Dislocation and Liberation
January 2025
When one door closes, another opens.
It was 12 months ago today that I bade farewell to Sellick Partnership, the company I founded in 2002 with nothing more than a determination to build a great business for myself. It was my ‘oldest child’ and, like all my children, produced its fair share of challenges but, above all else, filled me pride.
Now, a year to the day later, the story has moved on. My oldest child is a proper grown up adult and I, like many ‘empty nesters’, have been finding my feet in the next chapter of my life.
While I always tried to be a hands-on husband and dad, I’ve been able to spend a lot more time with my wife, Marianne, and the children - Bella, Lottie, Ted, and Mabel. Each have faced their own challenges over the past 12 months - from A levels and leaving for university, to GCSEs and more. Being together so much more, at least for me, has been a privilege.
And on the professional front, I’ve loved setting up a new business MJS Partnership, helping clients by sharing the knowledge, insights, and skills I’d perhaps taken for granted at #SellickPartnership. It’s been brilliant to be working hands-on again, without the encumbrance of leading a company of over 100 people. It’s reminded me of how much I enjoy coaching people and seeing them convert their skills and commitment into commercial outcomes.
My role with APSCo enables this too. At this point, I’d be remiss as a sales guy not to add that if anyone would like a chat about how I can help then please just get in touch 😉.
I’ve big plans for MJS Partnership in 2025 and hope to reveal more in the next few months.
The transition from SP has not always been plain sailing. For 22 years, it provided a lot of the emotional and physical scaffolding in my life. Losing that was hard. I understand why many founders struggle when they exit a business, no matter how successful they’d been or the length of planning in their departure.
But it's also liberating. Now, at the start of a new year and on the first anniversary of my exit, I’m hugely optimistic and also grateful for what I’ve been able to accomplish and the springboard that my family and my career to date has given me for the future.
As many of you know, I’m a dyed-in-the-wool Liberal Democrat. So it’s perhaps appropriate to reference Nick Clegg, who’s announced his departure from the global affairs role at Meta (owner of Facebook) this week.
One commentator pointed out that Clegg is embarking on his ‘third act, after leading the Lib Dems into coalition govt and then helping Mark Zuckerberg navigate the big tech policy world.
Well, in the same vein, I’m looking forward to more of my ‘second act’. Just hope I’ve got a sympathetic script writer!
Cheers, Jo.