For women entrepreneurs stuck between staying miserable or walking away from everything you've built.
Quick links: The Redesign Programme • The Reset Session • FAQs • Meet Carola • Book a Call
You did it. You built the business. It's successful. It's running. Revenue is good.
So why do you fantasise about burning it all down?
You're not failing. You're not struggling. You've created exactly what you set out to build.
But somewhere between "This is exciting!" and now, it became "This is draining."
You're stuck between two terrifying options:
Stay in this business for another 20 years (kill me now)
Walk away from everything you've built (and do... what, exactly?)
Neither feels right. But neither does staying stuck.
So you do what high-achievers do: you push through. You tell yourself you're just tired, you need better systems, you should be more grateful.
Meanwhile, years pass.
And the question gets louder.
Let's talk about what's really going on and whether coaching is right for you. No pressure, no sales pitch.
CERTIFIED LIFE COACH (CPCC, ICF ACC) ● M.A. SOCIOLOGY & PSYCHOLOGY ● 17 YEARS HELPING ENTREPRENEURS RECONNECT WITH WHAT THEY ACTUALLY WANT
You're Not Burnt Out From Failure. You're Burnt Out From Success.
Here's what's really happening:
You built this business when you were a different person. Younger. Hungrier. Excited by different things.
The business that fit you at 32? Doesn't fit you at 45.
The work that lit you up then? Drains you now.
The identity of "founder/CEO/business owner" that once felt exciting? Now feels like a cage.
You've created your own success trap.
And the worst part? You feel guilty for even thinking this way. Other people would kill for your success. You WORKED for this success.
So what's wrong with you that you're not happy?
Nothing.
You've just outgrown the business you built.
And nobody tells you what to do when that happens.
But here's what usually happens instead: Nothing.
You stay stuck.
Not because you don't know you need to change. But because:
You feel guilty wanting something different when you "should" be grateful
You're terrified of making the "wrong" decision
You don't trust yourself to know what you want anymore
You're worried what people will think
You keep telling yourself "Maybe I just need better boundaries" or "Maybe I just need a holiday" (Spoiler: you've tried that — you're still here.)
So you stay. Pushing through. Telling yourself maybe next year. Or the year after that.
Meanwhile, the cost keeps adding up — in your health, your relationships, your joy. And yes, in your business performance too.
You’re between a rock and a hard place.
You can see three paths ahead, and they all feel terrible:
Stay in this business for the next 20 years (while slowly dying inside)
Sell/exit and face the terrifying question: "Who am I without this?"
Keep going on autopilot until something breaks — your health, your relationships, you
But there's a fourth option: Redesign.
“When I first reached out to Carola, I was in a tough spot with my therapy business. Keeping it moving forward seemed to be an uphill battle, and I had started to doubt whether it could truly succeed in its current form. Today, thanks to Carola’s guidance to trust me and reach for helpful perspectives that inspire me, I’m enthusiastic again about my business.”
What Happens If You Don't Redesign?
Let me be honest with you: this doesn't get better on its own.
If you keep waiting for the "right time" to figure this out... if you keep telling yourself you'll deal with it after the next quarter, the next year, the next milestone...
Here's what actually happens:
In 1 year: You're still showing up for a business that drains you. The fantasy of "burning it down" gets stronger. But you still don't know what you'd do instead.
So you stay stuck. Resentful. Exhausted.
And it's starting to show — in your decision-making, your team morale, your revenue.
In 5 years: You've spent half a decade running a business you've outgrown. Successful on paper. Miserable in reality.
And the worst part? You can't get those years back.
The health issues you ignored. The relationships that suffered. The version of yourself you could have been.
In 20 years: You finally sell or step away, and you realise you spent two decades trapped in something that stopped serving you 15 years ago.
That's not just time lost — that's a life half-lived.
Here's what this indecision is actually costing you:
Health: The stress, the insomnia, the "pushing through" is taking a toll
Relationships: Your resentment is leaking into everything
Business performance: You're making decisions from exhaustion, not clarity
Opportunity cost: What could you have built/experienced if you'd figured this out five years ago?
Here's the truth: The "right time" doesn't exist. There's only now, or later.
And later always costs more — in years you can't reclaim, in energy you don't have, in the version of yourself you could have been.
You're between a rock and a hard place. But you don't have to stay there.
You built this business once. You can design what comes next.
The question is: Do you want to spend the next 20 years trapped in a success you've outgrown, or design something that actually fits who you are NOW?
(Because right now, you're living in a business designed for who you were at 32. Wouldn't you rather build something for who you are at 45?)
Imagine Waking Up Excited About Your Business Again (Or Confident About What's Next)
Not forcing yourself to feel grateful.
Not "pushing through" for another decade.
Actually wanting to be here.
Or — if that's not possible — having crystal clarity on what comes next and the confidence to move towards it.
