What does it really take to build not one, but two £100M+ businesses—and still enjoy the ride?
In this episode of Focus on the Fun Stuff, Emma sits down with James Cole, founder of Panache Cruises and Cruise118, to unpack the bold moves, brutal setbacks, and game-changing strategies behind his incredible journey.
You'll hear:
-How James survived a near business collapse during the 2008 recession
-Why he started a second luxury cruise brand during the middle of a pandemic
-The systems he uses to scale internationally—without losing the culture
-Why personal wellbeing and putting your team first fuels sustainable success
-The "one bite at a time" mindset that keeps his massive 2030 vision on track
Whether you’re scaling your first business or dreaming bigger for your next chapter, James’s story is packed with practical insights and serious inspiration.
Hit play and discover how to stay resilient, build for the long term, and focus on the fun stuff—no matter what comes your way.
--
Ready to reclaim your time? Grab our free guide and start handing off the stuff you really don’t need to be doing 👉 https://mi-pa.co.uk/106-tasks/
--
Connect with Emma!
Get my weekly newsletter here https://emmas-newsletter-adef7a.beehiiv.com/subscribe
Instagram: Emma MIPA
LinkedIn: Emma Mills
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@EmmaMills
Reviews and Feedback:
Loving the show? Your feedback means the world to me and helps others find us!
Thanks so much for listening to Focus on the Fun Stuff Podcast! Let’s make business a bit more fun together! 🌟
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com