A few weeks ago I heard about substack. I didn’t know what it was. Then this week John Spencer Williams ran a 3-day Idea to Income challenge. John’s teaching helped me see how Substack can be a space to share what I’m learning and connect with others along the way. So this first post is a bit of background on me and why I’m starting a Substack.

My journey so far…

I qualified as a physiotherapist in 1999 and since then, I’ve had an incredibly varied career. I’ve worked in the NHS, for international charities, and spent four years in northern Iraq with a non-governmental organisation helping to develop physiotherapy services there. Along the way, I completed my MSc and PhD, transitioned into academia, and eventually set up the physiotherapy programme at the University of Hull. I’ve spoken at international conferences, published research, and loved every single job I’ve ever had.

A new adventure

But at 47, I’m ready for a new adventure. I want to become a solopreneur.

Over the years, I’ve had countless conversations with colleagues who feel stuck, exhausted, or on the edge of burnout. I’ve been there too — more than once — but each time, I’ve managed to reinvent myself while staying connected to physiotherapy and healthcare. I’ve learned to spot new opportunities and test them to see if they align with my next step. That curiosity has kept my love for my work alive.

Now, stepping into the world of business feels completely different. It’s stretching me in a whole new way. Some days I feel unstoppable — full of ideas and confidence that I can make this business work. Other days, my inner critic has a lot to say about who I think I am to be doing this. Then I’ll have a coaching conversation with someone who’s feeling lost in their career, and I leave buzzing — reminded why this work matters. It’s a rollercoaster, but a worthwhile one.

About a year ago, I started a YouTube channel. At first, it was a way to share information for people thinking of becoming physiotherapists. Then it evolved into a resource for my students — helping them access content like literature reviews in a more engaging way. I found myself loving the creative process: filming, editing, adding B-roll (though thumbnails are still a work in progress!). Eventually, I realised I was building the kind of channel I wish had existed when I started out in physiotherapy.

Why Substack

This Substack, however, is something different. My YouTube channel is where I teach what I already know. Here, I’m sharing what I’m learning as I go — the honest, behind-the-scenes version of what it’s like to step away from a regular paycheck and redesign my work life.

I’m not chasing a 4-hour workweek or trying to become a millionaire. I just want a sustainable lifestyle that gives me more choice — to decide when I work, when I rest, when I take a walk, or spend time with the people I love. I don’t know exactly what “lifestyle change” means for me yet, but I do know I want this next season of my life to feel different.

In physiotherapy, we often talk about the four pillars of practice: clinical, education, research, and leadership. I’ve done all of those. Now, I’m adding a fifth — entrepreneurship.

More specifically, solopreneurship: running a one-person business where I wear all the hats — creator, coach, marketer, and learner. It’s about crafting meaningful work that fits my values, my energy, and my life.

If you’d like to follow the highs and lows of this journey — the practical lessons, the mindset shifts, and the messy middle bits — hit subscribe and come along for the ride.