The spark* blog
Thoughtful insights for socially responsible entrepreneurs who give a ****! Honest conversations about impact, wellbeing and creating sustainable change.
Three steps back
Most founder advice assumes you’ve got enough in reserve to act on it. Often you don’t. This piece follows three founders who worked out that their real task was building the conditions underneath the work - recovery time, a space of their own, people actually building something similar - the unglamorous layer everything else sits on.
Bold leaps don't work
Most of us don't fall dramatically off the top rung. We just decide the biggest version of change is the only one worth trying - then call it a failure of willpower when it doesn't stick. This piece looks at why the art of progress isn't boldness, it's sizing the rung correctly. From a client rebuilding after illness to a CEO who breaks his hardest conversations into granular steps, this is about the discipline of the stretch that builds, not the leap that breaks.
If it isn't diarised it isn't realised
My personal calendar died last night. I spent the evening trying to recover it and concluded it was gone. This morning I had a choice: fix it, or come to writers group and write. I came to write - and here's why that decision matters beyond this article existing at all.
‘Always in beta’
Three words changed everything for one client who was waking up at 3am unable to breathe. 'Always in beta' sounds simple - but it's one of the most powerful tools I've seen founders use to break the loop of perfectionism and procrastination. This piece explores where that phrase came from, why the 'right moment' is usually a myth, and what it really means to give yourself permission to begin.
The choice was never between pressure and vanilla
Are you using pressure to drive yourself forward - or to prove you're not going backwards? A client recently told me that stopping the push would be 'like giving myself a lobotomy.' I knew exactly what she meant. This piece explores what high achievers get wrong about pressure, ambition, and the fear of going vanilla.
There is always more to your story...
My grandmother sold her business in her early eighties. She was a socially responsible entrepreneur before the phrase had been invented - and the blueprint she handed me is one I'm still following today. This is the story behind Ellipsis Coaching - where it came from, why it exists, and why the work matters to me as much as it does to the people I do it with.
You're not stuck. You're thinking alone.
She'd been running her creative business for 14 years. She knew exactly what she wanted to do next. And for six months, she'd done absolutely nothing. Sound familiar? In this post, I explore why founders get caught in the spin cycle - and what actually breaks it. Spoiler: the answer isn't more thinking.
Same desk, same thinking
Something keeps coming up in my coaching conversations. Founders who are stuck - not because they lack ideas or capability, but because they've been staring at the same four walls for too long.
Here's the thing: where you think matters as much as what you think about.
In this post, I share three founder stories - and a simple question that most of us never actually ask ourselves deliberately.
The powerful business 'hack' of… pondering
We are bombarded with hacks, must-dos and routines to power up, double down and warp time. But what if the most impactful thing you could do for your business was to slow right down? Pondering is an under-used, reverse superpower - and it keeps coming up in my client work in the most unexpected ways.
Keeping the fighters in the fight
After two decades working in London education, I learned something crucial: the people creating alternatives and fighting for change carry weight that others don't see. The BikeStormz documentary reminded me why I stepped away from frontline work - and what that taught me about keeping purpose-driven founders sustainable enough to keep fighting.
What to do when life gets in the way…
Zero content goals hit by mid-January. Zero. But when life gets in the way, two doors appear: one full of judgement that kills momentum, and one that keeps you moving forward. Discover why self-compassion is the secret tool for getting shit done.
The power of AND: how to suck at stuff, be scared, feel unclear AND still get good shit done
Every founder faces moments where the choice feels binary: quit the day job or stay, launch now or wait, say yes or disappoint people. But what if you didn't have to choose? Discover how the power of AND can help you move forward even when you're scared, messy, and unclear - without waiting for perfect conditions.
When the rug gets pulled out from under you
What do you do when the rug gets pulled out from under you? This article is about sitting in the uncertainty, finding solid ground again, and why you don't have to make the big decision right now.
The productivity paradox: what a bad back can teach us about getting things done
What happens when your biggest constraint becomes your greatest teacher? When my client's bad back forced her to work in 30-minute chunks from her living room floor, she discovered something surprising - she got more done than ever before. This productivity paradox challenges everything we think we know about working harder versus working smarter, and offers three powerful insights for busy entrepreneurs who want to achieve more by doing less.
Your breath is your most accessible business tool - here's how to use it
How often do you hold your breath during stressful moments? From feeling dizzy in my first leadership role to discovering breathing as a strategic business tool, this article explores why your breath might be the most underutilised skill in your toolkit. Featuring real client transformations and four essential techniques designed for purpose-driven founders.
Building founder resilience: when passion meets purpose
You started with a spark to change the world. But somewhere in the complex realities of building a business, that desire to create change can shift from motivation to frustration. Discover four foundations to help you reconnect with your purpose while creating lasting impact.
Building founder resilience: the relationship dimension
Are you building a purpose-driven business while feeling increasingly isolated? You're not alone. In ‘Building founder resilience: the relationship dimension,’ I explore how the entrepreneurial journey creates a unique paradox - we're passionate about creating connection for others, yet often neglect our own support networks.
Discover the four foundations of relationship resilience that can transform both your wellbeing and business impact, with real stories from founders who've navigated this challenge successfully. Plus, access a free assessment tool to identify your own relationship strengths and vulnerabilities.
Building founder resilience: the emotional dimension
Discover why emotional wellbeing is crucial for entrepreneurial resilience and how purpose-driven founders can navigate their unique emotional challenges. Learn practical techniques across four key domains - stress management, emotional regulation, thought patterns, and mental energy management - that strengthen your leadership effectiveness while maintaining your wellbeing and sustaining your impact.
Building founder resilience: starting with the basics
Discover why physical wellbeing is the foundation of entrepreneurial resilience and how small, practical changes can significantly enhance your capacity to create positive change. Learn the four key pillars of physical resilience that every purpose-driven founder needs to navigate challenges while maintaining their impact and spark.
What are we casting our votes for?
What if we viewed our daily choices as "votes" for what matters most?
In this blog post, I share how a tech founder's approach to managing his time and energy can help purpose-driven entrepreneurs maintain motivation without burning out. Discover a simple framework for sustainable motivation.