The emotional rollercoaster of being a founder

Why your support system matters more than you think.

Last week literally summed up the emotional rollercoaster of being a founder. 😅

I woke up on Monday ready to smash the week, feeling good, jumped on a call to catch up with my team…

And then halfway through had to excuse myself because my mum had rung me to say my granny had just passed away suddenly.

Definitely not what I had envisioned for my week. So I took a couple of hours out while my incredible team actioned things on my behalf, so I could go for a walk, grab a coffee and process the news.

Then, Tuesday was another really intense day for other reasons.

It felt like those 48 hours I’d been punched in the gut multiple times, and I was like “hey, universe, can I catch a break please?” 🥲

Now I say this all the time, and I’m ok with that because it’s true… but my team are genuinely the best, and it’s a direct result of me investing heavily into my people.

I arrived at the office to lots of hugs and reassurance that everything’s going to be ok, they’d picked up things in my absence, and reminded me that I’m not in this alone.

It was exactly the pick-up I needed. 🥹

By Friday, we’d signed 2 new dream clients. 🤣

If the above doesn’t sum up what entrepreneurship feels like, and why investing in a support system through your people is so crucial… I don’t know what will.

So here are a few actionable steps if you want to build this level of support:

1. Invest in your people, early and often. Don’t wait for things to break before you build trust within your team. Small, consistent investments in your culture compound over time.

2. Share what’s going on. Let your team in on your challenges so they know when to step up, rather than assuming you’ve “got it.” Vulnerability is a strength, not a weakness.

3. Create clear ownership structures. Your team can’t step in if they don’t know what stepping in looks like. Be clear on who owns what, so things don’t fall through when you need to step back.

4. Celebrate the wins together. Even after a tough week, taking a moment to celebrate can remind you why you’re doing this in the first place.

5. Remember, you’re not meant to do this alone. Building a business is hard enough. Don’t make it harder by isolating yourself from the people you’ve hired to help you.

Fellow founders reading this, I see you. You work bloody hard, and I hope you have a support system as incredible as mine, who can help remind you that you’ve got this in those tough moments.

You shouldn’t have to do this alone. ❤️

Kelly x

(P.S. I’ve opened up a few new spots for Founder-to-Founder sessions in July. This is my 1:1 coaching offer for founders like you, designed to help you tackle the biggest challenges currently keeping you up at night.

If you’re ready to build the business you dream of, with the team that will help you get there, hit “reply” to this email to inquire. I’d love to support you.