The Happy Startup School

You've got a great idea. A powerful vision you're passionate about. And you know it could help people. But how do you take it from inside your head to something others can experience? Join us, Dr. Carlos Saba, Lana Kristine Jelenjev, and Laurence McCahill, for a live, interactive webinar to explore the journey from idea to reality. In this "Ask Us Anything" session, we will dive into the concept of creating Minimum Lovable Products (MLPs)—products that "thingify" your thoughts and turn your ideas into tangible, helpful solutions. These MLPs help you - connect with the people you want to serve - promote your mission - build momentum for your idea. Vision 20/20 alumni David Eakins joins us as he shares his question about turning his idea into reality. We'll ask clarifying questions and provide insights on what a Minimum Lovable Product could look like for him. Whether you're looking to iterate your big vision or start marketing your idea, this webinar is about creating connections and value. And designed for changemakers and entrepreneurs who have a big vision but are still on their journey to manifesting it. Join us and gain clarity and take the next steps toward making your idea real. #entrepreneur #ideas #midlifepivot #webinar #product

You may know that you are what you eat. But did you know what you eat impacts how you lead? For our last #FridayFireside of the year, we're delighted to be joined by nutritional therapist Sarah Bayliss. We'll be exploring her own journey from burnout to balance and her "seven pillars of thriving": - nutrition - sleep - movement - stress management - purpose - relationships - the surprising importance of light And we'll get an insight into her upcoming book, "Do Nourish: How to eat for resilience" published by The DO Lectures on the 2nd of Jan 2025. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, professional, or simply looking for fresh inspiration, this conversation will give you practical tools to enter January with intention and clarity. #health #wellbeing #stressmanagement #event #newyear

How do you change direction without a map? By reconnecting to your inner navigation system. But many of us fight shy of it. Why? Because it means engaging with the messy parts of ourselves that we don’t want to acknowledge, let alone embrace. Someone who’s walked this tough but rewarding path is our good friend, certified resilience coach and Havening Techniques® practitioner Beth Derry. As a successful copywriter for 25 years, Beth has written for and collaborated with clients such as Microsoft, Allianz, and Heineken to help them communicate their impact on people and the planet. But when she reached her mid-forties, her instincts told her she wanted more from life. Sound familiar? But what can stop us now is what we went through before. Beth knows all too well how life's difficulties can shape us. As a teenager and young adult, she faced painful mental health challenges and turned to self-harm as a way to cope. It wasn’t until decades later, after years of therapy, coaching, and innovative techniques like Havening, that Beth found her way back to herself—and began envisioning a new way of working. This transformation also meant finding a way to balance responsibilities as a single parent while slowly designing a path that felt more aligned and purposeful. Join us this Friday on Crowdcast as we explore: 🚀 Embracing the messiness of a new venture  A new business takes time to find its feet, and how the path forward emerges as we take each next step 🚀 Turning struggle into strength  How your wounds and challenges can become the foundation for a new way of working that feels aligned and meaningful 🚀Integration and wholeness Reclaiming the parts of yourself you’ve abandoned to feel safe, and discovering that these are often the best parts of you. 🚀The power of starting small Why feeling safe and resourced is essential and how to take gentle, meaningful steps forward while balancing existing responsibilities And learn how to find meaning in the mess. #freelancer #entrepreneur #midlifecareerchange #trauma #healing #podcast

Sometimes there's an upside when technology fails. You get the excuse to hang out with each other again. Sue Deagle joined us last week on The Friday Fireside. It was plagued by tech issues, but Sue's warmth, good humour, and wisdom shone through. And she's graciously returning this Friday so we can continue the conversation. Sue is a veteran c-suite executive, mother, and widow, rewriting the story of loss and vibrant living at The Luminist. She's also in transition. She's now an 'empty nester' and this year, Sue left her corporate career. She's currently focusing on working on The Luminist and writing her first book. We’ll discuss the challenges and rewards of venturing into the unknown and how a leap towards purpose can reshape our lives and impact. And the power of community and redefining success on our terms during powerful transitions towards greater purpose. #midlifecareerchange #emptynest #newstarts #midlife Photo by Alex Jenkins

Stuck in a rut in your work or career? You’re not alone. And it can feel painful to be stuck in a rut in your work or career and not know what to do next. Especially after a profound loss. So we're delighted to invite Sue Deagle onto our live podcast, The Friday Fireside, on November 15th. She's a veteran c-suite executive, mother, and widow, rewriting the story of loss and vibrant living at The Luminist. We'll be talking to Sue about living a richer, more meaningful life after a "life quake." And sharing simple, easy steps as a road map to meeting your needs while meeting the needs of those around you, based on our Excite Strategy Workshop. Join us live to ask questions and to be a part of the conversation. #event #grief #midlifeprofessional #careerpivot #livingwell

