How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.

I have retired as Chairwoman of Bayfield Training: the Real Estate Executive Education company I founded in 1998. Control of the business now belongs to long haul employees CEO Sonia Martin-Gutierrez and Commercial Director Jacob Noble . Also pertinent, this week is mental health awareness week . Y'all need to take care of yourselves but mental health should never be a barrier to starting a business.

Sorting out paperwork in preparation for handing over control I noticed there must be a hundred UK companies with the name Bayfield in the title. There were only a handful when I started. Someone once told me the magic number was 7 years. “After that” he said, “you know you’ve got a business.” Next year, Bayfield Training will celebrate 25 years continuous trading.

Starting a business is hard. Both good times and bad times keep you invested. To make things extra interesting, I've had mental health issues since I was a youngster. Boosting my morale, a counsellor declared: “for example” she said, “you invented your own job.” The story goes a bit like this: after I left university I spotted the need for Financial Modelling Skills in the Real Estate Industry, built the models, and set up a business teaching them. My invention thrust me into the cutting edge of the industry and a teaching post at the University of Cambridge .

The same counsellor helped me think positively about how my mental health contributed to the success of my business. With tongue firmly in cheek the advice boils down to: you’ve got to be crazy to start one. Starting a new business is hardly ever rational. The risk return payoff is absurd and most business owners are heavily influenced by instinct. Which begs the question to someone in their early twenties, as I was: instinct based on what? We’re encouraged by the businesses we can see. The ones around us that have survived. We ignore the risks. We have something we can't help but share with the world. We actually dream of success and faith is what drives us.

Starting a new business is hardly ever rational. The risk return payoff is absurd and most business owners are heavily influenced by instinct. Which begs the question to someone in their early twenties, as I was: instinct based on what?

But as well as powering the drive to start a business the chaos in my head gave my business the flexibility of thinking and creativity it needed. Especially in the early years. Running a business had benefits for me too. It gave me the discipline to channel this chaos. It’s not just about good ideas after all. You need good operational systems to keep the show on the road. But above all it was learning to have confidence in myself that convinced me to show up for brand new situations which presented themselves almost every day.

Fast forward a few years and a very pleasing conversation I often have is when young analysts tell me how Real Estate Models should be built. Quietly I think to myself, you’re speaking to the person who discovered those rules. I see many Real Estate Models that not only follow these principles but also look like the models we teach at Bayfield Training . It’s hardly surprising though. We have taught tens of thousands of Real Estate Analysts spanning four different decades. It is still thrilling to see my work thrive among a whole new generation. I didn’t understand it at the time, but this is the reason I started a business.

It is still thrilling to see my work thrive among a whole new generation. I didn’t understand it at the time, but this is the reason I started a business.

Nonetheless recent health after a couple of major life events has made me reflect. The business is a success and I have earned a rest. And at some point, like any good mother, you must let go of your baby. It’s time for a new generation to lead the way. I remain very much on hand for input and advice. I will also pick up the Maths degree again when I’m better but right now I am indulging in a passion that has helped me through my depression, writing. Who knows where it will take me?

In the meantime, I would like to thank everyone who has helped me get to where I am. My early mentors Bill Rodney, George Herd, Piers Venmore-Rowland, George Matysiak and Tony McGough at what was City University and is now Bayes Business School . Bill Rodney deserves my eternal thanks as the professor who gave me my initial inspiration. I would also like to thank John Glascock , Helen Bao, Colin Lizieri and Nick Mansley at the University of Cambridge. Also, Andrew Baum who moved from Cambridge to the University of Oxford. The consummate businessman he is, helped me make some important early connections.

Thank you for the trust and continued loyalty of all our clients, including those brave souls in the early days when it was just me prospecting at your door. You trusted me to set up laptops in your boardrooms and teach financial modelling. Among them are JLL , CBRE , Cushman & Wakefield , Grosvenor , British Land , Savills , Montagu Evans , Knight Frank and of course my very first client in 1998 the Howard de Waldon Estate .

Thank you to all my students and those who continue to stay in touch. I have had such a blast teaching at Cambridge. I love watching your ever greater business achievements and your personal milestones as the years go by on LinkedIn and social media. I may still pop into the lecture halls for the odd guest appearance and alumni events. Who knows, I may even stage a comeback.

I have had such a blast teaching at Cambridge. I love watching students ever greater business achievements and personal milestones as the years go by on LinkedIn and social media.

And thank you to the many Bayfield cheerleaders, partners, friends, and loyal employees over the years. There are far too many to mention but I couldn’t have done it without you. The loneliness of running a business was made much easier with your help, camaraderie, and advice.

Finally, thank you Sonia and Jacob for your enthusiasm and support, particularly over the last three years. I can retire knowing the company is in proven, safe hands as an SME delivering a tailored and custom service to every client Bayfield Training interacts with. I am proud to be its founder and excited to support the company in the next phase of its journey.

The words of Pooh Bear in the title are a bit of misnomer. It isn't goodbye for good, but I do feel lucky. Please y'all keep in touch. Natalie.