E28: Tobi Pearce - £100m in Revenue Aged 27

Tobi left home at 16 due to a rough family environment, but also driven by a strong sense of independence and control over his own destiny, believing he could figure out a way to succeed.

Tobi advises evaluating the current revenue and growth of the business, the potential short-term benefits of not going to university, and the opportunity cost. Crucially, if you drop out, you must commit to continuous self-learning through other means like books and online courses.

Tobi recommends 'Good to Great' by Jim Collins for understanding how businesses become great and sustainable, and 'Unsubscribed' by Tien Tzuo (CEO of Zuora) for insights into modern business models and the subscription economy.

Tobi and Kayla have found success by clearly defining their roles and trusting each other to excel in those areas. While there can be tension, they've avoided arguments by sticking to their strengths and respecting each other's domain.

Tobi feels it's a burden due to the constant 'traffic' of information in his mind, which never stops, and the difficulty in communicating complex ideas that seem simple to him to others who may not grasp them as quickly.

Leaders must first become aware of their impatience and communicate it to their team, creating an open door for questions. Ultimately, it requires discipline to be patient, considerate, and communicate effectively, as bringing people along is essential for success.

Tobi attributes his success to hard work, discipline, drive, a commitment to continuous learning and self-development, surrounding himself with intelligent people, and his greatest strength: being highly detail-oriented and strong in information architecture.

While success can bring material rewards, Tobi emphasizes that true joy comes from the journey and the progress made, not just money or possessions. The 'rock star' image often hides the long days, pressure, and stress that are inherent to the entrepreneurial path.

Tobi couldn't pinpoint an exact dollar amount, but for him, happiness stopped scaling with money when Kayla's brand took off and they pivoted to the app. At that point, the excitement of learning, building, and making progress became the primary source of joy, with money becoming merely a 'measuring stick'.

Leaders should encourage solution-oriented thinking, as emotions don't fix problems. If a team member continuously highlights problems without seeking solutions, it can negatively impact team culture, and a discussion about their approach to problems or even their fit within the organization may be necessary.

Tobi suggests recognizing that haters often don't know you personally, and it's your choice whether to engage with their negativity or focus on your own confidence and progress. If negativity comes from close ones, evaluate if their comments are about you or their own fears/jealousy, and consider if they are adding value or draining energy from your life.

He learned that even small mistakes, especially as a leader, send a significant message. It reinforced the importance of 'how you win' – demonstrating good behavior and supporting your team, rather than just achieving success, as a leader's actions profoundly impact the organization.

The most common regret is not living a life true to oneself. Tobi advises people to take extreme control of their lives, figure out what truly makes them happy (which might not be traditional success or entrepreneurship), and then work relentlessly towards that specific vision.