Have you ever wondered why some creative businesses naturally succeed while others require constant pushing uphill? I spent years thinking success meant working harder, being more disciplined, or following industry “best practices” more closely. Then I discovered that the most successful creative businesses aren’t built on conforming to industry standards or pushing through limitations. They’re built on something far more powerful: the owner’s exceptional strength. Here’s what I’ve learned about finding what you naturally do best and why it might be the missing piece in your business growth.

I’ve spent countless hours creating Reels, convinced this was the only way to stay visible on Instagram. Then last month, a simple carousel post outperformed everything I’d created in weeks. Was this just luck, or has something fundamentally changed? Recent research reveals a surprising shift that contradicts everything we’ve been told about Instagram strategy. If you’ve been exhausting yourself creating videos, this might be the permission slip you need to try a different approach – one that could save you hours while actually improving your results.

Every business success story hides moments when continuing felt nearly impossible. When you’re pushing boundaries that matter, challenges aren’t signs you’re on the wrong path—they’re essential steps toward breakthrough. I share practical ways to distinguish growth-producing discomfort from misalignment, build a framework for resilience, and transform persistence into your greatest business advantage. Your most meaningful achievements might be waiting just beyond what feels comfortable.

I recently caught myself falling into a familiar pattern—adding “just one more project” to an already full schedule. But then I tried something unexpected: instead of paring back, I actually expanded my revenue target. What happened next surprised me completely, bringing a clarity to my decision-making that I’d been missing. If you struggle with “shiny object syndrome,” this simple mental shift might transform your approach to business goals, helping you feel calmer rather than more pressured.

Last week, I spent an entire day setting up a project management system that everyone said was essential for running a professional business. By evening, I was staring at my screen with an actual headache, feeling like maybe I just wasn’t cut out for “proper” business systems. But what happened next completely changed how I think about business success – and might change how you see your own way of working too. Here’s what I discovered when I finally stopped trying to fit into someone else’s definition of professional…

You know that feeling – a client message comes in late at night, and even though you’re meant to be relaxing, you find yourself reaching for your laptop. We’ve all been there, convinced that being always available makes us better at what we do. But what if I told you this approach might actually be preventing you from doing your best work? Here’s what happened when I discovered there was a better way – one that actually made my clients happier.

I woke one morning to find my name as the lead story on Apple News. Over a thousand emails were flooding in daily. Journalists were trying to track down my address. I had just been announced as the florist for Harry and Meghan’s royal wedding, and while this should have felt like the pinnacle of success, I found myself having a completely unexpected realisation…

A simple decision to keep my phone in another room while working on our website led to an interesting realisation about focus and digital space in creative work. While these tools are invaluable for our businesses, sometimes stepping away creates exactly the clarity we need.

You know those moments when you’re staring at your inbox, knowing you need to respond thoughtfully, but feeling drained by writing similar messages again and again? While AI might seem like the last tool to make customer service more personal, I’ve discovered something quite different – when used thoughtfully, it can actually help us be more consistently warm in our responses, creating space for genuine connections.

Think about those moments when you’re pulled away from your creative work by endless admin tasks – the emails, the follow-ups, the social media updates that somehow fill your days. This is exactly where AI can help. It’s not about replacing our creativity – it’s about creating more space for it, handling those background tasks so we can focus on the work that needs our personal attention.