Growth can look polished from the outside. Inside the business, it is often a very different story. Pressure. Risk. Cash flow. Tough decisions. The constant push to keep moving.

On this episode of AIBF Business Talk, Elaine Carroll sits down with Dermot Honan, CEO of Borrisoleigh Bottling Ltd, an Irish mineral water company based in County Tipperary, to talk about what it really takes to build and grow a business in a competitive market.

Dermot shares an honest perspective on scaling, leadership, and the realities that come with building momentum the right way. As he puts it, “Sometimes being the underdog is not a bad thing.” That line captures one of the episode's strongest themes. For smaller businesses, growth often depends on resilience, belief and making the most of the opportunities that come your way.

He reflects on how important it was when customers gave the business a chance in the early days, and why those moments matter so much when you are trying to get established. “Sales is the bloodline of the business.” It is a simple line, but one that will ring true for any founder or business owner trying to balance growth with the everyday realities of running a company.

The conversation also explores the leadership side of growth. Dermot speaks about the importance of focus, building the right team and not trying to do everything at once. One of the clearest takeaways from the episode is his belief in surrounding yourself with strong people and giving them the room to do what they do best.

This is a grounded and insightful conversation about business growth, calculated risk and the mindset it takes to keep going when the road is not easy.

Catch the full episode now and share it with someone building a business, leading a team or navigating growth one step at a time.