26 Jan Sorting the Mind Behind the Business
I have always wanted an open and honest relationship with my clients. When I share something personal or publicly thank the people I work with, it is not for likes or engagement. It is because Paper Anchor Designs is built on people, not just projects. While the studio might be run by me, every branding project, website design, and piece of creative work is shaped by the businesses I work alongside. Each job is about growth, clarity, and positive change, not just delivering something that looks good.
Somewhere during 2025, my own vision started to blur.
Running a creative business is demanding. The idea that being self employed means flexible hours and an easy life is honestly nonsense. The reality is long hours, pressure, and constant decision making. One minute you are buzzing after landing a project you genuinely care about. The next you are making another cup of tea at 3am to finish work you promised because your name and standards are attached to it.
Over time, that pressure spilled into life outside work. I was tired, distracted, and not always as present as I wanted to be. The same focus I gave to client work was not always there at home. I was stuck between wanting to provide the best life for my kids and actually slowing down enough to enjoy it with them.
As Paper Anchor continued to grow, I felt my communication slip. Deadlines moved. Not because I cut corners, but because I refuse to compromise on quality, branding standards, or creative integrity. The cost of that refusal was balance. Life outside work started to deteriorate.
I made changes. I stepped back from networking, focused on existing clients, and simplified things. For a while, it worked. Then projects wrapped up and enquiries slowed. Like many small businesses in 2025, things went quiet. Larger companies paused spending. Some chose cheaper bundled services. Others told me they loved the work I produced but were using AI for smaller design jobs.
That combination hit harder than I expected. Confidence dipped. Self doubt crept in. I started telling myself the business was failing, even though the evidence did not fully support that story.
That was the point I reached out to my mate Matt, who put me in touch with Dan from theprimelifeproject.co.uk
And even though Dan is yet to see this, i am 100% giving him a cheeky plug to his book which you can purchase here.
Dan and I started with a one hour Zoom session. I went into it convinced the issue was purely business. Work slowing down. Pressure building. Feeling like I had worked relentlessly just to stand still. In my head, the problem was clear.
It did not take long for that thinking to unravel.
The questions Dan asked forced me to slow down and actually look at what was going on. Not just in the business, but in me. Very quickly it became clear that the work had not disappeared. The discipline and clarity had. I had allowed frustration and fear to take control, and those emotions were quietly driving my decisions, my energy, and my confidence.
I started the programme soon after. Alongside structure and guidance, I was given tools to reflect properly rather than react. Space to separate facts from noise. Direction instead of overwhelm.
Five sessions in, the change is obvious. I am no longer reacting to pressure. I am choosing how I respond. The focus and drive I had when I first built Paper Anchor are back front and centre. I am not stuck replaying past decisions or worrying about worst case scenarios. I am moving forward with intent.
2026 already feels different. I have stepped back into networking. I am working hard again, but with control rather than panic. New projects are coming in. I am finding time to write, to reflect, and to be present with my family while still doing the work that matters. Balance is not perfect, but it is finally intentional.
Life is not going to happen for you without hard work. That part never changes. But mindset dictates how you carry that work, how you show up, and how sustainable it actually is. Having someone like Dan in your corner, helping you realign your thinking and refocus your energy, is genuinely a game changer.
If you are running a business, carrying stress quietly, and convincing yourself you just need to push harder, I would strongly recommend taking a step back and getting support. It has made all the difference for me.
