Our Portfolio
Just under four years ago, after MOOCH was acquired, Paul and I told everyone we were taking early retirement (obvs we are very young and this was a bold move). We honestly believed we could step away, spend our days on the Cornish coast, and leave professional life behind. Friends teased that we’d never really stop working. We were sure we would. A few years on, it turns out they were right – and we were … wrong.
At first, retirement went exactly as planned. We walked the coastal path, ended up in welcoming pubs most afternoons, and found delight in the slower pace. The opportunity to pause and just be present, with nowhere else to rush, felt liberating. But then, the quiet moments started filling up. Small projects appeared. One thing led to another. Those projects grew and, before long, we were building something busier. This week, the final piece was added, and together our portfolio probably amounts to full-time (probably more). And it feels good.
This isn’t about returning to old habits or chasing conventional careers. It’s a collection of loosely linked roles; a portfolio that makes good use of our interests and experience. There’s coherence to it, but also plenty of variety. This is what the portfolio looks like ...
Inside Out: My communications consultancy is now focused on a select handful of much-loved clients whose mission and values closely match my own. I only take on work that truly resonates, and that makes each project more rewarding. www.insideoutcomms.co.uk
www.pootleonline.co.uk: This online gifting venture has become mostly Paul Roberts project, and watching his commitment to exceptional customer service is nothing short of inspiring.
The Lantic Company: We’re working together on this one - helping small businesses, particularly startups and those seeking growth strategies. It’s consultancy informed by hands-on experience and practical know-how, delivered with warmth and realism.
Airbnb Hosting: We host guests both in our own place and as co-hosts for another property. There’s real joy in curating small details that make someone else’s trip memorable. It’s hospitality at its most personal. You can have a look (or book!) our Airbnb in Fowey here: airbnb.co.uk/h/5osmh
Federation of Small Businesses: Just this week, we became an independent membership advisors for the FSB, covering Cornwall and (some of) Devon. That role feels like the missing piece; its non-profit mission is genuinely aligned to our passion for supporting small business growth. If you're interested in becoming a member of the FSB, get in touch.
Alongside all this, I’m halfway through a master’s in marketing and digital communication at Falmouth University . I say that with equal parts pride and determination – finishing with a flourish is the goal and I am expecting some tears and late nights over the next year. And there’s a book in the works. Progress on that is patchy, but the draft is growing (slowly).
It’s a lot, and at times the schedule looks complex. But there’s a thread: small business is what connects everything (and I’m hoping to work that into my dissertation to bring it all together). Our learning, from corporates and from running our own ventures, is poured into each new project. We know what works, what doesn’t, and we try to help others navigate the same terrain, sharing our experience along the way. Equally important is people. The conversations, the curiosity, and the pleasure of listening to others and understanding their needs bring real purpose.
So, what happened to early retirement? Well ... it didn't go quite the way we thought it would. We spend less time on long walks, more on meetings and tasks. But looking at what’s grown up around us – the energy, enjoyment, and connection, I’m glad our friends weren’t convinced by our plans. They were right - we weren't quite ready. Retirement was supposed to be the stop. Instead, it’s become a starting point for a new kind of work: a full portfolio, rooted in small business, driven by curiosity, and sustained by the energy that comes from the people we meet along the way.
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