event for my book What’s Stopping You?

Get your free ticket here: https://lnkd.in/eAdyFm2p

Join My Book Launch On January 10th In My Featured Section ⬇️

I spoke to 700 graduates about how to build your dream career.

I came from a council estate and exited my company for 8-figures, so they wanted me to share my story.

I know that not everyone wants to build and sell a company, but there’s a playbook to building your dream career.

And no one teaches it.

Here was the playbook I shared:

1. 𝗜𝗻𝗽𝘂𝘁𝘀 = 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗽𝘂𝘁𝘀.
Simple rule. You get out what you put in. Your results are a direct reflection of your effort. End of story.

2. 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 > 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆.
Going hard for a week then quitting is pointless. The game is won by showing up every single day, especially when it’s boring. Discipline beats motivation, always.

3. 𝗜𝘁’𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗲𝗲𝗽.
Stop overthinking. That 'perfect' moment you're waiting for doesn't exist. Send the email. Ask the dumb question. Make the mistake. Speed of execution beats perfection 10/10 times.

4. 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗶𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿.
Your 'lack of experience' is your biggest advantage. You have no old rules to unlearn and you understand the world as it is now. That's a perspective older generations pay millions for. Use it.

5. 𝗧𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗳 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽.
You are your own CEO.

- Your skills are the product. Invest in R&D.
- Your personal brand is marketing. Build it.
- Your career path is your strategy. Don't be afraid to pivot.

Which one resonated with you most?


Shoutout to the team at Lloyds Bank for the invite.

To the grads: the game is just getting started. Go win.

The riskiest chance you'll ever take?

The one you don't take.

Everyone obsesses over why they can’t do something:

→ "What if I fail?"
→ "What if I lose money?"
→ "What if people judge me?"

But nobody talks about the cost of doing nothing.

Every time you choose safety over possibility, you're voting for a smaller version of yourself.

You're not just avoiding risk. You're also becoming someone who avoids risk…

These are the real questions you need to ask:

→ What if it works and I never tried?
→ What if I'm ready right now?
→ What if regret costs more than failure ever could?

Your future self isn't waiting for you to be ready.

They're waiting for you to be brave.

You thought that dreaming small was keeping you safe. But let me tell you this, it’s the most expensive choice you’ll ever make.

So you only have 2 options:

Take the risk now.
Or pay the price of regret.



📌 Want to unlock your dream life?

I went from growing up in a council estate to building a company and exiting for 8-figures.

On January 10th, myself, Lara Acosta, Chris Donnelly, Daniel Priestley, and more are hosting the UK’s BIGGEST live event for my book 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗼𝘂?

Get your free ticket here: https://lnkd.in/eAdyFm2p

The best business advice I can give you before 2025 ends:

(Watch this if you want to win in 2026)

Do the boring stuff insanely well.

I sold my last company for tens of millions of dollars, but not because we were the best.

When we were selling Fanbytes, 3 companies put in bids. They asked, “Are you the best influencer marketing company in history?”

And I said, ‘Not really.’

Sometimes we were good.
Sometimes we weren’t.

But we were consistent. For 6 years, we just showed up and grew steadily year after year.

While others were raising multiple millions in investment, we were focused on momentum, doing the work, getting clients results, over and over again.

And that’s what most people miss.

Success isn’t about heroics.

It’s about consistency.

It’s doing the boring things for an extended period so insanely well and in more volume than any sane person would find reasonable.


P.S. Are you willing to do boring work if it means winning?


🔔 Follow Timothy Armoo to become 1% to build, scale and exit your business.
♻️ REPOST to help another entrepreneur win

Stop reading random business books.

These 5 will give you an unfair advantage.

You don’t actually have a reading problem (even though you have 100s of books on your shelf that you haven’t read yet), you have an implementation problem.

It doesn’t matter how much you read, it matters how much you implement.

This is a list of the best books I’ve ever read.

In my experience, there are two types of entrepreneurs:

1. The ones who read everything, and stay stuck.
2. The ones who go deep on a few books, and build real companies.

The first group gets smarter.
The second group gets rich.

Be the second.

Your next breakthrough probably isn’t a new book. It’s doing the thing you already highlighted and forgot.

And if you do need a new book to read…

These are my recommendations 👇


—

And if something’s still stopping you…

I’ve got a recommendation for you.

I launched my book What’s Stopping You? a month ago.

This isn't about book sales. It's about reaching every person who needs permission to dream bigger.

