What if the only rule you followed was to never have a 0% day?
In this powerful conversation, host Junaid Ahmed sits down with high-performance coach and entrepreneur Jake Smolarek, who arrived in the UK with just £150 and went on to build multiple successful businesses. This isn’t about hacks or hype. It’s about the brutal honesty, discipline, and obsession required to build a life you’re proud of.
Jake breaks down his core frameworks — No 0% Days, the 10-80-10 rule, and a preview of his Vision GPS system — and shows how ordinary people with families, full-time jobs, and limited time can still build something extraordinary. From why we keep promises to others but break them to ourselves, to how to treat your side hustle like a plane taking off at 100% thrust, this episode will challenge the way you think about discipline, success, and what you’re truly capable of.
You will not see your “busy schedule” the same way after this.
Key Takeaways:
- Why moving to the UK with £150 forced Jake to redefine risk, ownership, and what really matters
- The mindset behind never having a 0% day and what a real 1% win looks like on your worst days
- How we lie to ourselves about “passions” like travel, and the brutal truth your calendar reveals
- Why everyone needs a coach, and how mentors and even unsuccessful people can speed up your success
- The difference between having a business and building a profitable one, and why obsession is non-negotiable
Timestamps
- 00:01:45 The £150 leap – Why Jake left everything behind and moved to the UK with almost nothing
- 00:03:44 Discipline is not a mood – The real reason we keep promises to others but not to ourselves
- 00:07:01 Why everyone needs a coach – The power of outside feedback and learning from failure
- 00:12:34 No 0% Days explained – How to win even on your worst days and why “wishes” aren’t goals
- 00:16:27 What a 1% win looks like – Turning “I did nothing” days into small but crucial progress
- 00:18:23 Obsession, madness, and being number one – Why you must dominate your niche, not just participate
- 00:20:30 Side hustles, families, and time – Applying No 0% Days when you have a job, kids, and a full life
Guest Links https://jakesmolarek.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/jakesmolarek/ https://www.instagram.com/jakesmolarek/ https://www.facebook.com/jake.lucas.smolarek https://www.tiktok.com/@jakesmolarek
Junaid Ahmed is a multi-passionate creator, storyteller, and home studio architect who believes your voice can change your world. As the host of Hacks and Hobbies, he dives deep into the journeys of people turning passion into purpose — from garage inventors to global entrepreneurs.
The podcast began as a simple idea: record honest conversations about side projects, creativity, and the hustle behind the scenes. Years later, it’s become a movement — showcasing the real, raw, and inspiring stories of everyday innovators.
Whether he’s building pro-level studios or geeking out over podcast gear, Junaid’s mission is clear: help people show up with confidence, clarity, and character.
🎧 New episodes weekdays. New perspectives in every story.
