Who Decided This Was the Dream?
For years, I chased the dream:
The big house
The shiny car
The prestigious job title
I worked in corporate London, working hard, playing hard, believing I was building something meaningful.
On paper, the company I worked for looked progressive. Generous maternity leave. Paternity leave. Wellbeing initiatives. But when I asked to return part-time after having my daughter, the door slammed shut.
A daily commute with a newborn in nursery from 7am to 5pm? Impossible.
So I resigned!
After 12 years of building a career I loved, I feared I was walking away from everything.
But that “no” became the catalyst for a life I never imagined.
I never sent my daughter to school and home-educated her instead. She’s now nearly 13, curious, confident, and thriving.
We sold our house, cars, motorbikes, most of our stuff and moved into an American RV, travelling as a family for four years (still loving vanlife 7 years on).
We learned together, lived slowly, and I built a business that fits around our lives, not the other way around.
It made me question everything.
Why do we push ourselves to the brink, missing our children’s milestones, skipping sunsets, trading rest for relentless hustle?
Who told us this is how life has to be?
It’s easy to forget that the idea of homeownership as a life goal is relatively new. In the UK, just over a century ago, 75% of people rented their homes. The surge in buying came post-WWII, driven by policy shifts and cultural messaging—not ancient wisdom.
Globally, it’s not universal either. In Germany, long-term renting is the norm. In Switzerland, over 60% of people rent.
So maybe it’s time to ask:
What if the “dream” isn’t one-size-fits-all?
What if success looks more like presence, peace, and purpose?
The system wasn’t built for us, and it still punishes parents for daring to ask for flexibility.
But like many others, I chose to redefine success on my own terms.
And I hold the same hope for my daughter:
That choosing both family and fulfilment isn’t a penalty, but a possibility.
Ready to build a business that fits your life, not the other way around?
Let’s create systems that support your rhythm, your values, and your version of success. Book a free call and let’s start designing with intention.
