How to Stop Being Scared of the Bank - With Romesh Jeyaseelanayagam

The Importance of Prestart Finance | Real Talk Real Hustle Ep. 4Message from us: If you're a superfan and have been listening very closely to our story, you might have noticed we had to slightly change the release dates of a couple of our episodes. You haven’t missed an episode, and well done for catching that! The good news is that you get to listen to our conversation with Romesh about the wonders of finance ahead of schedule! Enjoy listening!______________What does it actually take to get a bank to believe in you when you're young, you have no money, and you're sitting across the table from a room full of male bankers with nothing but a handwritten business plan and a belief that won't quit?In episode 4, we're joined by Romesh, qualified accountant, finance director, founder of The FD Consultant, and co-host of the Strive and Thrive podcast. He has spent over 15 years working with startups and SMEs, and he breaks down the finance fundamentals every business owner needs to know: from how to approach a bank without fear, to why your value as a leader is the most important asset your business has.We also share some of our own stories from the early days: the knockbacks from the banks, borrowing from family, the boardroom full of strangers we had to sell our dream to, and the one man, Peter Bravery, whose belief in us made it all possible.This episode is for anyone who's ever been scared of finance, avoided looking at the numbers, or wondered whether their business idea is actually viable. Spoiler: the numbers are not the enemy. They're the goldmine.Timestamps 00:02:10 - Romesh's introduction 00:07:30 - How to overcome the fear of going to a bank for funding 00:10:30 - Small businesses: the backbone of the British economy 00:16:00 - Do all businesses go through the same knockbacks? 00:23:00 - Showing other people your vision 00:30:00 - Make good choices at the start 00:40:00 - Your value as a leader is the most important thing 00:42:00 - Trust your team 00:50:00 - Key takeawaysKey Takeaways Going to the bank shouldn't be scary, it's just homework you'd do for yourself anyway. Know your industry, know your numbers, and pair your passion with structured thinking. Your value as a leader is incalculable, so trust your team with the day to day and focus on growing the business. And don't shy away from your bank manager. They want to help you succeed.Subscribe and follow along! This is Real Talk, Real Hustle.Follow the Pod Podcast Instagram: @real.talk.real.hustleFor collaborations & enquiries: [email protected] Romesh Strive and Thrive Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@StriveAndThriveSeries Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/romesh-jeyaseelanayagam/