It’s been 7 days since I stepped away from the day job.

The time off is appreciated – but I haven’t slowed down. Not yet. I’m still in planning mode.

✅ Finished decorating the downstairs cloakroom. ✅ Kicked off the kitchen refresh.

The previous owners had a taste for dark interiors. That doesn’t suit me or Hayley. A few careful updates – not a full rip-and-replace (have you seen kitchen prices lately?) – will breathe life into the space.

Alongside the house updates, I’ve been learning. Catching up on podcasts I hadn’t touched in a year. Reading articles. Staying across global events (which, frankly, feels bleak right now). Feeding my curiosity again.

Because I made a choice: to start a new chapter. Bold. Brave. One I’m proud of. One that will give me new ways to thrive, to contribute, to grow.

I’m also throwing myself into more speaking, more events, more moments to give back. If I can inspire just one person to take the next step – that matters to me.

This is a moment to focus on me. What I want. What I need.

I’ve said this many times: leading people is a privilege. A responsibility. But to lead others well, you have to lead yourself first.

That means knowing when to push. When to grow. When to pause. When to pivot.

Sometimes you slow down to go faster. Sometimes you slow down to catch your breath.

Life is a marathon. But it’s not infinite.

So here’s what I know: I’m happy. That happiness comes from within. It’s grounded. Secure. And I want to keep building from it – thriving, giving back, and continuing to succeed.

Can I slow down? Maybe.

Do I want to? Not right now.