How I Went From Events to Building Websites in One Day
I recently shared my journey on social media - from working in events for 10 years to building websites in one day - but I wanted to expand on it here because there's so much more to the story than a carousel can capture.
So if you're new here (or if you've been following for ages but never really knew the full background), let me properly introduce myself.
Where It All Started
For a decade, I worked in the events industry - specifically providing bars for big events. Think festivals, corporate functions, and yes, even the Monaco F1 for Williams Martini Racing (still one of my favourite memories).
I loved the fast-paced, high-energy nature of it. The problem-solving, the logistics, the satisfaction of pulling off a successful event. But when I went on maternity leave with my first baby and COVID hit, the entire industry collapsed overnight.
Suddenly I had to figure out what came next. And I knew one thing for certain: I wanted flexibility and freedom that working for myself could give me.
The Learning Curve
Here's what nobody tells you about starting a business: you quickly realise there are SO many areas you're not knowledgeable about.
Accounting. Marketing. Legal stuff. Tech. Systems. All the things that just... existed in the background when you worked for someone else suddenly become YOUR responsibility.
It's overwhelming… and honestly a bit terrifying.
But it also gave me perspective. Because now, when clients come to me saying "I don't know anything about websites" or "I'm completely out of my depth with tech stuff" - I genuinely get it.
That's exactly why people come to me. Websites aren't their area of comfort, just like accounting isn't mine. And I absolutely love being able to support them through it.
More Than Just Building Websites
What I didn't expect when I started this business was how much I'd love the support aspect of what I do.
Yes, I design and build websites. But I'm also there when a client needs help three months after launch. When they can't figure out how to add a blog post. When something looks weird on mobile and they don't know why.
I love being that tech support without them feeling like they're being charged for every little question or stuck in an expensive retainer. Your website shouldn't feel like something that holds you hostage - it should feel like a tool you're confident using.
Supporting Each Other
Something I've noticed over the years: the majority of my clients are women. And a lot of them are mothers with a similar story to mine.
They've had to change careers. Adjust their working life around childcare. Figure out how to build something for themselves that fits around their family, not the other way around.
We're supporting each other in what is, let's be honest, quite a male-dominated industry. There's something really special about that connection - understanding the juggle, the guilt, the determination, the wins that feel even sweeter because you know how hard they were to achieve.
When a client tells me she's launching her business after years of thinking about it, or that she's finally taking herself seriously as an entrepreneur - that hits home. Because I've been there. I am there right now!
My Why
At Circle Day in New York this year, we had a breakout session with Nick from Squarekicker where he asked: "What's your WHY in business? What really drives you?"
It got me thinking properly about why I do what I do beyond just "I'm good at building websites."
Here's what I realised:
I want to encourage possibility.
I want to cheerlead others at the start of their business journey. I want to help people believe in themselves and realise the potential of their business through the power of a website.
Yes, I'm a web designer and I can build you a lovely website. But WHY do I do it?
Because I love helping people realise their dreams. I love working with people. And you will only ever work with me throughout your entire project because I genuinely LOVE this work.
I want to help enable you to realise your dream - whatever that looks like.
The Real Reason I Love Website in a Day
Beyond the obvious (it fits perfectly around childcare, it's productive and focused, clients get fast results), there's something deeper.
When someone comes to me, they're often at a pivotal moment. They've been putting off their website for months or years. They've been making excuses, feeling overwhelmed, hiding behind "it's not ready yet."
And then in ONE DAY, we transform that. They go from hiding their business to proudly sharing their website with everyone they know.
That shift - from doubt to confidence, from "I'll do it someday" to "I did it TODAY" - that's what I'm here for.
The Journey Hasn't Been Linear
I worked from a 6-year-old's bedroom (while he was at school, stepping over toys and trying to look professional on Zoom calls). I built my business with my eldest being sick and my youngest in a bouncer during client calls.
It wasn't glamorous. It was messy and hard and sometimes I questioned whether I'd made a huge mistake leaving the security of employment.
But over 100 websites later, I can confidently say: it was the right decision!
Not because I'm earning loads. Not because it's easy (it's not). But because I'm living the life I actually wanted - flexibility, freedom, and work that actually lights me up.
If You're Reading This...
Maybe you're at that pivotal moment yourself. Thinking about starting a business, or you've started but you're not showing up online the way you want to.
Maybe your website is the thing holding you back from really putting yourself out there.
I just want you to know: I see you. I've been you. And I'm here to help whenever you're ready!
Whether that's now, or in six months, or next year - you'll only ever work with me, and I'll be here cheering you on every step of the way.
Because encouraging possibility isn’t just what I do - it's who I am.
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