hello there,
“So, what now?”
After seven years of pouring everything into my agency, I finally sold it, a moment I’d worked so hard for. But instead of feeling like I’d “made it,” I felt stuck on autopilot, always chasing the next goal. So, I hit pause.
In this week’s newsletter, I’m sharing what happened when I stepped back, disconnected, and took the time to reflect on what really matters.
The truth is, after completing a seven-year journey of building and exiting my last business, I found myself on autopilot. Always looking to the next milestone, always thinking "What’s next?"
But when I sold my agency, Digital Ethos, it made me stop and ask myself a different question: What’s right now?
In 2017, I started Digital Ethos with just a basic landing page, and countless cold calls to win my first clients. No guarantee of success, just determination. From that humble beginning, I grew the company to 80 people across three countries and achieved 68% compound annual growth over five years. It was acquired by South America's largest independent group, Cadastra, in 2022. It’s one of the fastest agency growth-to-exit stories in UK history.
And yet, despite these milestones, I realised it was time to pause. It was time for me to reflect, not just on what I had achieved, but on who I had become along the way.
I decided to spend a week in complete isolation. No distractions, no emails, no meetings, just time to breathe and gain clarity on what truly mattered.
At first, it was uncomfortable. I felt uneasy, out of my routine, and even a bit disconnected. But then something happened: I realised that discomfort is a sign of growth. It wasn’t just about slowing down; it was about listening to what the discomfort was trying to teach me.
We often resist discomfort because it challenges our sense of security. But that’s exactly why it’s essential. Stepping outside our comfort zone forces us to face what we might otherwise avoid—our true thoughts, our fears, our limits.
In my case, it helped me re-evaluate my priorities and learn new things that I hadn’t fully acknowledged before.
During my time away, I started reflecting on what kind of leader I want to be. For a long time, I thought leadership was all about having a vision and executing—just keep pushing ahead, no matter what. But after some quiet time, I realised it’s not just about moving forward. Sometimes, real leadership comes from knowing when to hit pause, step back, and just reset.
One of the first things that hit me was the importance of re-evaluating my goals. It sounds simple, but it really made me think: “Am I still headed in the direction I want to go? Are my goals serving me the way they used to?” I realised it’s essential to stop and ask those questions every now and then, especially when things start to feel like they’re on autopilot.
Slowing down was tough at first—I felt like I was falling behind. But the more I embraced it, the more I saw how much it actually helped. Sometimes, we think slowing down means we’re losing momentum, but in reality, it’s exactly what we need to go faster. Giving myself the time to reset gave me more energy, more focus, and honestly, more clarity than I’ve had in ages.
And lastly, I can’t ignore the power of gratitude. In the stillness, I found myself reflecting on everything I’ve learned, everyone who’s helped me along the way, and the struggles that made me grow. It wasn’t just about taking a break; it was about appreciating the journey, and I honestly feel like that’s made all the difference. Gratitude is like a spark—it lights up everything else.
As I continue to process what I’ve learned from my Reflection Week, I’ll be diving deeper into how I’m aligning my goals with purpose and redefining success. This next chapter is not just about scaling businesses from scratch; it’s about using my experiences to help others achieve their goals and plan their exits.
As I step into this next chapter, I’m all about helping entrepreneurs, agency owners, and founders do more than just scale their businesses. I want to guide them through the entire journey—growing, navigating, and, when the time comes, making a successful exit.
One of the things I’m really excited about is launching The Exit Accelerator.
It’s a programme specifically designed for business owners who are looking to either sell now or down the road. The focus? Helping you strategically position your business to get the best value when the time is right. Through tailored advice, I’ll be with you every step of the way—preparing your company for a smooth transition, attracting the right buyers, and ensuring your team is in good hands.
It’s all about empowering entrepreneurs to take control of their future, whether through successful exits or strategic growth. The journey ahead is going to be about so much more than just business—it’s about legacy, growth, and setting yourself up for what’s next.
Happy to announce that I will be participating at the 1:1 Speed Pitch Session with startups at the Early Stage Virtual Conference hosted by Max Pog.
📆 30 January 2025 at 4PM BST (via Zoom📹)
This book feels more relevant than ever, especially after my Reflection Week. It lays out a powerful framework for cutting through the noise and mastering the kind of deep, focused work that leads to extraordinary success and personal fulfilment. During my week of stepping back, I realised just how much our ability to disconnect and focus shapes not only our productivity but also our clarity and purpose.
If you’re looking to achieve meaningful results and embrace the value of slowing down to move forward, this is a must-read.
"The time to relax is when you don’t have time for it."
- Sydney J. Harris
My Reflection Week taught me the value of slowing down to gain clarity, re-evaluating my goals, and embracing discomfort as a catalyst for growth. By stepping back, I rediscovered the importance of gratitude, alignment, and purpose, not just in business, but in life. This reset has set the foundation for my next chapter, where I’m focused on helping entrepreneurs grow, scale, and plan their successful exits through initiatives like the Exit Accelerator and my new holding company. Sometimes, the pause is where the biggest breakthroughs happen.
I challenge you to take a moment to pause and reflect this week. Whether it’s five minutes or an entire day, take time to acknowledge your own growth. Celebrate what you’ve achieved and let it fuel your next steps.
Next week, we’ll be diving into the The Exit Accelerator, exploring how to strategically position your business for growth, attract the right buyers, and plan a successful exit. I’ll share practical steps to help you navigate this complex journey with clarity, confidence, and purpose.
To your unstoppable success!
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