It was a blistering hot day when I lost my corporate marketing job in London.
I remember stepping off the plane from Helsinki to read a barrage of texts and emails (on my Blackberry) that explained how I was basically being fired.
Within a few days, I lost my flat, income, savings, and lifestyle.
And after calling my Mum to get her to rent a van so I could move back to my childhood room, I did the most sensible thing I could think of.
I booked a flight to Las Vegas with my brother.
During that trip, I almost lost my literal last £1000.
And that shock sobered me up.
I was going to start a business.
I wasn’t going to work for a large company, or anyone else, ever again.
I decided that I wanted to do this all myself.
I had friends, family, colleagues, all tell me that it was a terrible idea.
“You need experience first. Why don’t you just get another job? Don’t you know most businesses fail?”
And they were 100% correct.
I had no agency experience.
I probably could have got another job.
And my first business did fail.
But all the struggle, heartache, legal battles, and frustration have been worth it.
Why?
My business gives me a sense of purpose.
I have a sense of meaning and place in the world, doing something I love.
I never ever thought I’d love teaching people how to sell.
But I do.
I like showing people how to make money.
I like when people are successful and live a better life.
I like when people make all the money they want, selling what they want.
Yes, my business has given me financial freedom.
It’s given me time and location freedom.
I met my (now) wife when I set up the business (she came with me to my first business loan application).
I live in a beautiful part of the world and my team – my TEAM! I literally have the best team in the world and it’s a pleasure to work with them.
I’ve met some of my longest and deepest friends running a business.
It’s the most infuriating, frustrating, heart-breaking thing I’ve ever done.
And I wouldn’t change it for the world.
