Making Ceilings Into Floors
Two years ago this week, my world changed.
I was made redundant from my role at NatWest, alongside my entire team from across the UK.
As I was processing that shock, life dealt another devastating blow, a very close family member suddenly passed away.
In a matter of days, the life I had known shifted dramatically.
The career I had built.
The identity I had shaped.
The certainty I had relied upon.
All gone.
I remember staring ahead, feeling as though I was looking up at a mountain with no obvious route to the top.
What now? How do I rebuild? Where do I even begin?
For years, I had built a career I loved, one I was proud of. Suddenly, that chapter was over.
Yet amidst the uncertainty, I felt something else stirring:
A calling.
A conviction that this was the moment to build something of my own.
To take the 24 years of experience I had gained in commercial, corporate and entrepreneurship banking - and use it to help businesses, leaders and entrepreneurs grow.
Knowing what you want to do, however, is very different from knowing how to do it.
It felt risky. (Especially when you come from a guaranteed a monthly salary!)
It felt uncomfortable.
It felt overwhelming.
But here I stand today, two years later, proud to say I turned that ceiling into a floor.
Since then:
Boost Your Business Network has become a registered trademark
I’ve had the privilege of supporting outstanding organisations including Sherwoods, Griffin Chartered Accountants, Exeter University, Chalk & Ward, Coreus Group, Cosmic, Securious and many more
I now work as a Non-Executive Director and strategic growth adviser to ambitious businesses
We launched the BYB Academy, our business growth programme for ambitious leaders and entrepreneurs
We have forged strong relationships with our fantastic Boost Partners, who - like us - are deeply passionate about supporting local businesses
Our award-winning Boost events continue to grow with exceptional speakers and a thriving community
We have welcomed over 2,000 bookings and donated more than £3,000 to local charities
But beyond the milestones, the greatest lesson I have learned is this:
You Must Learn to Make Ceilings Into Floors
Every stage of growth presents a new ceiling.
A new challenge.
A new fear.
A new level of discomfort.
The most successful leaders are not those who avoid ceilings.
They are the ones who learn how to stand on them.
They:
Become resourceful when the path is unclear
Learn from failure rather than fearing it
Stretch themselves beyond their comfort zone repeatedly
Build resilience through setbacks
Handle criticism without losing conviction
Hold themselves accountable
Work relentlessly in service of their clients
Stay committed to a vision greater than their fear
Growth is rarely comfortable.
It demands courage.
It demands resilience.
It demands that you keep showing up - especially when things do not go to plan.
So if you are currently staring at a ceiling in your business, your career or your life…
Wondering how you will ever break through it…
Remember this:
Today’s ceiling can become tomorrow’s floor.
Keep climbing.
James Court, Founder, Boost Your Business Network