10forty

This week on The 10forty Podcast, I’m joined by a true Dublin legend — Mattress Mick, Michael Flynn.

From humble beginnings selling bottled gas and costume jewellery, Mick built his business from the ground up. Starting out on Pearse Street, he laid the foundations for what would become one of Ireland’s most recognisable brands.

We dive into his entrepreneurial journey, the early struggles he faced and the mindset that kept him moving forward — even when things didn’t go to plan.

Mick shares how bold, unconventional marketing — from posters plastered across the city to headline-grabbing campaigns — helped him stand out, stay relevant and turn attention into sales.

💼 In this episode, we cover:
• Mick’s early hustle and first ventures
• The marketing moves that made him impossible to ignore
• How he turned setbacks — even court summonses — into opportunities
• Why you can copy success, but there’ll only ever be one Mattress Mick

A must-listen for anyone interested in business, branding, marketing, sales, or thinking differently.

This episode is proudly sponsored by:

Top Drawer Talent — Supply Chain & Procurement Specialists helping businesses hire best in class talent across Ireland and internationally.

https://www.tdtalent.ie/

Nesta Storage — secure, flexible storage solutions for businesses and individuals, with modern facilities, long or short term options, and complete peace of mind when space matters.

https://nesta.ie/business-storage/

Get 25% off your first month’s storage using code CS25
______________

HERE WE GO.

Want to share your own career journey on the podcast — or shine a light on a business, side project or industry?
📧 info@10forty.com
🎙 Sponsorship opportunities: info@10forty.com

Today we speak to Noel O’Brien.

This is an incredible story.

From finding a home in Drimnagh Boxing Club… to building a multinational company.

Boxing became a huge part of Noel’s life early on and he credits the sport with developing many of the characteristics that would later help him build and lead businesses.

Discipline. Resilience. Confidence. Work ethic.

Noel went on to become the Director of a successful electrical company — experiencing the booms and busts that come with business and entrepreneurship.

But eventually, Noel turned back to boxing.

After returning to Ireland, he decided to go professional chasing a dream that had always been there.

That obsession with improvement, discipline and performance eventually led Noel to ask a bigger question:

How do you get the absolute best from training?

That question became the foundation of Altipeak — now a multinational company operating at the forefront of performance, recovery and healthcare innovation.

Because what Noel is working on today is about far more than fitness.

It’s about health.

In this episode, we talk about:

School days and life lessons through boxing

Building character through sport

The booms and busts of business

Returning to boxing and going pro

And building Altipeak from the ground up

This is a conversation about resilience, reinvention and constantly pushing yourself to another level.

This episode is proudly sponsored by:

Top Drawer Talent — Supply Chain & Procurement Specialists helping businesses hire best in class talent across Ireland and internationally.

https://www.tdtalent.ie/

Nesta Storage — secure, flexible storage solutions for businesses and individuals, with modern facilities, long or short term options, and complete peace of mind when space matters.

https://nesta.ie/business-storage/

Get 25% off your first month’s storage using code CS25
______________

HERE WE GO.

Want to share your own career journey on the podcast — or shine a light on a business, side project or industry?
📧 info@10forty.com
🎙 Sponsorship opportunities: info@10forty.com

Today on the 10forty Podcast, we’re joined by Jamie Griffin.

Now, just before we get into it — this episode is raw.

We cover some sensitive topics, including tough times, losing friends, and struggles with mental health… so just a heads up before you listen to the full episode.

Jamie’s story is real.

From time spent in Prision… to working on building sites… to now working in personal training — it’s been a journey shaped by setbacks, growth, and hard lessons.

We talk about hitting low points… losing the ego… and what it really takes to rebuild.

But what stands out most… is why Jamie decided to speak up.

Why he chose to share his story publicly — and how passionate he is about supporting others who are going through similar struggles.

At the centre of it all is family.

Jamie talks about how having children changed everything — and how being there for them is now the priority.

This is an honest conversation about accountability, growth, and using your story to help someone else.

This episode is proudly sponsored by:

Top Drawer Talent — Supply Chain & Procurement Specialists helping businesses hire best in class talent across Ireland and internationally.

https://www.tdtalent.ie/

Nesta Storage — secure, flexible storage solutions for businesses and individuals, with modern facilities, long or short term options, and complete peace of mind when space matters.

https://nesta.ie/business-storage/

Get 25% off your first month’s storage using code CS25
______________

HERE WE GO.

Want to share your own career journey on the podcast — or shine a light on a business, side project or industry?
📧 info@10forty.com
🎙 Sponsorship opportunities: info@10forty.com

Today on the 10forty Podcast, we’re joined by Jamie Griffin.

Now, just before we get into it — this episode is raw.

We cover some sensitive topics, including tough times, losing friends, and struggles with mental health… so just a heads up before you listen to the full episode.

Jamie’s story is real.

From time spent in Prision… to working on building sites… to now working in personal training — it’s been a journey shaped by setbacks, growth, and hard lessons.

We talk about hitting low points… losing the ego… and what it really takes to rebuild.

But what stands out most… is why Jamie decided to speak up.

Why he chose to share his story publicly — and how passionate he is about supporting others who are going through similar struggles.

At the centre of it all is family.

Jamie talks about how having children changed everything — and how being there for them is now the priority.

This is an honest conversation about accountability, growth, and using your story to help someone else.

This episode is proudly sponsored by:

Top Drawer Talent — Supply Chain & Procurement Specialists helping businesses hire best in class talent across Ireland and internationally.

https://www.tdtalent.ie/

Nesta Storage — secure, flexible storage solutions for businesses and individuals, with modern facilities, long or short term options, and complete peace of mind when space matters.

https://nesta.ie/business-storage/

Get 25% off your first month’s storage using code CS25
______________

HERE WE GO.

Want to share your own career journey on the podcast — or shine a light on a business, side project or industry?
📧 info@10forty.com
🎙 Sponsorship opportunities: info@10forty.com

This week on the 10forty Podcast, we’re joined by Chris Evans — Commercial Director at Ancorra Environmental Services, operator of JS Solutions, and host of the What If You Didn’t? podcast.

Chris’s journey starts early.

At just 16, he stepped into the family business in Liverpool — learning the ropes from the ground up.

But his path didn’t stay there.

A move to Australia opened things up.

Seven years in Perth, working with Carnegies, helped shape his approach to leadership, discipline, and business.

That experience would go on to define how he operates today.

But there’s another layer to Chris’s story.

Back in school, he was navigating ADHD — something that, at the time, felt more like a challenge than anything else.

Over time, that perspective shifted.

What once felt like a setback… became a strength.

And ultimately — a superpower.

That mindset, combined with years of experience across different environments, led Chris to Ireland — where he’s now building and leading successful businesses.

In this episode, we talk about:
Growing up in a family business
The impact of international experience
And reframing challenges into strengths

This is a conversation about perspective, growth — and using your experiences to build something bigger.

This episode is proudly sponsored by:

Top Drawer Talent — Supply Chain & Procurement Specialists helping businesses hire best in class talent across Ireland and internationally.

https://www.tdtalent.ie/

Nesta Storage — secure, flexible storage solutions for businesses and individuals, with modern facilities, long or short term options, and complete peace of mind when space matters.

https://nesta.ie/business-storage/

Get 25% off your first month’s storage using code CS25
______________

HERE WE GO.

Want to share your own career journey on the podcast — or shine a light on a business, side project or industry?
📧 info@10forty.com
🎙 Sponsorship opportunities: info@10forty.com