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. ⏱️ Timestamps 00:00 – Intro 01:45 – Growing up in Bradford & chasing performance 04:40 – No qualifications, just belief 07:00 – Grief, mental health & nearly losing his dad 09:20 – Using pain to fuel ambition 11:10 – Finding his voice in music & chasing fame 14:15 – £10 left, still chasing the dream 17:20 – How music prepared him for business 20:30 – Ruth, fatherhood & his emotional anchor 22:45 – What makes a real coach 25:50 – Applying for jobs mid-business build 28:10 – Quitting security to go all in 30:00 – Building an honest coaching brand 32:10 – Client selection & care over sales 34:30 – Why most coaches burn out 36:05 – Client wins: £300/week to £60k/month 37:40 – Real growth = fear, family & failing forward 1:00:02 – Why you can’t do it all alone 1:01:00 – Joining boy band Onyx 1:03:00 – Going solo & building credibility 1:05:10 – Big break: Sheffield Light Switch-On 1:06:00 – Self-promotion & smart positioning 1:07:40 – Selling everything for a shot in Germany 1:09:50 – Sleeping rough with £10 left 1:13:00 – Dad critically ill: everything stops 1:15:00 – Holding strong for his family 1:16:30 – Secret alcoholism & emotional collapse 1:18:30 – Vulnerability & rebuilding 1:22:00 – "Time is the great equaliser" 1:23:45 – Launching Demand the Market 1:26:00 – From PA to Head of Ops 1:29:00 – Learning top-tier marketing on the side 1:31:00 – Blackpool beach: quitting to bet on himself 1:34:00 – Signing first clients with £2k in the bank 1:37:00 – Why your circle matters 1:41:00 – Turning down comfort for purpose 1:44:00 – Why he started Greatness on Demand 1:48:00 – Booking guests with persistence (and a Twix) 1:51:00 – Real relationships over clout 1:53:00 – Lessons from the pod: master the basics 1:57:00 – Final message: you’re more capable than you think More on Paul Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepdonnelly/ Greatness On Demand Podcast: Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7kph6aUDkTe7yjN0OEvUEE?si=255930f071a54f14 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GreatnessOnDemand Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greatness.pod/ Demand The Market: https://demandthemarket.co.uk/ 🎙️ Follow The Learning Curve Podcast YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@The-Learning-Curve-Pod Instagram: 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!
