Earlier this year, I was on track to hit my first £1M year. But I wasn’t happy. I had fallen out of love with my business. So, I closed down all of my programs and decided to pivot my business, and in this week’s episode, I’m sharing the unfiltered truth behind the entire process.
I had a baby and decided to pivot my business. This is not a new story. This happens countless times, especially to mothers – that you completely fall out of love with the business you built pre-baby and decide to pivot your business. Except, I refused that it would happen to me. Up until I had my first-born son in August of 2023, my business was only going up and up and up. Everything was going well and according to “plan”.
Then, Zephyr was born. August 21st, 2023. 3:49pm in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
And of course, my whole world changed.
My Return from Maternity Leave
When I made the return from maternity, I was still in complete denial that I needed to pivot my business and that I could jump back in right where I left off. How naive of me.
I did a soft-return in October, two months after Zephyr was born, and then gradually increased my working time thereafter. From January, I was working 2-3 hours on average 4 days a week, between trying to find a nanny to help.
I revamped my offers, ran a huge launch, and was actually on track to hit my first £1M year in business with the way I started the year. We had dozens of new clients lined up to start with us in either my mastermind or private coaching. But as it got closer and closer to the start date for these programs… a resistance inside me started to build.
I was sitting down at my desk and having to force myself to get hyped about the work I had to do. I mean, what was there to complain about? Multiple six-figures in contracts ready to go, a successful re-launch of my signature mastermind, a new part-time nanny who watched Zephyr 4-days a week in the afternoons for 3 hours. I had everything lined up and ready to go.
But, I just couldn’t figure out where the resistance was coming from.
The Business Retreat Where I Realised I Had to Pivot My Business
In early May, I had a 2-day business retreat planned with the mastermind that I was a part of. So, I packd my bags, took Zephyr and travelled for 30-hours each way from Jeddah to Austin, Texas to attend this retreat. It was one of the most exhausting trips of my life, not only because I had a 7-month old to look after but I was also 7-weeks pregnant with my second.
But, I went all the same. I knew the answers were waiting for me there.
I shared my heart and soul to my community, everything that was going through my head. And as they all unanimously nodded their heads in agreement, Natalie, our host said, “Why not take a sabbatical?”
“What? A sabbatical? But I have all of this momentum and not to mention dozens of new contracts with responsibilities to uphold. I could never just close up shop and take time off”, I thought to myself.
So, I let the idea sit with me. And, spoiler alert, I took the sabbatical.
My Mini-Summer Sabbatical
I knew that time off wasn’t the cure. Because when I thought about the idea of just coming back to work after the summer, I felt the exact same dread.
The problem wasn’t that I was burnt out and needed me-time. The problem was my business.
It was no longer set up to support the life that I wanted for myself. And because it was draining me, I was not serving anyone let alone my clients the way I should.
So, I didn’t just take the summer off. I closed down programs that I had been running for almost 3 years and terminated multiple six-figures worth of contracts. It took 2-months to close out the contracts and tie up all the loose ends I had before I was then ready to fully switch off for the summer.
Over the months of June, July and August, we had lots planned as a family. So even though it wasn’t my original plan at the start of the year, I would have needed the time off either way to just manage our busy schedule.
In June, we moved from Saudi Arabia back to Scotland for the summer as we awaited our move to Egypt in August.
July, we had a 2-week trip to the South of France before our belated wedding (TLDR; we got legally married before Zephyr in 2023 so I could move to Saudi Arabia and postponed our wedding to 2024).
August, we packed up everything we owned and moved to Cairo, Egypt to set up our new life.
What I’m Working On Now as I Pivot My Business
Now that we are settled in Cairo, Egypt, with our new routine and schedule, I dove back into business with a head full of clear ideas and a chest feeling lighter than ever before. The reset button had lifted the dark cloud that was looming over me, and the business pivot was fully a-go.
It was time to roll up my sleeves and get to work on building my dream business from scratch… except, not from scratch. This time, I knew exactly what I would do with this do-over.
My full focus is on community and brand building. And if you want to see exactly what I am up to with my business, then make sure you connect with me over on Instagram for daily updates.
If you want to learn the secret to pivoting your business, make sure to listen to the full episode of my podcast. You’ll get more insights, actionable tips, and strategies to apply these lessons into your business.
Topics covered in this episode on why I decided to pivot my business:
- Why I fell out of love with my business & the moment I realised something had to change
- How I transitioned my business & took a summer sabbatical
- What I am working on now with insights to upcoming projects
- The secret to pivoting your business
Resources & Links:
- Set up and launch your business with the best all-in-one platform, Kajabi.
- Sign up to my fave project management tool, ClickUp using my link.
- Create your Own Signature Offer with my free workbook – download it here!
- Scale your Business to Freedom with my free playbook that takes you through my 3-step framework INCLUDING a self-assessment quiz to identify where you are out of alignment in your life and business
Connect with India:
Related Episodes:
- Episode 32: Solopreneur to CEO: How to Start Running your Business like a CEO
- Episode 36: The 3 Phases of Entrepreneurship & How to Accelerate Through Each
- Episode 35: How I’m Preparing for Maternity Leave in my Business
More about Becoming CEO:
Becoming CEO is the podcast for online entrepreneurs who are craving for their mindset and perspective to be expanded, who want to be surrounded by other high-achieving entrepreneurs for continued motivation, who are curious about how others run their businesses and who want to learn on the go. It’s a show that will guide you how to build, grow and scale your dream online business your way.
Whether you’re just getting started or scaling your online business to 6-figures and beyond, each week, your host India Butler and her guests will share purposeful, profitable and sustainable strategies for creating the freedom you desire – without the fluffy BS.
Your host, India Butler – a Business Mentor, Multiple 6-Figure Entrepreneur, and CEO mama – leads eye-opening solo episodes and engaging interviews with leading industry experts. Dive into discussions on entrepreneurship, mindset, energetics, leadership, motherhood, and unfiltered life.
