How I Built My Work Ethic, Grew My Business, and Stay Sane Along the Way

THIS IS AN ADAPTED ARTICLE FROM THE INTERVIEW I DID OVER ON THE BOLD JOURNEY BLOG.

How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think it comes from?

My work ethic was shaped long before I ever started my own business. Growing up, my mum was a self-employed painter and decorator and not just any painter and decorator. She was one of the very few women in a trade that’s still largely male-dominated today. She managed to build her business from scratch while raising three kids, and watching her do that left a huge mark on me. She had this incredible independence and determination. She never waited for anyone’s approval, she just got on with it. I learned early on what it means to work hard, stay resilient, and take pride in what you do.

That said, I’ve always been pretty driven myself. Even at school, I was the kind of student who colour-coded revision notes and spent hours preparing for exams. I’ve never been able to just “wing it.” But I’ve always enjoyed that feeling of working for something and seeing the results, that sense of satisfaction when your effort pays off. Over time, I’ve realised that motivation and ambition are great, but it’s consistency and discipline that actually turn them into results.

Now, as a business owner, that mindset runs through everything I do. When you work for yourself, having a strong work ethic isn’t optional, it’s essential. I rely on structure and systems to keep things running smoothly: my calendar is my best friend, I time-block my days, and I use tools like Zapier, Acuity, and templates to automate as much as I can. Those systems give me the freedom to focus on the creative parts of my business, without constantly feeling like I’m playing catch-up.

Of course, there have been times I’ve burned out. I’ve pushed too hard and ended up completely exhausted. When that happens, I always ask myself one question: what’s going to bring me joy right now? Reconnecting with joy reminds me why I started my business in the first place. And whenever I lead from that place of genuine excitement and purpose, everything starts flowing again.

At the end of the day, my work ethic is a blend of what I learned from my mum and what I’ve built myself: drive, structure, and joy. That balance is what keeps me showing up, not just to get things done, but to make the work feel meaningful.

Can you share a bit about your business and what you do?

I’m a website designer for small businesses and online service providers, and I specialise in helping women feel confident with their websites and the tech behind them. So many people feel overwhelmed by all the moving parts of building a site, but I love showing them that it doesn’t have to be complicated or intimidating. With a bit of guidance and support, anyone can create something beautiful and strategic.

That’s actually how my membership, The DIY Website Club, came to life. It started with a few live workshops where I’d teach people how to use Squarespace or tweak their sites. Those sessions lit me up I loved seeing people’s faces when things started to click. Eventually, I realised I wanted to turn that feeling into something more sustainable and supportive, so I created a membership.

Inside The DIY Website Club, members get access to over 40 video lessons covering everything from planning your site to building it step by step on Squarespace. We have regular co-working calls to help people stay accountable, plus unlimited “Ask Me Anything” support for when they get stuck. It’s a lovely community full of encouragement and practical help and it’s growing every month.

For me, this work is about so much more than building websites. It’s about building confidence. I want every woman who joins to leave feeling capable, creative, and in control of her online space. That’s what makes what I do so fulfilling.

What three qualities do you think are most important to develop?

If I had to narrow it down, I’d say these three qualities have made the biggest difference in my journey and anyone can develop them.

1. Knowing there’s more than one path

One of the biggest mindset shifts I’ve had is realising you don’t have to follow the traditional nine-to-five path. There’s no one “right” way to build a career or live your life. The world is full of people doing things differently, creating their own versions of success. Once I saw that, I gave myself permission to try. I told myself, “The worst-case scenario is that I go back to a regular job. But what if this works?”

If you’re thinking about taking a leap, my advice is to look for examples of people doing what you want to do. It’s so true what they say, you can’t be what you can’t see. Surround yourself with stories that prove it’s possible.

2. A love of learning

The second thing that’s helped me is having an endless curiosity for learning. I genuinely love diving into new tools, tutorials, and ideas. It started with web design, but quickly expanded into business and marketing. I wanted to know how everything fit together, how to sell, how to automate, how to build a brand.

I think the key is to make learning part of your lifestyle. Go beyond bite-sized social media tips and actually invest in deeper learning, read books, join courses, listen to long-form podcasts. When you commit to learning consistently, your skills and confidence will naturally grow.

3. The confidence to connect with people

And finally, the ability to connect with others has been huge for me. Business is built on relationships, collaborations, clients, referrals, friendships. Early on, I had to push myself to go to networking events and just talk to people. Now, I actually love it. I enjoy creating a warm, welcoming space where people feel seen and supported.

If you’re starting out, don’t hide behind your laptop. Reach out to people. Send a voice note. Ask someone for a virtual coffee chat. The best opportunities often start from the simplest conversations.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed?

Whenever I’m feeling overwhelmed, I turn to a super simple but powerful tool: a brain dump. It’s basically a way of emptying everything that’s swirling around in your head onto paper. I usually grab a big A3 notebook (I love having space to spread out) and just jot down everything, (tasks, worries, ideas, reminders) in a messy, mind-map style.

The point isn’t to organise it right away. It’s to get it out. Our brains are great at holding information but not great at keeping it tidy, so writing everything down gives you instant relief. It’s like taking a deep breath on paper.

Later, once it’s all out of your head, you can come back and sort through what’s actually important. It’s a concept similar to David Allen’s Getting Things Done, capturing everything so your brain can relax and focus.

I do this all the time, and honestly, it’s one of the best ways I’ve found to clear mental clutter. Every time I finish a brain dump, I feel lighter and more in control again.

If you’re feeling stuck or overloaded, I can’t recommend it enough. Grab a pen, empty your thoughts, and see how much space it frees up, both mentally and creatively.

Final Thoughts

My journey has been shaped by a mix of inherited values, learned skills, and practical habits. Hard work, curiosity, connection, and clarity are at the heart of everything I do, from designing websites to running a membership that empowers women to take charge of their online presence.

If there’s one piece of advice I’d give anyone starting out, it’s this: be ambitious, be curious, and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Build habits that support you, learn what excites you, and give yourself space to clear your mind when things feel heavy. That’s how you turn ambition into action and action into lasting success.