Taking the First Step: Why I Took the Gamble to start a business.
Starting a business felt like a gamble.
I had a secure job. A steady income. I’d worked for years to get where I was.
But something shifted after my accident in 2019.
I had to take time off.
I spent months at home recovering.
I couldn’t drive.
I had limited movement in my right arm.
Life slowed down whether I liked it or not.
And suddenly, I was there. Every day. Watching my daughters grow.
Piper and Phoebe were still little. They needed me. And I got to be part of it all, the funny moments, the chaos, the quiet afternoons.
That time changed what I valued.
It Was Never About “Quitting” Work
I didn’t start The Busy Box because I wanted to leave my job. I started it because I didn’t want to look back and wonder what if?
What if I could build something that gave me more time at home?
What if I could help other parents who felt stuck or overwhelmed?
What if I could turn all those slow, creative afternoons into something meaningful?
At some point, I stopped asking what if and started asking why not?
The Truth About Starting Something New
It’s easy to think people who launch businesses have some special knowledge or confidence. I didn’t.
All I had was:
A small idea
A little time
A strong reason why
Starting The Busy Box wasn’t flashy. It began at the kitchen table. Trying out crafts with the girls. Packing activity kits.
Making it as simple and fun as I could.
I didn’t have investors or a perfect plan. Just a belief that it was worth trying.
And that’s the bit that matters. Trying.
No-one ever builds anything without taking the first step.
Working From Home Has Been a Gift
The best part of this journey hasn’t been the sales or the growth.
It’s been the time.
Being there when Phoebe shouts “look what I made!”
Helping Piper glue bits of felt to a jellyfish.
Answering questions. Having lunch together.
Some days are busy. Some are slow. But I’m present in a way I couldn’t have been if I hadn’t taken the risk.
And it makes all the stress and self-doubt worth it.
If You’re Thinking About It.. Start Small, But Start
Not everyone can drop everything and launch a business overnight. That’s not realistic.
But if there’s something you care about, something that keeps tapping you on the shoulder… listen to it.
Start small:
Write the idea down
Try a test version
Talk to someone you trust
Give it one hour a week
You don’t need to be ready. You just need to be willing.
Because staying stuck is hard. But so is taking a chance. The difference is one of them might lead somewhere.
I Didn’t Want Regret to Be the Ending
One day, my girls will be grown. I don’t want to tell them I never tried.
I want them to know I backed myself.
That I followed what mattered.
That I took a risk for something that felt right.
Even if it fails. Even if it changes. I’ll never regret trying.
And if you’re sitting on an idea, a dream, or a project… maybe it’s your time too.
No big leap. Just one small step.
