Ten years. A whole decade of running a business that started with me sitting at a computer on the first of January, writing the copy for a website I’d already secretly bought years before. Back then, I wasn’t building an empire. I was trying to build something that made sense for me, for clients, for candidates, and for the way the world was shifting. Social media, trust, reputation, and showing up as a human being. All the stuff we take for granted now.
Running a company for ten years teaches you things you don’t learn from books. You get the highs that make you think you’re onto something big. You get the lows that have you questioning everything. Some months you’re laughing. Other months, you’re staring at the ceiling at 3 am, wondering if you’ve just made a very expensive mistake. Over time, you learn to sit in the middle of all that. Keep your head level. Keep moving. One impossible problem at a time.
The biggest shock for me over the decade has been realising that the work is only half of the job. The other half is stamina. Consistency. Turning up when you’re tired. Staying honest when the market is chaotic. And learning that the world rewards you eventually if you keep doing the right things, even when it’s slow, even when it feels like no one’s watching.
And the thank yous matter. To the candidates who trusted me. To the ones who picked up the phone, gave me a chance, or came back years later for help again. To the clients who bet on a small recruiter in Tamworth when they could have gone with a big name. You’ve kept this whole thing alive. You’ve helped me build a business that still works the old-fashioned way, with straight talking, loyalty, and doing what you say you’ll do.
Ten years down, and I’m nowhere near done. The world keeps changing. Hiring keeps changing. But a decade in, I still believe the same thing I believed on day one. If you stay honest, help people, and play the long game, you’ll always find a way forward. Here’s to whatever the next ten years brings.