Matt Holland joins The 20 to 30 Podcast to explain how he moved from the McDonald’s graduate scheme to running an eight-figure business.
Matt and Josh discuss the operating habits he carried from McDonald’s, including consistency, measurement and attention to customer experience. They also explore SEO, reviews, lifetime customer value and the numbers small business owners should understand.
The conversation goes beyond growth tactics to cover setbacks, acquisitions, debt versus dilution, imposter syndrome, humility and the loneliness that can come with leadership.
What this episode covers
- Lessons from the McDonald’s graduate scheme
- Consistency, tracking and prioritisation for small businesses
- Practical SEO and customer-review advice
- Customer lifetime value and the numbers that matter
- Growing from £10 million to £50 million
- Acquisitions, debt, dilution and leadership psychology
Originally published by The 20 to 30 Podcast.
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Video chapters
- 0:00Trailer
- 0:47Introduction
- 4:20The McDonald’s graduate scheme
- 6:05Cleaning the toilets on day one
- 8:37Skills Matt brought from McDonald’s into business
- 12:26Consistency
- 14:46What a one-person business should prioritise
- 15:47Tracking
- 17:44Tracking for a small business and one-page websites
- 20:50How Matt learns
- 22:53SEO tips
- 24:02Matt’s view of the school system
- 25:50What schools should teach
- 27:17What entrepreneurship means
- 30:01How to learn about business
- 32:54Networking events
- 34:17Is business enjoyable?
- 37:56Work-life balance
- 41:02Dealing with the ups and downs
- 42:31Going bust
- 47:57The power of customer lifetime value
- 51:00The most important numbers for small business owners
- 53:03Customer reviews
- 55:43Growing from £10 million to £50 million
- 58:33Debt or dilution when acquiring
- 1:01:44Imposter syndrome
- 1:03:50Humility
- 1:05:01Traits of successful business owners
- 1:12:47Being 21
- 1:13:59Loneliness
- 1:15:24Paying the price in business
- 1:19:22Navigating conflicting advice