Screw It Just DO It with Alex Chisnall

Jim Cregan built Jimmy’s Iced Coffee from a simple idea into a national brand. This episode captures how he pushed through debt, setbacks and doubt to create real momentum.

Speaking with Jim Cregan reminded me how often founders underestimate the grind behind a brand that looks simple from the outside. Jim described the early days of Jimmy’s Iced Coffee when he was £50,000 in debt, unsure of the next step and carrying the pressure of keeping the business alive. What shifted things was not luck. It was action. Handwritten letters, direct outreach, relentless product sampling and a refusal to step back when the numbers looked bleak. This Bite sized episode is a sharp reminder that momentum usually starts at the point where most people quit.

Guest: Jim Cregan, Co founder of Jimmy’s Iced Coffee

Key Takeaways:

• Momentum often begins when financial pressure is highest.

• Personal outreach can open doors large campaigns cannot.

• Simplicity and product quality build trust faster than branding claims.

• Resilience matters more than perfect planning in the early stages.

🎧 New episodes of Screw It Just DO It drop every Tuesday & Thursday, so make sure you follow wherever you listen. You’ll hear real conversations with founders who’ve taken a risk, built something from scratch, and figured it out along the way.

FOE returns to NEC Birmingham on November 3-4, 2026. Stay connected at www.festivalofentrepreneurs.co.uk and follow @festivalofentrepreneurs for news, updates, and future events.

Real entrepreneurs. Real stories. Real strategies.

👉 Follow the show. Keep showing up. Screw It Just DO It!

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Passenger started as a simple lifestyle idea yet grew into a purpose led brand with a loyal community and a clear mission. This episode breaks down how it happened and what founders can learn from the journey.

Speaking with Richard Sutcliffe reminded me how often founders overlook the power of building something with clear intent. Passenger began as a small lifestyle project shaped by surf trips, long drives and a need for breathing space. It grew because the purpose was honest and the community saw themselves in the story. Ritchard talked openly about the pressure of personal challenges, the role of naivety, the importance of ego control and the reality that a brand must outgrow the founder to survive. This episode is a useful listen for anyone who wants to build something that lasts and still feels grounded in real purpose.

Guest: Richard Sutcliffe, Founder of Passenger

Key Takeaways:

Purpose creates clarity when the business hits difficult stages.

Community forms when the brand story is honest and consistent.

Naivety can be an advantage when it removes assumptions.

Founders must step back if they want the brand to scale.

🎧 New episodes of Screw It Just DO It drop every Tuesday & Thursday, so make sure you follow wherever you listen. You’ll hear real conversations with founders who’ve taken a risk, built something from scratch, and figured it out along the way.

FOE returns to NEC Birmingham on November 3-4, 2026. Stay connected at www.festivalofentrepreneurs.co.uk and follow @festivalofentrepreneurs for news, updates, and future events.

Real entrepreneurs. Real stories. Real strategies.

👉 Follow the show. Keep showing up. Screw It Just DO It!

#ScrewItJustDoIt #FestivalOfEntrepreneurs #StartupLife #Entrepreneurship

The Atherton siblings built their careers on speed, resilience and control. What makes this bite sized episode powerful is how they used the same mindset to build a business. They went from dominating downhill racing to founding Atherton Bikes and taking ownership of their future rather than relying on sponsors or external decisions.

In this segment they walk through the moment they committed to designing their own downhill bike. They teamed up with suspension engineer Dave Weigel and created more than one hundred prototypes to refine the fastest bike they could produce. They adopted 3D printed technology used in F1 and aerospace, built accuracy into every component and set standards that many brands avoid because they take too long.

Their story highlights the discipline needed to shift from athlete thinking to business thinking. They learned to take calculated risks, build a team, trust specialists and stay patient through the early phases where nothing feels stable. Their approach shows founders what strong execution looks like. No shortcuts. No shortcuts. Just clarity, consistency and a willingness to build from the ground up.

