In the aftermath of the 2003 online downturn, I was a young accountant who decided to take a leap. Encouraged by friends, I bootstrapped an online shoe company. The initial momentum was exhilarating, the thrill of building something from the ground up, the promise of a future I was creating for myself. But that momentum was a mirage.

My business took a different turn. It wasn’t a slow, gentle decline. It was a sharp, brutal reality check. The costs spiralled out of control and the market turned against me. Suddenly, the initial excitement was replaced by a sickness in my stomach that has become my constant companion.

I know this dread. It’s the feeling of a knot that never loosens. It’s the late-night stress sessions, the endless spreadsheets, the frantic calculations, all in a desperate attempt to find a solution that isn’t there. My phone rings and I freeze, knowing it’s another supplier, another creditor, another call I don’t want to answer. I’m constantly on edge, my mind a blur of numbers and worries, not knowing where the money for the next payroll is going to come from. The weight of my payroll rests squarely on my shoulders, and it’s crushing me.

Sleep is a luxury I can no longer afford. I’m haunted by sleepless nights and days that blend into a blur of exhaustion. My family life, my social life, it has all withered away, consumed by this relentless pressure. Every morning, I face the same fear: the dread of walking through the doors of my business and confronting another day of fighting a losing battle. My business failed.

It was a brutal lesson, but it ignited in me a different kind of fire, a desire to truly understand what makes businesses tick, or more importantly, what makes them break. I returned to the accounting field, but my perspective had changed. I saw first-hand the anxieties and fears of other business owners just trying to keep the lights on. I helped companies navigate their own financial crises and witnessed the crippling stress that I knew all too well.

Years later, I tried again, building a property portfolio. For a while, things were promising. But then came the major economic crisis of 2008. Again, I faced the brutal, unpredictable nature of the economy. I was forced to dispose of everything, walking away with exactly what I put in, I broke even. It was a tough period, but the experience was a stark reminder of how easily a business can become a source of dread. I was grateful to have the stability of my accounting career to fall back on, but I realized then that I wanted to use my experience to help others.

I know what it’s like to feel trapped in a business that’s failing, and I know what it’s like to step away and finally have your life back. After everything I went through, I decided to dedicate myself to a new venture. This time, it succeeded. Now, I can use my experience to help others in the same position I was once in.

Imagine waking up without that feeling of dread, without the fear of answering your phone. Imagine sleeping soundly again, knowing that the stress is gone. Imagine reconnecting with your family and friends and finally having time to live your life. I know how to turn your fear and frustration into a sense of peace. I can help you exit your business so you can start living your life again.

If you’re ready to start a new chapter, I want to talk to you. I can buy your business and get you out from under the immense pressure you’re facing.

Contact me today to start a conversation about your future.