Show notes
Why would someone sell a business for a reported 9-figures… and then buy the same business back in one of the toughest markets imaginable?John Vincent is the co-founder of LEON Restaurants, bestselling author of Winning Not Fighting, and one of the most original thinkers in British business.He explains: ▪️Why he felt he had to buy LEON back ▪️Why most businesses get purpose completely wrong ▪️How rising rents, VAT, National Insurance and the government are crushing hospitality ▪️Why chasing money as the main goal often makes businesses worse ▪️How LEON was built to prove that business can be based on love, purpose and profit ▪️Why the UK High Street is being damaged by policy, not just market conditions ▪️How founders should think about money, mission, control and long-term valueFIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE SHOW HERE https://buildingthebrand.co.ukKEY MOMENTS: 0:00 Buying LEON back01:12 “Petrified and excited” at the same time03:30 From idea to execution of the buy-back deal in under a year04:39 Why John doesn’t believe in combative negotiation06:40 Why he fully walked away after selling08:49 The moment he realised LEON wasn’t right11:03 Why owning less than 50% means you don’t own the business12:07 The equity mistakes he made early on15:49 Why hospitality is such a capital-intensive business17:32 From Bain to building LEON21:26 “McDonald’s in heaven” - the original LEON vision23:14 Why restaurant rents have become unsustainable25:28 Why John believes the government is killing hospitality27:15 “I had to do it” - why he bought LEON back35:08 Why he believes business should start with love42:31 Why life is not a journey or destination44:49 How purpose and profit can coexist48:45 Why John thinks of money like water52:27 The externalities LEON actually cares about54:20 Can you do the right thing and still make money?52:27 The externalities LEON actually cares about55:07 Can you do the right thing and still make money?55:21 Where John’s worldview comes from1:05:28 Why founder-led, purpose-driven businesses matter more than ever1:06:05 How to build real purpose into a business from day one1:12:10 What happened immediately after the deal was done1:14:16 The secret pre-deal planning and day-one execution1:16:06 Rebuilding the leadership team around LEON1:30:11 The three biggest policy levers UK government should usethat could help hospitality fast1:34:03 The family sacrifices behind building - and buying back - LEON1:36:26 Why having honest people around you matters1:43:31 The influence of John’s mum, mindset and personal belief system1:45:15 John’s self-awareness, anger, and where he feels he still falls shortFollow John: https://leon.co/https://www.instagram.com/johnv_leonRead John's Book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/John-Vincent/author/B00I50RNPW?ref=ap_rdr&shoppingPortalEnabled=true
