Scotland’s Home of the Year judge Danny Campbell has revealed the secret of his success – going to bed before his own TV show is even on the telly.
The celebrity architect and founder of HOKO Design, star of the hit BBC show, made the revelation on the Human First podcast, which debuted on all major podcast platforms this month.
Entrepreneur and Crossfit fanatic Campbell, explained how rising at 4.30am gives him the time he needs to work out and get a head start on the day ‘before everybody else kicks off’, but the trade off is being tucked up in bed at 8.30pm – just as Scotland’s Home Of The Year airs on the BBC.
However, despite the Scots star’s rising TV profile, missing out on screen time doesn’t bother him at all.
The 33-year-old dad-of-three said: “I think there’s definitely elements of life strategy that are really important. I’m usually in bed by half 8.
“I get up super early, get myself organised, and get a couple hours work before everyone else kicks off. That way I can spend my day strategising, and my evenings are free to spend time with kids.
“The bit I’ve sacrificed is watching movies and telly at the end of the day. That sets me up for success.”
In a candid conversation with Human First podcast host Adrian Murphy, founder and CEO of Glasgow-based wealth management firm Murphy Wealth, Campbell also discussed his approach to difficulties with his mental health, as well as how having a terminally ill family member has helped put the challenges of his professional life into perspective.
It’s an experience he shares with Murphy, whose own brother has motor neuron disease.
Campbell, who recorded the podcast before his younger brother Duncan died after living with terminal brain cancer since 2021, said: “I think anybody who has had a terminal illness in their family, and I know you’ve gone through a similar thing as well, you can immediately relate to other people who are going through the same.
“On an emotional level it completely changes your whole world. You can feel yourself going through this cycle of different feelings and emotions, and especially when you’ve got other people looking to you for responsibilities, if you’re the head of a company, your personal trauma is not their problem.
“You’re still expected to meet your clients’ needs, support your staff, and do all of these other things – so it’s up to you to manage your time and own expectations. And it’s very difficult to do when sometimes you feel incredibly sad.”
Murphy responded: “It does put things into perspective a bit, when you have somebody like that, when you’re close to them.
“The things that may have bothered you, the stresses, the people at work or the clients, or whatever may have been going on…. these things don’t tend to play on your mind as much as they may have done because you’ve got that sense of perspective.”
Award-winning entrepreneur Campbell also outlined his ambitions for HOKO to become the household name in residential architecture, but explained how his approach to business has evolved.
He said: “To be the first [household name in architecture] is a very valuable and prestigious thing to be, if I can solve the problem to that extent I’ll be very happy with myself, that’s the point I’ll think about something else to do.
“My early career in business I was always thinking about exit, thinking a lot about where we’re going to get to, and how much it might be worth. It was very calculated, very financial.
“My whole mindset has shifted now; it’s focused entirely on the problem we’re fixing.
“Day-to-day my job is so much fun, but ultimately I’m doing this to try and solve a problem. That’s my North Star; that’s my purpose; that’s what I obsess over.”
The Human First podcast is a new series from Murphy Wealth CEO Adrian Murphy, in which he discusses life, money, motivation, and family with some of the most prominent and recognisable faces in Scottish business.
The five-part series, which launched this August, includes interviews with guests including former Scotland and Glasgow Warriors international turned entrepreneur Adam Ashe; Sub Club founder and legend of the Scottish nightclub scene Mike Grieve, and Scots entrepreneur and TAG Digital founder Laura Davidson.
You can find out more about Murphy Wealth and the financial advice services the firm offers by clicking here, and you can listen to the 30 minute podcast in full by searching for Human First on all major platforms, including Spotify and YouTube.
For more information on Murphy Wealth, visit murphywealth.co.uk.
