What happens when the one thing you’ve built your identity around disappears overnight? In this episode of Focus on Founders, host Matthew Adams sits down with Marc O’Brien - serial founder and the force behind Make It Happen, MOBO Sports Arena, and MOBO Sports Academy - to explore the reality of rebuilding from zero and creating momentum when there’s no obvious path forward. Marc was on the verge of turning professional as a footballer when a career-ending back injury forced him to walk away from the sport entirely. With no degree, no plan B, and no clear direction, he had to start again - entering the corporate world before eventually building multiple successful businesses across sport, education, and consultancy. This conversation goes far beyond surface-level motivation. Marc shares the behind-the-scenes decisions, frameworks, and mindset shifts that helped him turn setbacks into systems - and why execution, not ideas, is where most founders fall short. In this episode, we explore:• Losing your identity and starting again from scratch• How elite sport mindset translates into business execution• Why most founders don’t fail - they stall• Building and scaling multiple businesses in parallel• The realities of building a business with family• Clarity, road-mapping, and accountability as growth drivers• Why motivation is overrated and systems matter more• Cutting through overwhelm in early-stage and scaling businesses Marc also breaks down the philosophy behind Make It Happen - a practical approach to helping founders and operators gain clarity, focus on what matters, and actually follow through. Drawing on years of consulting experience, elite sport psychology, and real-world business building, his work is grounded in integrity, discipline, and long-term thinking. This episode is for founders, operators, and aspiring entrepreneurs who want honest insight into how businesses really work - not just the wins, but the pivots, doubts, and execution required to keep moving forward. 🎙 About the podcast Focus on Founders dives deep into the journeys of business founders across marketing, technology, and services - exploring the behind-the-scenes details of how businesses actually operate. Each episode aims to inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs while offering practical insight to those already building. Guest: Marc O’Brien - Founder, MOBO & Make It HappenHost: Matthew AdamsWith thanks to our podcast sponsor: dussl. dussl is a Glasgow-based skincare brand built around high-performing, multi-tasking products, with a core focus on what makes the biggest difference to our skin health: UV protection. This is simplified skincare for all. Minimal effort. Maximum results. dussl’s Founder, Fraser, is also part of the Focus on Founders community. Use code "FOCUS15" at dussl.com for an exclusive discount.