This is a valuable lesson for anyone at the early stage of a product idea. The Athertons show that excellence in performance transfers to excellence in business when you keep your standards high and your process simple.

Key Takeaways:

• Calculated risks shape growth when backed by skill and preparation

• Prototyping reveals weaknesses quickly and strengthens final output

• A strong team accelerates progress and keeps standards high

• Innovation grows when you learn from other industries

• Racing discipline translates well into business discipline

• Ownership creates independence and long term stability

🎧 New episodes of Screw It Just DO It drop every Tuesday & Thursday, so make sure you follow wherever you listen. You’ll hear real conversations with founders who’ve taken a risk, built something from scratch, and figured it out along the way.

Stay connected at www.festivalofentrepreneurs.co.uk and follow @festivalofentrepreneurs for news, updates, and future events.

Real entrepreneurs. Real stories. Real strategies.

👉 Follow the show. Keep showing up. Screw It Just DO It!

 #ScrewItJustDoIt #FestivalOfEntrepreneurs #StartupLife #Entrepreneurship

Piers Linney delivered a clear message. AI is accelerating faster than most founders expect and the businesses that ignore it will fall behind. He showed how AI now handles cognitive work, personalisation, analysis and customer engagement at a scale no manual process can match. His point was direct. Founders must use AI every day and redesign their workflow around the tasks AI completes faster, cheaper and with greater accuracy.

Piers Linney is an entrepreneur, investor and co-founder of Implement AI and is known for his work on BBC’s Dragon’s Den, where he helped spotlight the next generation of technology driven businesses.

Key Takeaways:

• AI increases capacity without extra cost

• Personalised content and voice agents boost revenue

• AI uncovers insights hidden in everyday conversations

• Founders who act early gain a long term advantage

🎧 New episodes of Screw It Just DO It drop every Tuesday & Thursday, so make sure you follow wherever you listen. You’ll hear real conversations with founders who’ve taken a risk, built something from scratch, and figured it out along the way.

Stay connected at www.festivalofentrepreneurs.co.uk and follow @festivalofentrepreneurs for news, updates, and future events.

Real entrepreneurs. Real stories. Real strategies.

👉 Follow the show. Keep showing up. Screw It Just DO It!

 #ScrewItJustDoIt #FestivalOfEntrepreneurs #StartupLife #Entrepreneurship

I’ve always believed success comes down to commitment. Talking about goals is easy. Doing something about them is harder.

Matt Brooke, Senior Vice President at Spartan and Tough Mudder, joined me to talk about a mindset that changes how people approach growth and challenge—the Pick a Date mentality. It’s simple. Set a date. Put it in the calendar. Make it real. That one step gives purpose, direction, and structure to everything that follows.

Matt breaks down how this idea translates beyond endurance racing into business, leadership, and everyday life. He explains how Spartan and Tough Mudder events aren’t just about finishing a course but about training the mind to follow through when things get uncomfortable. We also dig into community, discipline, and how embracing failure as part of progress builds long-term resilience.

If you’ve ever felt stuck between thinking and doing, this is the episode that will push you to take action.

Key Takeaways:

Commitment is clarity: Choosing a date forces you to plan, act, and move forward with purpose.

Failure creates growth: Every setback is feedback that strengthens future decisions.

Discipline beats motivation: Progress happens when you act regardless of how you feel.

Community drives accountability: Training with others builds consistency and shared purpose.

Mindset determines momentum: You can’t control everything, but you can control your effort.

🎧 New episodes of Screw It Just DO It drop every Tuesday & Thursday, so make sure you follow wherever you listen. You’ll hear real conversations with founders who’ve taken a risk, built something from scratch, and figured it out along the way.

Stay connected at www.festivalofentrepreneurs.co.uk and follow @festivalofentrepreneurs for news, updates, and future events.

Real entrepreneurs. Real stories. Real strategies.

👉 Follow the show. Keep showing up. Screw It Just DO It!

#ScrewItJustDoIt #FestivalOfEntrepreneurs #StartupLife #Entrepreneurship