From Rock Bottom to £10m: A Story Every Business Owner Needs to Hear
What do you do when it feels like there’s a black ceiling above you — no light, no options, no way forward?
This powerful episode of the ActionCOACH Podcast is not about overnight success, flashy tactics, or “hustle culture”. It’s about real business, real leadership, and real resilience.
In this conversation, you’ll hear the extraordinary story of Rachel Watkin, founder of Tiny Box Company — a business she grew to £10m+ turnover against odds that would have stopped most people long before they started.
Why this episode matters to business owners
Very few businesses ever reach £1m. Even fewer reach £10m.
Rachel did — while navigating:
Chronic fatigue that left her bed-bound for years
Running her business from her bed for months at a time
Being publicly torn apart on Dragon’s Den
Multiple cancer diagnoses
Crushing self-doubt, imposter syndrome, and repeated setbacks
And yet… she kept building.
If you’ve ever questioned whether you can keep going — this episode is for you.
The real reason most businesses don’t scale
One of the biggest insights Rachel shares is this:
Scaling isn’t about working harder — it’s about starting with the right intention.
She explains why many founders unintentionally build “home fires” when what they really want is a bonfire — and how failing to put the right people, systems, and mindset in place early can slow growth by years.
You’ll hear candid reflections on:
Why hiring cheaply early on can cost you dearly later
How roles often outgrow people — and why that’s painful but necessary
The difference between being good at ideas versus being good at detail (and why you need both)
Dragon’s Den, rejection, and brutal honesty
Rachel also opens up about her experience in Dragon’s Den — including:
Being “absolutely slaughtered” in the Den
Receiving harsh criticism on national television
Expecting mentorship… and instead being handed investment and told to get on with it
What followed was a turning point: others believed in her before she believed in herself.
Leadership, purpose, and the “steel rod”
A recurring theme throughout the episode is what Rachel calls the “steel rod” — the inner drive that keeps you moving when logic says stop.
You’ll hear powerful insights on:
Servant leadership and building a team that can run without you
Why focusing on something bigger than yourself reduces fear and imposter syndrome
How purpose — not confidence — is often the real driver of success
This is especially relevant if you’re a business owner who feels stretched, isolated, or weighed down by responsibility.
Success, redefined
Rachel challenges the idea that success is about money alone.
For her, success is:
Building something meaningful
Supporting others to rise
Creating a business that works with your life — not against it
She also shares hard-earned lessons about:
Dishonesty in business
Blindly trusting “experts”
Stripping everything back to basics when things feel overwhelming
Why you should watch the full video
This episode is raw, honest, emotional, and deeply human.
It’s not theory.
It’s not motivational fluff.
It’s lived experience from someone who has been to the very bottom — and built her way back up.👉 If you’re a business owner navigating growth, pressure, health challenges, or self-doubt — this conversation will resonate deeply.
Watch the full episode now and take notes.
You may find exactly what you need to hear to keep going.
