Start / The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett / George heaton represent founder from my garden shed to 100m business empire work life balance is bullshit that letter was the end of represent

George Heaton (Represent Founder): From My Garden Shed To $100m Business Empire! "Work Life Balance Is Bullshit!", "That Letter Was The End Of Represent!"

105 min • 24 mars 2024

From starting in a shed to aiming to be a billion dollar company, the road to success is a 24/7 mission.

George Heaton is the owner and creative director of the British luxury streetwear brand, Represent.

In this conversation George and Steven discuss topics such as, why a work-life balance is bullshit, changing his life and writing his rules for success, how Represent was almost destroyed, and why he doesn’t believe in motivation.

(02:04) What is the mission you're on?
(02:14) What made you obsessed with winning?
(02:14) What influence did your father have on you?
(04:01) What was your brother Mike like?
(04:28) What did your parents do for a living?
(04:52) Did you always grow up wanting to be in fashion?
(05:36) The influence your older brother had on you
(06:33) When was the idea of Represent born?
(09:02) Where did that chip on your shoulder come from?
(09:35) What was his shedding phase like?
(11:31) Starting Represent in 2012
(14:01) Why don't people start?
(16:28) How do you feel now about the old products you used to make in the shed?
(17:13) What do you say to people who want to start their business?
(17:59) Trying to scale the business
(19:12) Hiring people
(25:15) How do people get the answers they need to take them to the next level?
(26:08) What made you step out of the CEO position and hire a CEO?
(28:29) A phase where you didn't like yourself
(30:17) How did you know you wanted to change?
(33:20) Creating those next steps for the business?
(39:53) Creating a solid company culture
(40:48) Self-awareness
(42:06) Staying in touch with the business side of things as a creative
(45:47) The letter that nearly ended Represent
(50:02) Company lawsuit
(53:03) What his experience of it was at that time
(55:19) What makes Represent special?
(57:33) What is it about Represent that we don't see?
(00:59:32) People stealing Represent's designs
(01:02:02) How do you view money now?
(01:03:47) What it's been like trying to create a life outside of the business
(01:05:03) The brand being linked to your self-esteem and identity
(01:08:58) How important is it that you surround yourself with the right people?
(01:10:25) Romantic Relationships?
(01:15:04) Opinions on work-life balance?
(01:19:51) Advice on how to run a clothing line
(01:23:37) How to get the motivation to go do the thing
(01:24:38) What have you learned from hiring?
(01:26:07) What if Michael decided he wanted to stop?
(01:29:29) What is next for George?
(01:31:01) What is the next goal?
(01:32:21) What are you good at?
(01:35:30) The next guest's question