How to Spot Opportunities Like a Serial Founder - Luke Tobin

Super Powered: Leadership, Strategy, Decision Making & Peak Performance - Stories & Strategies from World-Class Performers for Executive Success

Ever walked past a business and thought "I could do that better"? Luke Tobin turned that exact instinct into three business exits. He spots gaps others miss - whether that's revolutionising how marketing agencies work with clients or discovering untapped revenue in the experience day industry.

From a £6-figure exit of his festival bar company in his early twenties to building the UK's fastest-growing marketing agency (sold for 8-figures in 2022), Luke's track record speaks for itself. Now Co-CEO of Cadastra EMEA with 900+ employees and $50M revenue, he continues to scale companies through his £5M+ investment firm.

This episode isn't just one big "success story" though. Luke openly shares his failures - the flopped modelling agency, the web design company that never launched - and reveals how burnout forced him to completely rethink his approach. His practical frameworks and hard-won insights will transform how you view the market around you.

Key Talking Points:

• The counter-intuitive approach that achieved 95% client retention in an industry averaging 30%
• Why successful exits require 100% focus, and how to avoid the "multi-business trap"
• The hidden challenges of graduating from SME clients to global brands like Unilever and Samsung
• How drama school techniques still influence million-pound business deals

Links & Resources:

• Luke's LinkedIn
• Entrepreneurial Edge Blog
• Tobin Capital
• Book Recommendation: Blair Enns - "The Win Without Pitching Manifesto"
• Vocal Warm-Up

Today's Exercise: The Control Filter

This process helps you identify where to focus your energy by filtering out uncontrollable factors. It brings immediate relief from overwhelming situations and creates clear action steps for progress.

Steps to Apply

• Write down all current problems, challenges, or stressors that are causing concern
• Review each item and mark which ones are directly within your control
• Cross out everything you cannot personally influence or control
• Focus immediately on solving the controllable items
• Review remaining items the next day - many will have resolved themselves
• For persistent uncontrollable items, develop strategies to manage your response rather than trying to control the situation