As someone who was completely new to business – coming from the sporting world – Jamie now has an annual turnover of £3 million, and up to 70 drivers on the road on any given day.

He is also an official mentor for The King's Trust – supporting aspiring young entrepreneurs who are launching startups.

On Today Team's 20th anniversary of trading, Jamie shares his 20 biggest lessons from the past 20 years to help founders get on the road to success from ‘Day One’.

1) Have a Plan B: it was literally ‘game over’ when I injured my knee. With no money in the bank and no backup plan, it was a case of “needs must” as I cracked on – creating a business plan for my own same-day courier company. They say hindsight is 20/20, but if I’d have worked on my personal and professional development at the top of my game, I might have had an easier ride.

Takeaway: expect the best, prepare for the worst.

2) Save when you can: being a young lad, living the dream on and off the pitch, I spent what I earned. There was no ‘rainy day’ fund waiting when I retired before my time. I only needed £3,000 to lease the van, cover fuel costs, and pay myself a small wage, but I still had to take a loan from The Prince’s Trust.

Takeaway: put some cash aside to fund your Plan B.

3) Back yourself: things will test you, so you must have the confidence to bounce back from setbacks. They are part and parcel of starting and running a business. Sometimes these setbacks are external, other times they are caused by things you could have personally done better. Either way, you must overcome them.

Takeaway: setbacks can come thick and fast. How you respond to them is what really matters.

4) Be prepared to graft: my first clients were local bed and sofa shops in Warrington and courier/transport businesses who subcontracted to me. I spent 18 months driving all over the UK and Europe to get things off the ground.

Takeaway: be prepared for 70-hour weeks in the beginning, but anything worth having is worth working for.

5) Expect the unexpected: Today Team has come through a recession, the pandemic, and the cost-of-living crisis. Basing projected turnover on happy days is a recipe for disaster.

Takeaway: ‘What if’ questions are the most powerful you can ask.

6) Required reading: I always recommend The E Myth Revisited by Michael Gerber. It shows you how to stay in the ‘entrepreneur’ role without becoming a ‘technician’ or ‘manager’.

Takeaway: it’s never too early to start learning from the greats.

7) Self-care is not optional: do whatever it takes to be the best version of you – resting, exercising, unplugging from emails etc. I start every day cycling or lifting weights.

Takeaway: figure out what’s going to give you clarity and the energy needed to seize the day.

8) Know yourself better: personal assessment tools such as DISC profiling increase your self-awareness – including how you approach tasks, interact with others and make decisions. Use them to get better at teamwork, communication, and productivity.

Takeaway: don’t stay blind to your strengths or weaknesses.

9) Don’t try and do everything yourself: outsource what you don’t enjoy. You need to understand it all, but not do every little thing.

Takeaway: it can be hard, but it’s the only way the business will grow. Most importantly, get a good accountant!

10) Find a coach – pay them what they’re worth: I met my mentor, Bill Hobden, five years into the business. Bill offered to coach me for £1,000 a month. At the time, my £300-a-month flat was already a stretch. It was a pivotal decision, but that partnership helped take Today Team’s turnover from £300,000 to £1 million+ within three years.

Takeaway: invest in yourself, even if it feels counterintuitive.

11) But… question long-term contracts: be wary of any coach that wants to tie you into a long-term agreement for paid support. If they rate themselves, they won’t need to.

Takeaway: limit your financial risk so you can be sure on your ROI.

12) Tap into experience: you’d be surprised where a polite, professional request can get you. List the top three people you think you could learn from and offer to buy them dinner/donate money to a charity they support for their time. Prepare the right questions for the meeting.

Takeaway: consider who is on the same road but further ahead.

13) Find community: I was part of a Vistage group for five years – attending workshops from world-class speakers, and learning from CEOs, MDs and owners who were much further on in their journeys. In the beginning, as a startup founder, I worried if I ought to be in the room, but I couldn’t have felt more accepted.

Takeaway: owners all have the same problems, just at different levels.

14) Get out and about: it may feel like you can run your business from your phone, but there’s no substitute for networking, industry events and exhibitions. ‘Pressing the flesh’ still counts – even in the online age.

Takeaway: Research shows that being memorable is about listening, looking and feeling. You will stick in people’s minds better if they meet you in person.

15) But… also care about your online presence: keep things up to date – your personal LinkedIn, company socials, blog and website. Ask for Google reviews (we have 100+ five-star reviews, which has been huge for sales conversions).

Takeaway: people will always do their online homework on you and your business, so make sure it’s a great representation of you.

16) Build your team culture together: work out your personal/company values. Are they the same thing?

Takeaway: working with like-minded people makes your life much easier. The key is to be clear on what you’re looking for and how to test for it when recruiting.

17) Begin with the end in mind: why are you doing what you are doing? Remember, it’s a marathon not a sprint. The ‘to do’ list will be never-ending.

Takeaway: book time in each month to reflect on your personal goals and progress.

18) Focus on your wins: don’t fall into the comparison trap. Some days you’ll be on top of the world, others you’ll question why you’ve decided to run a business.

Takeaway: Remember you’re doing something that many aren’t brave enough to do.

19) Timing is everything: starting the business at 24 meant my personal life took a back seat for a while, but my first child is due this summer and fatherhood is something I feel truly ready for.

Takeaway: your startup will take more time and energy than you can possibly imagine. Plan your personal life accordingly.

20) Trust your gut: nobody will know your business better than you. Listen, read and learn, but ultimately make your own calls on things.

Takeaway: you’ll get it wrong at times, but it’s all part of the journey.

For more startup news, check out the other articles on the website, and subscribe to the magazine for free. Listen to The Cereal Entrepreneur podcast for more interviews with entrepreneurs and big-hitters in the startup ecosystem.