A reflection on healing, connection, and the power of community in business

In the world of entrepreneurship, it’s easy to mistake strength for silence, to believe that showing up, pushing through, and staying strong is what makes us successful.

But what happens when the weight of it all becomes too much?

As a business owner, I’ve learned that even the strongest among us can break. Years ago, Thomas and I said goodbye to Ecademy, a business we had poured our hearts into for 14 years. Letting it go wasn’t just a strategic decision, it felt like a bereavement. It left a mark on our identity, and on our hearts.

That’s why I created BIP100, an exclusive business club and entrepreneur support group that honours the truth behind success. A space where experienced business owners can be seen, heard, and held through every chapter of their journey.

We’re not just a business networking community. We’re a circle of humans who have lived through failure and risen again. Like the Japanese art of Kintsugi, we believe our cracks can be filled with gold,  turning pain into purpose and setbacks into strength.

At our BIP100 lunches and through our professional development network, we meet entrepreneurs who’ve carried the weight of the world. Many are what Dr Tim Cantopher called “The Strong”,  those who support others endlessly, until one day, they can’t.

But in the right setting, with trust and emotional safety, healing begins.

And from healing comes growth, the kind that builds not only sustainable businesses, but deeper friendships and richer lives.

The Business Mastermind Group for the Brave

We see too many business owners trapped between isolation and shallow networking. On one side, the Lone Wolves, working tirelessly but disconnected. On the other, the Pack Animals, jumping from event to event, one LinkedIn post or connection, to another, hoping for quick wins.

But then there’s the Super Pack.

The ones who build real relationships. Who co-create, support, and share their journeys — broken moments and all.

In BIP100, we are that business mastermind group and professional development network that’s not just about learning new strategies, but about becoming whole again, together.

We believe that business is brave. But it should never be lonely.

This Week, Ponder This…
– Who knows your truth?
– Who would walk beside you when life gets hard?
– Where do you go to be seen, not judged?

Because love in business and in life changes everything.