He Sold for £4.1B— These 9 Lessons Changed How I’ll Do Business Forever - Richard Harpin

In this episode of We Have a Meeting, hosts Jack Frimston & Zac Thompson sit down with Richard Harpin — founder of HomeServe, investor, and author of Secrets to Building a £Billion Business. He reveals the 9 principles that helped him go from early failure to building one of Britain’s biggest success stories. Whether you’re a founder, leader, or scaling operator — this is the episode you share, save, and watch twice. 🧠 What You’ll Learn: How Richard nearly lost it all in Year One Why “copy and pivot” often beats innovating first How to choose the right investor (not just any money) The value of a CoachMent (yes — both a mentor and a coach) Why paper, post, and catalogues are still king in marketing When and how to replace yourself as CEO Going global without going bust Why evolution, not revolution, drives real growth The single most underrated leadership tool: a Not‑To‑Do list These are real, repeatable strategies from 45+ years of wins, losses, and lessons — now passed directly to you. 🎙️ Listen to We Have a Meeting Anywhere: 🎧 Apple Podcasts 🎧 Spotify 🌐 Acast 📺 Subscribe right here on YouTube for new episodes weekly 🔗 Follow Richard Harpin: Website: https://www.richardharpin.com Growth Partner: https://www.growthpartner.co.uk X (Twitter): @richard_harpin Buy his book here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/How-Make-Billion-Nine-Steps/dp/0349445389 📣 Share this with a founder or business builder — they’ll thank you. 💬 Drop a comment below: Which of Harpin’s 9 rules hit hardest with you? #RichardHarpin #StartupLessons #WeHaveAMeeting #HomeServe #Entrepreneurship #BusinessPodcast #ScaleUp #BillionaireAdvice #BusinessStrategy Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction & Reflections on Success 00:01:18 Meet the Guest: Entrepreneurial Journey 00:02:50 Key Traits of Successful Entrepreneurs 00:06:40 The Nine Steps to Building a Billion-Pound Business 00:06:46 Step 1: Copy and Pivot 00:11:24 Step 2: The Power of Coaching and Mentorship 00:14:53 Step 3: Finding the Right Investor 00:17:02 Step 4: Bricks, Clicks, and Paper – The Omni-Channel Model 00:23:32 Step 5: Hire Your Replacement 00:26:59 Step 6: International Expansion 00:33:31 Step 7: Evolution, Not Revolution 00:37:36 Step 8: Focus and the 'Not To Do' List 00:41:45 Step 9: Closing Advice & Next Steps