Screw It, Let’s Do It

There’s a book I read years ago by Richard Branson called Screw It, Let’s Do It. It wasn’t just a catchy title, it was a mindset that stuck with me. That phrase has followed me ever since. It’s how I operate. No long-winded strategies, no perfect timing. Just act. Back yourself. Start before you’re ready and figure it out along the way.

For years, I worked in business development. Nearly two decades of winning work, landing deals, growing other people’s businesses. I was good at it. Comfortable. And on the surface, it probably looked like I had a great setup. But I wasn’t building anything of my own. I was locked into someone else’s system, driving someone else’s growth, and always trading time for money.

It started to grate. I had more in me than just closing the next deal.

While still in that world, I launched a podcast, Behind The Chalkboard. I had no audience, no production experience, just a mic and a gut feeling that real conversations in education needed a space. One by one, the episodes landed. Guests came on. Listeners tuned in. And what started as a passion project began to feel like proof.

If I could build something out of nothing… what else could I do?

That podcast gave me momentum. It showed me I could create, launch, and grow things, even with limited time, no playbook, and no big team behind me.

www.youtube.com

Behind The Chalkboard

Ever wondered what really goes on behind the scenes in schools? Turns out, they’re not just about books and assemblies—they’re full-on businesses! Behind the Chalkboard pulls back the curtain to reveal what makes modern educational institutions tick. Each week, we chat with CEOs, CFOs, Business Managers, Estate Managers, supply chain experts, and thought leaders from across industries to uncover the strategies shaping education today. Expect real talk, insider insights, and maybe a few surprises along the way. Class is in session—grab your seat and tune in! 🎙️📚

Off the back of that, I pitched an idea to my employer. A real business idea. Not just a tweak to what we were doing, but something entirely new. And to their credit, they didn’t laugh it off. They believed in me. Properly. They gave me space, support, and backing to make it real.

That idea became SETL, a digital community for school estates professionals. A platform that didn’t exist before. One that gave estates teams a place to connect, share best practice, and raise the standard together. Built from scratch, from a kitchen table, in just a few months. It now supports over 600 schools across the UK, with partners backing it, events rolling out, and real momentum.

It worked because we didn’t wait around. We didn’t try to get it perfect. We just moved.

setl.org.uk

SETL

Connect, collaborate and grow with other professionals managing school buildings, funding, compliance, and capital projects

That principle carried into my next move, launching Cobra, a consultancy built on clarity, speed, and action. No fluff. No 40-page decks. Just helping people get their ideas out of their head and into the world, faster.

And now, this site.

It’s part playground, part portfolio. I’ve added a Work With Me section because I genuinely want to partner with the right people. Whether it’s launching a project, refining an idea, or building something new entirely, I want to be in the room. If that’s you, reach out.

But even if it’s not, this is still a place where I’ll build in public. Where I’ll share what I’m testing, what I’m learning, and what’s getting real traction. I call it The Lab because that’s what it is. A space for experiments, projects, and momentum. Some things will flop. Others will fly. Either way, I’m not here to impress, I’m here to build.

Here’s the truth though. Going out on your own isn’t easy. The internet’s full of highlight reels and freedom talk, but they rarely show the weeks where the doubt creeps in. When you question your own ideas. When the bank balance doesn’t reflect the effort. When you wonder if it would be easier to just go back, sign the contract, and slot into the comfort of someone else’s calendar.

I’ve been there. I’ve had days where I genuinely considered applying for a job. Days where nothing landed, and I felt like I was just shouting into the void. But something kept pulling me back, the thought that even on the hard days, I still get to choose. I choose how I work. I choose what I build. I choose who I build it with. No locked hours. No sitting in meetings to look busy. No being told when I can take a break, or when I need to turn up and smile.

It’s been seven months since I made the leap. And I’m still here. Still fighting. Still growing. And slowly but surely, something is compounding. Not just financially, but in belief. Confidence. Clarity. And momentum.

What I’ve realised is that wealth rarely comes in one big lump. It comes in pieces. Small slices of upside across the things you help build. A podcast here. A business there. A few percentage points in something you helped make real. I don’t want to own a job. I want to own a portfolio of energy. Businesses I’ve helped unlock. Projects I’ve given life to. People I’ve backed.

So if you’re sat on something, an idea, a side hustle, a dream you’ve been pushing down, maybe this is your nudge.

Don’t wait for permission.

Start messy. Move fast. Refine as you go.

That’s what I did. And that book title still guides me now.

Screw it. Let’s do it.

Dan