How do you know if mentoring is right for you? If you're a #womaninbusiness, research at Oxford Brookes suggests that it's essential. Despite rising figures, women still only make up around 35% of business owners. We want to help increase those numbers. In "Does mentoring for women entrepreneurs lead to success?", most participants said that mentoring was vital, ".. with some stating that they would not have started their business without mentoring input (Chloe, Rosie) or would not have been successful without it (Ursula). As one interviewee stated, “It was critical in giving me the confidence to keep going.” (Rosie)." Our Vision 20/20 program starts next week. It's a blend of one-to-one, small buddy-group, and cohort coaching and mentoring. The peer support element is crucial. There's nothing like sharing a journey with others in the same boat, inspiring and cheering each other on, to really help you overcome self-doubt, loneliness, and fears. (By the way, that same research shows that peer mentorship was the most powerful form studied.) Are you ready to find your tribe? Check out Vision 20/20, and DM Laurence McCahill or Dr. Carlos Saba for a 15 mins chemistry call. Let's do this. Together. #entrepreneurship #mentorship #midlife #careerchange #newstart #program

You know you want something different. You just don't know what it is yet. That feeling can keep us stuck. Reading books, listening to podcasts, watching videos. Trying to work it out on our own. The thing is, we're a social species. We've evolved to connect with others. Except. We don't always have someone to talk to "at that depth." Loneliness isn't about being on our own. It's about not having our deep need for connection met. Which is why bringing people together is at the heart of everything we do. Sometimes it's in person in East Sussex or the French Alps. Or our twice-yearly small-group coaching and mentoring program (our next cohort starts next Monday). We know the magic that comes from bringing together people who want to do good, be happy, and make money. So, we're running our interactive Excite Strategy workshop again tomorrow at 12pm BST. And giving it a little extra time so that you can dive a little deeper and connect a little longer in your breakout room. If you've not joined us yet, we'll guide you through three tools built to help you reconnect and realign: 🚀 The Dream Map 🚀 The Success Canvas 🚀 The Happybility Matrix And if you've joined before, come again. You'll meet new people, experience the updated version of the workshop, and uncover something new. Expect insights, engaging discussions, and practical takeaways you can work on right away. And the joy of connecting with yourself and others 🤝

Are you burnt out or bored out? It's #worldmentalhealthday in a few days' time, tackling mental health in the workplace. When we think of mental health challenges in our careers, most of us think of burnout: exhaustion, making mistakes, and feeling cynical and detached from our work. Many of us have experienced it. But there's another phenomenon, too. Being bored-out. It's when everything feels .. meh. When you feel - stuck or stagnant - empty or soulless - a lack of motivation - a general lack of wellbeing You're not technically depressed, but the joy has gone out of everything. Your mojo is MIA. This is when you need to discover your DNA. - dreams - needs - actions Join us on Tuesday 8th October for FREE our Excite Strategy workshop. This workshop isn’t about following rigid formulas. It’s about surrounding yourself with a like-minded community that understands your journey. You’ll get to connect with others who, like you, are tired of the old ways and are seeking more—more balance, more freedom, and more joy in their work. Together, we’ll explore how you can create a business that not only makes money but also nourishes you. It's fully interactive, so make sure you can join a breakout room. And go beyond burnout and boredom. #entrepreneurship #solopreneur #midlife #workshop

We all know the route to success, right? Write a plan. Execute the plan. Use those Key Performance Indicators to tick off that plan. Except. Life is more squiggly than that. And where we want to go isn't always on a map. This is where wayfinding comes in: using signs, symbols, and landmarks to help us orient ourselves and plot our own unique path. This Friday, the Friday Fireside returns and Dr. Carlos Saba, Laurence McCahill and Lana Kristine Jelenjev will explore what wayfinding means, and how it can help you when you head off the beaten track. 💡 If you're a freelancer or solopreneur, remember: - You don’t need a perfect plan to move forward—what you need is boldness and curiosity - Wayfinding helps you explore what feels right and build a business that aligns with who you truly are - Finding community can give you the courage and support you need to take action - Trust your intuition and take action—your creativity will lead you to the right destination Feeling stuck? Maybe it’s time to start wayfinding. 🚀

If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. We know this is true. But so many of us ignore it. And stay lonely. Even though we know there's something to unlock in ourselves. A new way of working, a new way of delivering value, of being. Things that can only truly happen with the creativity, energy, and support of others. It's why we created our Vision 20/20 program. To help people who are burnt out, or bored out, design a new path based on a different kind of DNA: Dreams Needs Actions Tribe 10 is about to kick off. Come and join us for our Open Day, meet alumni and potential buddy group members, and discover a way to go far. Together. #entrepreneur #founder #midlife #careerchange #community #personaldevelopment #startup