The Behind-the-Scenes Stories & Lessons You Won't Find in Our Portfolio

Lesson #7: When Your Agency is Thriving, But You're Barely Surviving

Seven years ago, my agency was in its infancy, my daughter was four, and my marriage was crumbling. I felt utterly alone, 200 miles away from any family support. The worry of being the sole breadwinner, combined with the emotional turmoil of my personal life, left me feeling invisible, unheard, and terrified.

I was drowning in depression, desperately clinging to the hope that if I could fix the external - my business - I could somehow mend the cracks in my marriage and ultimately, my life. I invested in coaches, hoping they could help me steer my agency toward success and, in turn, save my crumbling world.

The Mistake: Putting the Business Before Myself

My strategy was logical on the surface. But it missed the mark entirely. It took nearly five years, countless coaches, and a small fortune to realise the problem wasn't external; it was internal.

The real solution was to fix me and my mindset, not just my business plan.

I had been focusing on strategy and getting more work, but all this actually resulted in was me making some pretty poor decisions in the business because my mental and emotional health was in tatters. I stuck my head in the sand, I worked all the hours and I felt very alone.

The Turning Point: From Saving My Business to Saving Myself

The pivotal moment came when I finally acknowledged that I had been focusing on the wrong rescue mission.

It wasn't my business that needed saving; it was me.

I had neglected myself, believing that if I could just hold everything else together, it would be enough. But it wasn't, and it was never going to be.

The Path to Self-Discovery and Empowerment

This set me on a new path - a path of self-discovery and healing. It was about mending my broken heart, rebuilding my shattered self-worth, and nurturing my mental and physical health.

It was about believing in my purpose and what I set out to do when I launched the agency in 2010. It was about remembering the great work and brilliant results we achieved.

It was about the team, not letting them down and leaning into being a strong leader.

I learned that the key to thriving as a solo parenting businesswoman and agency owner lay in empowering myself first.

I sought out the right professionals who truly understood my struggles and helped me create lasting solutions.

The Agency Lesson: You Are Your Greatest Asset

This deeply personal journey taught me a crucial lesson about running an agency:

You are your greatest asset.

Your well-being, your mindset, and your self-worth are the foundation upon which your business is built.