If you’ve ever got value from my content, I’d love to deliver even more value at the live book launch. I’m hosting the UK’s BIGGEST live event together with Lara Acosta, Daniel Priestley, Chris Donnelly, Tim Campbell, Simon Squibb, and Kit Chilvers.

You can

→ Win £10,000 in funding
→ Learn from 7 world-class speakers
→ Any question you have (with VIP)
→ Get a TON of pre-order bonuses

Get your free ticket here: https://lnkd.in/eAdyFm2p

If You Liked These Books, You'l Love These

POV: Your mic cuts out mid-TED Talk in Uganda.

800 people staring at you.

Last week, I was giving this talk about overcoming obstacles (ironic, right?) when the audio just dies. Tech team's scrambling around, giving me the "5 minutes to fix" signal.

Now I've got a choice.

I can either stand there awkwardly while everyone checks their phones, or turn this into a chance to re-energise the room.

"Alright, we've got 5 minutes. Everyone up!"

Next thing, the whole room's on their feet. I love doing this. I love getting everyone to shout and jump.

I also spotted a woman in the back who wanted to pitch her business idea.

By the time my mic comes back, nobody even cares about the technical stuff anymore. We're all just buzzing from what just happened.

Perfect delivery isn't the point of speaking. 

It's about reading the room and working with what you've got.

So, next time something goes wrong, do this:

1️⃣ When something breaks, don't wait for someone else to fix it.

You're responsible for your own life and your own success. Take relentless action to get the best outcome possible.

2️⃣ Don't be afraid to give others the spotlight.

People remember how you made them FEEL. Make them feel like the smartest people in the room.

3️⃣ Your response to failure defines the outcome

In every failure, you have the choice: panic, or pivot. 


The moment when things go wrong can be a massive opportunity to get an even better outcome.


P.S. When was the last time you turned a disaster into a win?



📌 Speaking of turning obstacles into opportunities...

My book What's Stopping You? launches in only 8 weeks.

On January 10th, I'm hosting the UK's BIGGEST live event with 𝗟𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗔𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗮, 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘆, 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗯𝗯, 𝗗𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘆, 𝗧𝗶𝗺 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗹, and 𝗞𝗶𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀.

→ Win £10,000 in funding 
→ Learn from 7 world-class speakers 
→ Get answers to YOUR specific challenges

Join the book launch for FREE here: https://lnkd.in/eTGPuv_f

(limited seats available)

You don't rise to your goals.

You fall to your environment.

I grew up on Old Kent Road council estate in South London, where most kids had their ambition beaten out of them before they turned 15.

Then I got a bursary to Christ's Hospital School.

Walking onto those grounds for the first time was wild.

Rugby fields bigger than my entire council estate.
Buildings older than my whole neighbourhood.
Kids casually chatting about ski trips.

I remember standing there, and I thought “There's absolutely no way I can be in this place and stay the same person I was yesterday.”

And that was exactly why I chose it.

Not for the education.

But because I needed to completely change my environment if I wanted a different life.

When you're suddenly surrounded by kids whose parents work in boardrooms instead of building sites, your brain starts working differently.
It changes EVERYTHING…

People always ask me how I went from council estate to selling my company for 8-figures.

It wasn't about working harder.
I just refused to stay in the environment that was keeping me small.

Most people try to build something massive while staying exactly where they are, surrounded by the same people who think their dreams are unrealistic.

That's like trying to get fit while living in McDonald's.

If you actually want different results, you need to physically put yourself in different surroundings.

Your environment is either lifting you up or weighing you down.

There's no middle ground.



📌 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲?

I went from growing up in a council estate, and built a company that sold for 8-figures.

On January 10th, myself, 𝗟𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗔𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗮, 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘆, 𝗗𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝗹 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘆, 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗯𝗯, 𝗞𝗶𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀, and 𝗧𝗶𝗺 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗹 are hosting the UK's BIGGEST live event for my book What's Stopping You?

Get your free ticket here: https://lnkd.in/eAdyFm2p

This Place Changed My Life...

10 visuals that will transform your perspective:

(#6 could change everything for you.)

I wish I knew these lessons 15 years ago.

These visuals are from my new book What’s Stopping You?. Pre-order your copy to unlock the life you want: https://lnkd.in/eAdyFm2p

1. Small daily wins lead to big wins
↳ It’s not always the big leaps that change things
↳ The little daily wins stack up faster than you think

2. Do it scared
↳ You won’t always feel ready, and that’s fine
↳ Courage just doing it anyway without knowing whether it’ll work out

Original ideas are often the children of existing ideas
↳ Most great ideas are borrowed, then tweaked
↳ Take what’s out there, make it yours

Create your own luck
↳ Things start happening when you put yourself out there
↳ Luck’s just what shows up when you keep showing up

Take advice only from people living the life you want
↳ People love to give opinions, but most don’t walk the walk
↳ Only listen if they’ve built something you’d actually want

Split tasks in smaller pieces
↳ Big goals feel heavy when you try to do them all at once
↳ Break your big tasks into tiny steps, then just do the next bit

Be a person of value
↳ Doors open quicker for people who show up with something useful
↳ Help first, ask later. It pays off

It’s not that deep
↳ Most things aren’t worth the overthinking
↳ Take a breath, zoom out, and crack on

Keep making progress
↳ You don’t need to sprint, you just need to keep moving
↳ A little progress beats standing still every time

Make asymmetric bets
↳ Some things don’t cost much but could change EVERYTHING
↳ Place more of those bets. You only need one to land.

I'd love to know in the comments:

Which visual stuck out most to you?



P.S. These lessons are all from my book 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁’𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗼𝘂?

This book has all the lessons I learnt in my journey growing up in a council estate to building a company and exiting for 8-figures.

On January 10th, myself, Lara Acosta, Chris Donnelly, Daniel Priestley, and more are hosting the UK’s BIGGEST live event for my book What’s Stopping You?

Get your free ticket here: https://lnkd.in/eAdyFm2p

10 Visuals That Will Change Your Life

The best exits are engineered.

And James’ £3.1M deal is proof.

Most founders think revenue is enough to get a deal. It isn’t.

Exits aren’t won on EBITDA, they’re won on engineered narrative and buyer fit.

Here’s how we did it:

1. 𝗥𝗲𝘄𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆.

“Just another online pharmacy” sounds small, and honestly won’t get you any offers.

We positioned him as a health infrastructure platform, built for scale and for integration. Strategic buyers saw it as scalable, not small.

2. 𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗯𝘂𝘆𝗲𝗿𝘀

Our AI agent scanned networks for intent signals in our network for companies actively exploring UK healthcare.

26 NDAs. 4 offers. All within a month.

3. 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻.

We didn’t rely on one buyer.

If you bring in multiple strategic players to the table, and make sure they knew it, you can let the tension do the work.

That’s how James walked away with a clean, full-cash offer.


This is how we help founders exit well, not just fast fast.

If you’re planning to sell in the next 6-24 months, book a call here: DealFlowAgent.com/Sage

This Founder Excited For £3.1M, All-Cash, In Only 9 Weeks

If you want to make 6-figures in 2026 from your website…

Read this.

Last month, I sat with a SaaS founder who was pulling his hair out. 10,000 monthly visitors, 3 closed deals.

From the same traffic, his competitor got 120 deals.

How?

They knew exactly who was on their website.

This used to be insanely hard to pull off, but can now be done by anyone with this simple software: Apollo Inbound.

You get traffic, but you know you can convert more if only you knew the exact person that was visiting your website.

That’s what Apollo Inbound fixes.

→ Identify key decision makers who are visiting your website
→ Scores each visitor and sends them to the right rep
→ Lets qualified buyers book meetings instantly
→ Automated the follow-up

Want to be the first in your industry to try it?

Try it here: https://lnkd.in/e8tq5tZN


#ad

How I Would Make £10K From Website Traffic

Hot take: Not everyone should have a personal brand.

(read this to get promoted in 2026)

You don’t need a large following, but you do need to be known for SOMETHING.

Here’s the truth: having 10k followers won't get you promoted, but being the AI expert at your company will.

What so many people get wrong is this…

Personal brand isn't posting on LinkedIn.
It's being the person people call when shit breaks.

Pick one gap at your company and learn it for 30 days until you own it completely.

No followers needed.
No content calendar.
Just competence.

And competence gets you opportunities.

While everyone's building their "brand," someone just learned how to train an AI and got promoted.

Be that person.



📌 It took me 10 years to figure out how to get unstuck.

I went from growing up in a council estate to building a company and exiting for 8-figures.
Now my book What's Stopping You? launches in only 8 weeks.

On January 10th, I'm hosting the UK's BIGGEST live event with 𝗟𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗔𝗰𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗮, 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀 𝗗𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹𝗹𝘆, 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗦𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗯𝗯, 𝗗𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗹𝗲𝘆, 𝗧𝗶𝗺 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗹, and 𝗞𝗶𝘁 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀.

If you like my content, you’ll love this.

We’ll help you overcome the challenges in front of you to unlock the life you’ve always dreamt of.

If you upgrade to VIP…
- You can ask the speaker questions
- You get a chance to win £10,000!

Get your ticket here: https://lnkd.in/eAdyFm2p

Dumb founders chase the peak.
Smart ones sell the momentum.
(This is exactly how we sold Fanbytes)

Trying to sell at the very peak is actually the worst strategy. You’re getting tired, growth is plateauing, and your story that could sell the business slowly gets weaker.

Dumb founders = sell at the peak
Smart founders = sell around 70%

Here’s why you should sell around 70%:

→ Revenue is climbing
→ The team is motivated
→ The buyer sees potential

Because when you exit, you’re not selling a business that’s done.

You’re selling the opportunity for someone else to take what you’ve built and grow it even bigger.

They’re asking:

“Is this business still growing?”
“Can we plug this into our own business to make scale it faster?”
“Will this make us more money in less time than building it ourselves?”

If the answer to these 3 questions is yes…

You’re so likely to get a deal.

Would you ever sell your business?


P.S. At DealFlowAgent, we help business owners find the right buyer for their business. If you’re looking to sell in the next 6-24 months, DM me “EXIT” for more info.

Founders - Don't Make This Mistake

These businesses will never trend on Twitter.

But they make more than 99% of start-ups.

Everyone's chasing the next AI startup while plumbers are quietly banking £2M a year.
These businesses are insane, and often overlooked.

The pattern is obvious:

- Local service roll-ups
- Boring B2B software
- Unsexy recurring revenue
- Infrastructure nobody thinks about

Steal these business ideas before everyone else catches on. 👇


P.S. If you have a business and you’re thinking of selling in the next 6-24 months, I’ve got something for you. At DealFlowAgent, we help you strategise the path to your exit to get you the best price possible. Send me a message if you want to know more.

These 7 Boring Businesses Make Stupid Money

I read 149 business books.

Most were a waste of time.

These 9 are worth it.

Join my live book launch: https://lnkd.in/eAdyFm2p

Most business books are just 300 pages saying what could've been a blog post. Or worse, they're all theory with zero practical application.

These 9 actually solve real problems:

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗧𝗼 𝗕𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗱 - Kishimi & Koga
Stop needing everyone's approval. This genuinely rewired how I see myself and others. If you're serious about peace of mind, start here.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗼𝘂? - Timothy Armoo
All the shortcuts to unlock the life you want. I wrote this after selling my company for 8-figures. Every lesson from zero to exit, no fluff.

𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗦𝗲𝗹𝗹 - John Warrilow
Build a business that runs without you. Standardise everything, reduce your involvement, create something actually sellable. Not sexy, but essential.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 80/20 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲 - Richard Koch 
Find the 20% that drives 80% of your results. Shows you exactly where to focus so you work less and achieve more. 

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝘀𝘆𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 - Morgan Housel 
Not just about getting rich, but staying rich - both in mindset and money. Makes you rethink every financial decision you've ever made.

𝗢𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘂𝗯𝘀𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗲𝗱 - Daniel Priestley 
Create genuine demand. This is the formula: Right audience → strong message → warm-up → timed launch → scarcity → great delivery. 

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗙𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿, 𝗧𝗮𝗹𝗸 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿 - Matt Abrahams 
Handle high-pressure conversations without freezing. Embrace spontaneity, structure your thinking, actually speak better when it matters.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺 - Simon Squibb 
Get crystal clear on what you actually want andS the excuses holding you back. Gives you the push and steps to finally start moving.

𝗛𝗬𝗣𝗡𝗢-𝗧𝗜$𝗜𝗡𝗚 - Mark Young 
Be more persuasive with a few subtle tweaks without being pushy. Improve your sales through psychology, not pressure.

Each book solves one specific problem.

No theory. 
Just tools.

That's the difference between the 9 and the other 140.

P.S. Which problem are you trying to solve right now?



📌 My book What's Stopping You? launches January 10th.

Join me, Lara Acosta, Chris Donnelly, Daniel Priestley, Simon Squibb, Tim Campbell, and Kit Chilvers at the UK's BIGGEST live event.

→ Win £10,000 in funding with VIP
→ Learn from 7 world-class speakers 
→ Get answers to YOUR specific challenges

Get your ticket and pre-order the book: https://lnkd.in/eAdyFm2p


Design inspiration by Matt Gray.

As 2025 comes to a close, it’s easy to look at the goals you didn’t hit.

And you feel stuck…

But most progress doesn’t look like giant leaps, it looks like small wins stacked over time.

One corner at a time.
One brick at a time.

Momentum, not magic.

If the task still feels too big, start smaller.
The important thing is that you start.

This is your reminder: Small moves count, they compound.

And they’re how everything big gets built.

What’s one small thing you did this year that made a big difference?


P.S. This is an illustration from my book What’s Stopping You? It contains the 11 cheatcodes to unlock the life you want.

If you like this illustration, I’m 100% sure you’ll love the book. We’re hosting a live event on January 10th - get your free ticket (and a ton of pre-order bonuses!) here: https://lnkd.in/eAdyFm2p

Growth Index

Founder

ORESA Executive Search

ORESA help ambitious companies prosper by headhunting impactful leaders and providing strategies to power growth. Our unique system, Growth Architecture; aligns strategy, structure, culture, and people.

The intersect of technology and consumer is the territory in which we work: with clients operating in Technology, Sports, Fashion, Retail, Grocery & GM, Beauty & Wellness, Food & Drink and hospitality in leisure. 

My particular interest is in solving complex challenges for ambitious clients seeking to start or reinvigorate their ambitions for growth. My part in their stories, has been to provide strategies and people to power growth.

I am passionate about the work we do at ORESA because we tangibly see the success of our clients and the impact on the communities in which they operate. For this reason we have also offered our expertise and network to societal change-makers and CEOs of charities.

Day to day, I lead the strategy, manage a team and actively run consulting assignments and Board & C suite level searches.


My Role 

•	Interpret the challenges of client CEOs and Leaders
•	Build strategies and plans to accelerate client growth•	Broker deals
•	Mentor/ Strategic Adviser to Changemakers and CEOs of charities
•	Investor

Projects

Executive Search:  FTSE 100 NED | CEO | C suite Role | Global Chief Apparel Officer | Chief Data Officer | Chief Product Officer | Chief Customer Officer |Project Builds

Leadership Consulting: Board Audit | Leadership Audit

Strategy: Strategy Review | Growth Audit | Organisational Design | Transitional Plans

CEO, Consultant & Headhunter

Berkeley Search and Selection

Successfully established the Executive Search proposition at Berkeley. 
Developed and opened a multitude of new accounts with international consumer facing businesses from fashion, grocery, footwear and brands. This covered digital, retail and direct. 

Key projects during this time included:
 
Talent scouting and search assignments for ASOS.com operating board and senior leadership team
International search assignments in the Middle East and India including Managing Director, CEO, Operations Director and Master Tailor 
UK centric board and senior leadership roles: trading, publishing, studio, digital production, sales, buying & merchandise and retail operations.

Managing Consultant - Executive Search

Quantica Plc

Fast tracked from researcher to senior consultant within 18 months, I worked across both hospitality and retail sectors. Achievements during this time included developing business with clients including John Lewis Partnership, Loch Fyne, Barratts, Revolution Bars, ASOS.com, Blacks Leisure, Flying Brands and Mosiac Fashions. 

I successfully delivered on senior assignments including:
 
•	Group Operations Director for Blacks Leisure Group
•	Marketing and Operations Director and Buying and Merchandising build at ASOS.com
•	Merchandising team build (’00) at John Lewis Partnership
•	Operating board and vertical streams at Heals
•	Pan European Buying & Merchandising build for a top 3 Global sports brand 
•	Multiple specialist Ecommerce, Direct Marketing and CRM placements.
•	Head of HR, GM and specialist roles were placed in catering, leisure & hospitality businesses

Senior Consultant

Various

Past experience included: 

• Leading the business planning, investment strategy and operations for a successful e-commerce start-up (media & retail: www.studentproperty.co.uk)
• Consulting (e-commerce, marketing, print and design & leisure  - www.ctrlp.com) 
• General management (hospitality - various)
• Development and operational implementation of: strategy, sales, branding, operations and people.

It was during this period that my passion for business was established.

General Management / Consultant

I am obsessed with business and the leaders that drive accelerated and sustained growth. 

Through ORESA, I have supported such Founders and CEOs of scale-ups, global brands and FTSE 100’s. 
The result – an average of 77% growth for ORESA clients over the past 5 years.

I am a founder but unlike most founders, I have had the privileged opportunity to not only experience but also study growth and ‘people fit’ academically and through the lived experiences of my fast-growing clients.

I would like to share some of that knowledge.  So after 20+ years consulting, I am taking the next step in my mission to support business growth by founding a second company, Growth Index, which will recognise and celebrate the UK’s fastest growing companies.  

I also mentor and support CEOs of  select NFP, NGO & Charities


TECH | RETAIL | FASHION | CONSUMER | STRATEGY | PEOPLE | GROWTH

Orlando Martins

Well it’s the November storm - not the rain - but the sheer number of events I head to! 

I represent three businesses and for each of them it is important to be out there: meeting, greeting, supporting and generally lending an ear to bend to founders, CEOs, investors and leaders across the industry. 

ORESA: Executive Search & Growth Consultants 
Growth Index 
Www.seewhatspossible.co

So on Monday I went as a guest of the lovely Emma Sayle at the The Allica Bank Great British Entrepreneur Awards hosted by the wonderful Frankie James who was resplendent in red. 

It was also a joy to have my brother and long time colleague with me Leandro Martins  

I won’t be able to tag everyone I caught up with but…

Thish De Zoysa Philip Green Tessa Pugh Holly Jackson Alexandra Depledge, MBE Stuart Trevor Michael Blakeley John B Stapleton Verity 

And of course congrats to retail index superstars Simmy Dhillon Lucie Macleod for your respective wins

CEO at ORESA | Founder of Growth Index | Founder of Retail Index

No alternative text description for this image

British retail has always been a story of reinvention.

From local founders to global names, the energy of the sector is impossible to ignore, and it shows up clearly in this year’s Retail Index.

Now in its second year, the Index celebrates the UK’s 100 fastest-growing retailers.

This week, we begin our countdown with #30-#20: the emerging leaders shaping the next chapter of British retail.

--

30/ Jellycat (London)
Soft toy brand with a global following and enduring appeal.

29/ Pink Boutique (North East)
Fast-growing womenswear brand known for its bold digital presence.

28/ Scrumbles (London)
Sustainable pet-food challenger focused on gut health and quality nutrition.

27/ SportsShoes (Yorkshire)
Retailer of branded sports shoes, clothing and equipment. 

26/ Adanola (North West)
Fashion brand designing contemporary, everyday women’s athleisure.

25/ Passenger (South East)
Sustainable outdoor lifestyle brand inspiring conscious living and adventure.

24/ 47Skin (Yorkshire)
Science-led skincare innovator, with a focus on anti-blemish and scar repair skincare products.

23/ Hair Syrup (Wales)
Viral haircare brand turned national success, focusing on natural pre-wash hair oil treatments.

22/ Refy (North West)
Beauty brand redefining minimalism and simplicity for a new generation.

21/ Butternut Box (London)
Fresh dog-food pioneer redefining what premium pet nutrition looks like.

20/ Castore (North West)
Premium, high-performance sportswear brand. 

--

Each of these brands reflects what modern retail does best - adapt fast, stay relevant, and build with purpose.

Next week, we’ll spotlight #20-#10. Download the full Retail Index 2025 (link in comments). 

Photos: a few favourites from this week. Thanks John Reynolds for the snap and Broughton Hall for crisp winter air.

Retail isn’t in crisis. (Subject to what happens in the budget....)

It’s at a crossroads, and that’s where the opportunity lies.

In his column for Retail Index 2025, Philip Mountford (Chairman of Hush and Chairman of Needle & Thread) captures this moment with clarity and honesty.

He writes candidly about the pressures facing UK retail: rising costs, long leases, high VAT and business rates. 

Yet his message isn’t about decline. It’s about renewal.

As Philip points out, these challenges, while real, also create the conditions for reinvention.

For new brands, new models and new leaders to emerge.

For British retail to enter a new era - defined by creativity, optimism and the quiet determination this industry has always been known for.

He reflects on what the UK could learn from parts of Europe, where shorter leases and lower costs allow independent retailers to thrive. 

That kind of reform could unlock something powerful: more local ownership, greater diversity on our high streets, and a renewed sense of creativity and community.

What stands out most is Philip’s optimism. 

Despite the headwinds, he believes in the resilience and ingenuity of British retail - in the skilled, multichannel operators blending digital and physical to bring the buzz back to our towns and cities.

I share that belief.

The high street isn’t dead; it’s waiting for the right conditions (and the right leadership) to thrive again.

Philip’s column is a thoughtful and grounded take from someone who’s spent decades leading at the highest levels of retail.

It serves as a reminder that this sector’s future depends not only on top-down policies, but on people willing to adapt, innovate and keep moving forward.

It’s well worth a read inside Retail Index 2025 (link in comments!)

It was the night before Christmas…🤦‍♂️

Ok maybe not but at least perhaps after tomorrow the business community can get on, getting on! 

We can’t control what government does but we can have a go at remaining positive and doing our best. 

Last night I had the delight of spending a bit of time with the irrepressible and ever positive Thish De Zoysa who has taken on a bar in Holmfirth. We had some very tasty Sri Lankan food and Ailsa Mediwake was very impressed! 

Today I met with colleagues in a beautiful co- working space in Honley. Intense but productive discussions on how to best support our Growth Index  community. 

As ever yours optimistically! 

PS.

I really hope the graffiti artist is wrong and that our chancellor delivers a budget that encourages growth.

Opportunity!!!! Event 

GBEA - Tonight - 17/11 - Black tie - London Grosvenor Park Lane

We have two friends that have reached out to us offering their tickets FOC!!

Any Growth Index companies that would like come and celebrate British entrepreneurship!!

Opportunity!!!! Job Vacancy

I am looking for an analyst to work directly alongside me. 

Super exciting role. 

Space to learn more, space to grow, space to build

High exposure to CSuite execs. 

Lots of quant and qual data sets to build, analyse, extrapolate, write reports…

Multiple databases, SQL, Python, Excel, AI, Tech etc all very useful. 

Start asap

Suit: high capability graduate - science or analytical degree base - Natural sciences, history - it’s the stats that matter but you dont need to be a quantum physicist!!!

Location: Leeds/ Hybrid

'It ain't over 'til it's over' 

 A song by Lenny Kravitz. 

Except today, as a result of the slip by the OBR we were treated to the analysis prior to the delivery. In essence the Chancellor's delivery was over, well before it even began. On a human level, I do feel for Rt Hon Rachel Reeves. Not great to have the wind taken out of your sail. 

My simple thoughts....

👉 Systemic problems not dealt with
👉 Business rate reform and national minimum wage increases may have un-intended consequences. The working person isn't wealthier if they aren't working...let's see...
👉 Some good news for scale ups - congrats Alexandra Depledge, MBE for helping things through

Much more to digest over the coming days. 

But without question this is not:

Growth, Growth, Growth

I know there will be another period of moaning and mourning but I sincerely hope that UK PLC 🇬🇧  can now get on with the job! 

Time to get positive. 

👉 Re forecast
👉 Tap in strategy
👉 Build a winning team 
👉 Crack on!

PS.
I am drinking Butterfly tea a caffeine-free (bright blue) herbal infusion made from the dried flowers of the clitoria ternatea plant out of what I fondly call the cup of pragmatism. It was given to me by a wonderful PA many years ago and is still a go to.

Interesting to read today, that one of the biggest things to hinder growth this year has been the budget and it hasn't even happened. 

'No shxt Sherlock I hear you say!' 

Well  I was talking to a friend about this only last week...

1. 'Throwing ideas against a wall' - essentially slap dash 'testing'. The approach lacks in substance  - it is polls sense checking, and only that...
2. Lack of long term growth thinking....has anyone got a sensible plan?
3. The huge amount of media speculation - driving everyone in any type of business to distraction
4. The immense waste of time resultant of the speculation makes this whole process a complete parody 
5. We are a services and consumer led economy....so why not land the budget on Black Friday week, dulling consumer appetite!!!
6. Can we move away from the negative and move to the positive? 

Why is this important?

1. Business leaders struggle to make decisions in the absence of facts
2. Whilst decisions are not being taken, there is a void of action and therefore momentum - the economy is literally grinding to a halt
3. While the UK stalls, others are seizing the day  - Spain, Italy, Poland and Greece

Can we go back to a form of government where those paid to lead,  come up with a plan that has the potential to work, and deliver on it?  

And if you don't succeed; in the words of Alan Sugar 'You're fired!'

In better news I found a wonderful wine shop in Clitheroe...D Byrne and Co (since 1879).

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Orlando Martins

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