
#20 - Building and Losing a £20m Business - Chris O'Connell
Chris O'Connell is a recruitment industry leader, entrepreneur, and advisor who built a £20 million business, only to lose it all and start again. His story is one of resilience, transformation, and adversity.
Chris opens up about his journey from childhood trauma to building a successful recruitment business, navigating personal and professional setbacks, and ultimately rebuilding his life and career with a newfound sense of purpose.
You'll learn...
- How to overcome adversity and build resilience
- The challenges of scaling a business to £20 million
- How to rebound from major financial and personal setbacks
- Why authenticity and vulnerability are key
- Actionable steps for starting a businessInstagram - @chrisoconnellcoach @heydeanreilly @work.worth.doing.podcast
Newsletter - workworthdoing.transistor.fmLearn how I built my Airbnb Business below:
- https://join.thesaco.co.uk?affiliate_code=e019b7Timestamps:
00:44 - Chris’s childhood and its impact on his drive
03:42 - From top recruiter to business owner
05:37 - First steps in starting a recruitment business
07:46 - Landing the first big deal and scaling quickly
09:49 - Building a £20 million business and taking risks
12:45 - How trauma fueled his success and challenges
18:36 - Losing the business and starting over
23:50 - The mental toll of rebuilding from scratch
30:02 - Advice for new entrepreneurs: Just start
43:36 - What’s next for Chris: TED Talks and investments
Work Worth Doing
Everyone wants the freedom to book a flight on a days notice without asking for time off... but getting there takes work.
That work is what this podcast will help you do, by turning your knowledge into money
Learn from entrepreneurs and inspiring individuals who’ve encountered all the challenges you'll face on your path.
Expect the confidence and tools to reclaim control over your time.
IG: @heydeanreilly
- No. of episodes: 31
- Latest episode: 2025-06-21
- Education Business Self-Improvement Entrepreneurship