I sat down with Paul Donnelly, and what followed was one of the most powerful conversations I’ve had to date.From performing for crowds of 65,000, signing with major labels, and writing tracks for global artists—to sleeping rough in London with £10 to his name, battling secret alcoholism while caring for his critically ill dad… Paul’s journey is the definition of a real-life learning curve.He opens up about the highs of his music career, the heartbreaking lows of nearly losing his father, and how he found his calling as a business mentor. With no qualifications, no handouts, and only £2k to his name, he went on to build Demand the Market, a multi-six-figure business helping healthcare professionals grow and scale ethically.He also shares lessons learned from his podcast: Greatness On Demand — lessons in grit, simplicity, and success from guests like George Groves, David May, Maxi Hughes, Ricky Hatton, & Guy Phoenix. To managing Dean Windass and now the band Half Mark, Paul’s evolution is nothing short of inspiring.This episode is raw, unfiltered, and full of hard-earned lessons in mindset, resilience, business and belief. If you're stuck, doubting yourself, or scared to take the leap—this conversation might just be the thing that lights your fire.⏱️ Timestamps00:00 – Intro01:45 – Growing up in Bradford & chasing performance04:40 – No qualifications, just belief07:00 – Grief, mental health & nearly losing his dad09:20 – Using pain to fuel ambition11:10 – Finding his voice in music & chasing fame14:15 – £10 left, still chasing the dream17:20 – How music prepared him for business20:30 – Ruth, fatherhood & his emotional anchor22:45 – What makes a real coach25:50 – Applying for jobs mid-business build28:10 – Quitting security to go all in30:00 – Building an honest coaching brand32:10 – Client selection & care over sales34:30 – Why most coaches burn out36:05 – Client wins: £300/week to £60k/month37:40 – Real growth = fear, family & failing forward1:00:02 – Why you can’t do it all alone1:01:00 – Joining boy band Onyx1:03:00 – Going solo & building credibility1:05:10 – Big break: Sheffield Light Switch-On1:06:00 – Self-promotion & smart positioning1:07:40 – Selling everything for a shot in Germany1:09:50 – Sleeping rough with £10 left1:13:00 – Dad critically ill: everything stops1:15:00 – Holding strong for his family1:16:30 – Secret alcoholism & emotional collapse1:18:30 – Vulnerability & rebuilding1:22:00 – "Time is the great equaliser"1:23:45 – Launching Demand the Market1:26:00 – From PA to Head of Ops1:29:00 – Learning top-tier marketing on the side1:31:00 – Blackpool beach: quitting to bet on himself1:34:00 – Signing first clients with £2k in the bank1:37:00 – Why your circle matters1:41:00 – Turning down comfort for purpose1:44:00 – Why he started Greatness on Demand1:48:00 – Booking guests with persistence (and a Twix)1:51:00 – Real relationships over clout1:53:00 – Lessons from the pod: master the basics1:57:00 – Final message: you’re more capable than you thinkMore on PaulInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepdonnelly/Greatness On Demand Podcast: Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/show/7kph6aUDkTe7yjN0OEvUEE?si=255930f071a54f14YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@GreatnessOnDemandInstagram:https://www.instagram.com/greatness.pod/Demand The Market:https://demandthemarket.co.uk/🎙️ Follow The Learning Curve PodcastYouTube:https://www.youtube.com/@The-Learning-Curve-PodInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thelearningcurvepodcast/Substack: https://substack.com/@thelearningcurvepod📍 Recorded at Wakefield Podcast Studioshttps://www.instagram.com/w.p.studios/https://wakefieldpodcaststudios.com/👍 If you enjoyed this episode, don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe!

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