That’s how Phil Carr describes the surreal moment after selling his multimillion-pound business.
Kat is joined by serial entrepreneur Phil for a conversation about the real cost of building successful businesses. Phil talks about founding MyPT Hub in his grandmother's spare bedroom and how he sold it for millions. This isn't a typical success story; it's a brutally honest account of how stress manifested into ulcerative colitis, the moment everything changed when he sold his company and the life changing habits he then built his life around. Kat and Phil also discuss why work/life balance is a myth, the simple power of being present and the importance of vulnerability in leadership.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
• Work/life balance is a myth for entrepreneurs. Having built multiple businesses since 2013, Phil explains that success requires periods where work is heavily skewed, but staying conscious of when you're doing too much is also crucial.
• Chronic stress manifested as ulcerative colitis for Phil. During the most demanding period of building MyPT Hub, his autoimmune disease developed, then disappeared within 48 hours of selling the business, proving the mind and body connection.
• Small changes create compounding effects, rather than overhauling everything at once, Phil’s approach focuses on changing one habit at a time, which he learned creates sustainable changed through compounding.
• Being present requires conscious practice, Phil admits it can feel difficult and strange to begin with, but it makes a huge difference.
• Vulnerability strengthens leadership, leading his team of friends and family through openness about struggles and failures has created deeper connections and better business performance without ego or status getting in the way.
• Most people don't care about your failures and we overestimate others' judgment of our setbacks.
• Phil found that removing his phone from the bedroom and reading before sleeping for seven hours improved his anxiety levels and helped his digestive health, changing everything about his life.
BEST MOMENTS
"I was walking on a tight rope, but I never realised it was only six inches off the ground”
"I think that people naturally gravitate towards wanting to help people."
"Are you lying to yourself? Because you can't deceive yourself. You will know in your heart of hearts if you are doing something you genuinely believe in."
"It feels alien at first... but being present with your children is so fundamentally important."
ABOUT THE GUEST
Phil Carr, CEO of VennCard
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ABOUT THE HOST
Kat started her career as a teacher, before moving into Tech where she worked in different executive roles within teaching and consulting working across the globe, both in the public and private sector. Despite appearing 'successful' on the outside, she paid a heavy ‘life’ price. In 2016, her whole world collapsed. The reason? The compound effect of years of unhealthy and toxic habits that destroyed her health, relationship and career. She suffered a severe breakdown and lost everything. In the middle of this she got headhunted for her first CEO role. She rebuilt herself by changing just one small habit, and built a series of positive habits which has transformed her professional and personal performance, resulting in becoming the healthiest and happiest version of herself.
She is a positive habits international keynote speaker and teacher, giving talks and delivering high impact programmes to organisations across the globe.
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