EPISODE · Apr 29, 2019 · 1H 42M
Laurence McCahill - Chipping away at the rock until the image reveals itself
from LifeDoneDifferent.ly · host Neil Witten & Ray Richards
Laurence and Carlos are designers of events and an online community that make entrepreneurs happy. In this conversation, Laurence talked to us about:Growing up in London pubsThe family DNA of bringing people togetherThe benefits of aligning what you think, say and doHow he helps corporate hippiesA life spent working out what he doesn't want to doForgetting his vision which became a reality 20 years later (his wife Tamsin did not forget)Breaking his back in the middle of nowhere The merits of 'temping' The benefits of not being an artist when in a creative roleRealising that culture is the way people treat each otherWorking with a mateThe uncertainty of self-employment Becoming a digital agency (Spook Studio)Becoming digital business designersBecoming start-up business designers The misadventure of developing a co-working space Becoming the Happy Start-up SchoolMoving out of LondonHis approach of chipping away at the things that don't workThe benefits of 'space' when deciding on a new directionBalancing speed and scale v control and solid foundationsThe Michelangelo quote(s) Laurence referred to are: "Every block of stone has a statue inside it and it is the task of the sculptor to discover it""I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free" Happy Start-up SchoolPamela Slim - Body of Work Charlie DaviesJack Hubbard - Dream Valley Picture
What this episode covers
Laurence McCahill is a co-founder of The Happy Startup School, an antidote to business as usual. The Happy Startup School provides an online school and off-grid gatherings for purpose-driven entrepreneurs and leaders seeking to balance money with meaning. Laurence's story is particularly inspiring for anyone who's struggling to find their purpose. Anyone who finds themselves with the feeling that this is not as good as it gets. We talk about his time travelling the world, the period he spent temping, a spell working for a financial corporate, self-employment, the trials and tribulations of building an agency and beyond. Laurence has spent 20 years or so as a business sculptor, chipping away at the things that don't allow him to align what he thinks, says and does. When something doesn't feel right he doesn't ignore the feeling, he changes something, he removes some rock and slowly the image or vision that he has is revealing itself. At the moment it looks like The Happy Startup School but that's evolving too. Laurence founded The Happy Startup School with Carlos Saba, his mate from school and they have spent much of their working life together which says a lot about the way they see and do business.
NOW PLAYING
Laurence McCahill - Chipping away at the rock until the image reveals itself
No transcript for this episode yet
Similar Episodes
Apr 8, 2026 ·48m
Feb 11, 2026 ·61m
Feb 4, 2026 ·73m
Dec 24, 2025 ·78m
Dec 22, 2025 ·111m