Nine years ago (aged 41), amidst running six businesses, I hit a wall. The kind that stops you in your tracks. My health declined, and sleep became a stranger. So, I made a pivotal decision to scale everything back – I sold my expensive cars, reduced living costs, and most importantly, took a break. My wife and I swapped our luxury cars for two modest Peugeots, a move that unexpectedly taught me a profound lesson: No one cares what you drive.
This realisation made me reflect on why I cared in the first place. It was a mirror to my self-worth and a wake-up call that I was pursuing profit without passion. So, I took a year out to realign with my values and vowed that whatever came next would be driven by passion.
This led to the birth of Bella & Duke, a venture that became a passion project turned successful business, valued at over £50m within four years. Success allowed me the luxury of owning Porsches and pay off my mortgage, but the journey there reaffirmed a crucial life lesson—what truly matters isn't the material but the mission and the people who support you through highs and lows.
Downsizing didn’t just reduce financial pressure; it clarified my priorities and taught me that those who mind your external successes aren't the ones who matter. As I move forward, I am reminded daily that real success comes from pursuing what you love with people who value you for who you are, not what you own. When you stop chasing the material things, they come to you if you follow your passion and critically; that passion leads to value in others' lives.
To everyone feeling the weight of external expectations, remember, that real freedom comes from knowing what truly matters. Let’s focus on what fuels our passion, not what fills our garages.
