From Failure to Success: My Top 5 Lessons Learned 📚
Reframing Failure as Learning
I’ve been self-employed or running businesses with staff for nearly thirty years. Interestingly, I never set out to work for myself. Coming from a family where both parents had corporate jobs, entrepreneurship wasn’t in my DNA—it happened gradually due to circumstances I could never have predicted.
Success, as I’ve often said, is rarely overnight. Getting to where I am now—mortgage-free, working remotely, and enjoying a stable income—has involved multiple failures and a great deal of learning. Here are my top five takeaways:
1. Know When to Pivot
After leaving PR, my first business was an app for Londoners on a budget called Frugl. It featured events in the capital for £10 or less (or free). Despite tens of thousands of downloads and multiple awards, we struggled to monetise it.
Following a small round of investment, we pivoted to become an aggregator of daily deals, generating income for the business. We continue to earn affiliate revenue from providers like Groupon and Wowcher, and we're now updating the platform.
Key Lesson:
Pivoting saved the business.
The Outcome:
Incremental, passive revenue.
Pivoting isn’t failure—it’s adaptability and resilience.
2. Just Get Started
I launched Silver Sharers, a platform for older adults to share homes, with just two Google Forms and a Wix website. The idea was to create a "Spare Room" for older adults and test if this market had demand. With minimal upfront investment (£500), we raised £30k, secured full-page stories in the Evening Standard and The Guardian, and validated the concept.
Key Lesson:
Taking action matters more than perfection.
The Outcome:
Starting small opened doors to bigger opportunities.
Don’t wait until you’re “ready”—start now and refine as you go.
3. Find Your Niche
I launched the podcast and TikTok channel Sex Advice for Seniors to address an underserved niche. Initially, I hesitated to share my personal experiences on this taboo topic. However, the timing of our launch aligned with the Emma Thompson film Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, which explores sex and intimacy in later life. The result? Over 156k TikTok followers, nearly 3k Substack subscribers, brand deals, and mainstream media mentions.
Key Lesson:
A niche others overlook can become your strength.
The Outcome:
A loyal audience, brand deals, and monetisation opportunities.
Your niche is where your passion meets an underserved market.
4. Go All In on One Social Media Channel
It’s tempting (and exhausting) to manage multiple social media channels, but it’s rarely productive. I’ve been there. Finding your ideal platform is trial and error, but once you do, it pays to focus entirely on it.
For me, Substack has been transformative: more paid subscribers, better engagement, and collaborations with like-minded individuals.
Key Lesson:
Master one channel instead of spreading yourself thin.
The Outcome:
A loyal, engaged audience and greater opportunities.
Focus on one platform and make it your own. Consistency beats scattering your efforts.
5. Use AI to Enhance, Not Replace
Like many people, I initially viewed AI as a threat. Now, it’s an integral part of my workflow. While I avoid letting AI do all the heavy lifting—such as generating complete copy—it’s invaluable for tidying up text, improving grammar, and enhancing the flow of my writing.
Key Lesson:
AI is a tool to save time and boost efficiency.
The Outcome:
Better results when combining AI with human creativity.
Use AI to enhance your work, but don’t let it replace your unique voice.
These takeaways reflect years of trial, error, and growth. Whether you’re just starting out or looking for ways to adapt, I hope my path to success inspires you to take action, embrace change, and find your own way to working. Enjoy the ride!
Dates for your Diary
March 2025
15th March - Moving Forward Group
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Until next time,
Suzanne & Mark
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