Katie Street: I might have ADHD / My husband went to prison when my daughter was 13 months old/ the pressure and guilt of running a business

"I'm very scatty. I'm one of those people that I think I'm often thinking about the bigger picture or the things that are really important to me. So the little things don't get done."

"I mean, I've had some pretty shit things in life, as in my husband went to prison when my daughter was 13 months old."

"I think I've always, I always want more. So I'm never happy, which is pretty sad. I mean, I'm not, I'm actually quite a happy person, but I always strive for more and I always put a lot of pressure on myself."

In this episode of Exploring Emotional Overdraft, Andy speaks to Katie Street, founder of Street Agency as she shares her personal and professional experiences.

Key Discussion Points:

1. Emotional Overdraft Explained:
   • The term refers to the personal cost entrepreneurs pay for their business's success, impacting their emotional and physical health.
   • Andy frames it as an invisible line in one's P&L that shows success at the expense of the founder's well-being.
2. Katie’s Personal Struggles with Emotional Overdraft:
   • Despite her successful appearance, Katie discusses the pressures and guilt she often feels, exacerbated by her rigorous personal and professional standards.
   • She talks about the difficulties of managing a strict detox regimen alongside her business responsibilities, reflecting on the need for self-compassion and realistic goal-setting.
3. Professional Journey and Business Evolution:
   • Katie outlines her career path in sales and marketing, leading to the founding of Street Agency, which specializes in lead generation and content for tech clients.
   • She details the agency’s pivot towards servicing larger tech companies and the evolution of their business model in response to market demands and opportunities.
4. Leadership and Management Challenges:
   • Katie reflects on the challenges of being a self-critical leader, her experiences with hiring and managing a team, and the complexities of scaling a business.
   • She shares lessons learned from a failed attempt to appoint a managing director, emphasizing the importance of role clarity and the need to match job roles with personal strengths and business needs.
5. Resilience and Coping Mechanisms:
   • Despite the tough year financially and operationally, Katie highlights the resilience it took to navigate these challenges, including taking strategic risks like loans to sustain the business.
   • She also discusses the importance of self-care and setting boundaries to maintain mental health and productivity.
6. Advice for Entrepreneurs:
   • Katie and Andy discuss the importance of recognizing accomplishments and the need for entrepreneurs to give themselves credit where it's due.
   • She stresses the importance of time management and self-reflection in making thoughtful business decisions and maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

Conclusion:

• Katie's journey illustrates the hidden costs of entrepreneurship and the essential balance between ambition and well-being.
• Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their emotional overdraft and consider Katie’s advice on resilience, leadership, and personal growth.

https://street.agency/
Connect with Katie on Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiestreet/