You probably know by now…I love music. Always have.

I try to get to as many gigs as I can here in Birmingham… we’ve big and small arenas and venues here and many of the “stars” perform just down the road from my house. I was even lucky enough to catch Black Sabbath/Ozzy Osbourne’s final gig before he sadly passed. A proper legend. What a day and night… There’s something about live music, isn’t there? The atmosphere. The crowd. That feeling when the lights go down.

But today, I want to talk about another band you might’ve heard of… The Beatles. Now, most people think of the Beatles as this overnight sensation. Four lads from Liverpool who took over the world with catchy songs and mop-top haircuts. But that’s not how it happened. Before the fame, the TV shows, and the sold-out stadiums-they were proper grafting and hustling in Hamburg. Gigging in tiny, smoky clubs. Playing eight-hour sets. Night after night. Living in cramped conditions. Performing to half-empty rooms full of rowdy punters more interested in beer than music…

They weren’t stars. Not yet. But that’s where they learned their craft. Those long nights in Hamburg shaped them. Tightened their sound. Built their confidence. Taught them how to hold a crowd… By the time the world was watching, they were ready.

And that’s the bit people miss. Behind every so-called “overnight success” is usually years of unseen, unglamorous hard work. I see it in business too. The companies that seem to pop up out of nowhere-chances are they’ve been grafting in the background for years. Making mistakes, learning, improving, getting ready… It’s the stuff no one claps for – but it’s what makes the difference.

So if you’re in that stage right now-putting in the hours, doing the work, wondering if anyone’s noticing-keep going. You might just be in your Hamburg years. And when your moment comes? You’ll be ready.

So what’s something you’ve been quietly working on behind the scenes, just waiting for the right moment? Let me know – I’d love to hear what you’re building