Here's what becomes possible when you do this work:
You'll know what you actually want (not what you think you should want, not what you felt 10 years ago — what you want NOW)
You'll trust yourself again (to know what you want, to make decisions, to choose your own path)
You'll see your options clearly (stay and redesign your role, scale and step back, exit strategically, pivot to something new, or something you haven't even imagined yet)
You'll stop waiting for the "right time" (spoiler: there isn't one — there's only now, or five years from now when you wish you'd started today)
You'll feel like yourself again (not the "founder persona" you perform, not the "successful entrepreneur" everyone sees — you, the person you've been too busy to hear from in years)
And here's the best part: you don't have to blow everything up to feel this way.
Make a rash decision. Quit tomorrow. Have it all figured out before you start.
You just need to get clear on what you want — and design a path that fits who you are now, not who you were when you started.
“Carola’s coaching was invaluable in my transition from a permanent employee to a self-employed professional. She helped me establish boundaries around my work and put in place effective structures. I’ve grown in confidence and self-assuredness in my professional life, and I enjoy the positive knock-on effects on my personal life.”
The Redesign: Reclaim Your Life from the Success Trap
This is the 6-month coaching journey for women entrepreneurs who built thriving businesses — and need to figure out what comes next.
This isn't business coaching (I won't teach you how to scale or optimise).
This isn't therapy (we're not rehashing your childhood).
This is something different.
You've spent years in your head — strategising, planning, deciding, executing. That got you here. It built your business.
But it won't get you where you need — or want — to go next.
Because this isn't a strategy problem. It's a reconnection problem.
You've lost touch with yourself. With what you actually want. With who you are beneath the "business owner" identity you've been performing.
The work we do together is explorative, not prescriptive. There's no rigid curriculum. No predetermined milestones. No frameworks you have to follow.
Some sessions we'll map out possibilities. Some sessions we'll sit with feelings you've been avoiding. Some sessions we'll challenge beliefs that are keeping you stuck.
But the work is always responsive to where YOU are, not where some framework says you should be.
Here's How It Works:
Months 1-2: Reconnection
Uncover the truth about how you really feel
Identify who you are beneath the "business owner" identity
Understand what you actually want (not what you think you should want)
Explore what's really keeping you stuck
Months 3-4: Exploration
Map out multiple versions of your future using scenario planning
Reality-test your assumptions ("Would I really lose myself if I changed?")
Understand what matters most to you NOW (not what mattered at 30)
Design what "enough" looks like for YOU
Months 5-6: Decision & Action
Make the decision you've been avoiding (stay, go, or redesign)
Create your action plan for what comes next
Navigate guilt, fear, and others' reactions without caving
Build confidence in your chosen direction
What shifts:
The shifts are often subtle on the outside but seismic on the inside.
Clarity replaces confusion.
Permission replaces guilt.
Confidence replaces fear.
Excitement (or peace) replaces daily dread.
You might stay in your business. You might leave. You might completely redesign your role.
The goal isn't to push you in any direction — it's to help you discover YOUR answer and feel confident in it.
What You Get:
20 one-hour 1:1 coaching sessions via Zoom, flexibly scheduled over 6 months
WhatsApp/email support between sessions when you need it
Tools adapted to YOUR needs — scenario planning, values work, decision frameworks, energy mapping
Accountability without judgment — and permission to want something different
A thinking partner who understands both achievement AND the emptiness that can follow
Investment: £3,600 for 6 months (or 3 payments of £1,300)
This includes: 20 coaching sessions + between-session support
“I initially struggled with productivity and constant stress due to an overwhelming to-do list. Carola guided me on a journey of self-discovery. I gained better control over my time and priorities, reducing stress while finding greater purpose, clarity, and calm. I’ve achieved improved balance and productivity, and I feel more resilient.”
Not sure if this is right for you?
In 50 minutes, we'll get to the truth of where you are.
You'll walk away knowing:
Whether this is temporary burnout or something deeper
What your real options are (not just the two terrible ones you've been staring at)
Whether coaching is the right next step — or if there's something else you should try first
What this call ISN'T:
A sales pitch (I'm selective about who I work with — this has to be right for both of us)
Therapy (we're not diving into your childhood)
Judgement (I've heard it all — the guilt, the "I should be grateful," the fantasy of burning it down)
What this call IS:
Honest
Clarifying
The first step towards feeling like yourself again
The Reset Session: One Conversation That Changes Your Perspective
The Reset Session: One Conversation That Changes Your Perspective
Sometimes you don't need 6 months. You just need someone to help you see what you can't see when you're inside your own head.
This is a single 90-minute session for when you need a reset.
Maybe you're stuck on one decision that's paralysing you. Maybe you just need to say everything out loud to someone who isn't in your life. Maybe you need a new way of looking at your situation that makes it feel less daunting.
What happens:
We talk. I ask questions you haven't let yourself ask. We explore what's really going on beneath the surface.
Sometimes one shift in perspective — one reframe, one permission you give yourself, one thing you see differently — changes everything.
What you might walk away with:
A different way of seeing your situation that makes it feel less trapped
Permission to want what you actually want (not what you think you should want)
One decision you've been avoiding, finally made
Clarity on whether this is temporary or something deeper
Relief from finally saying everything out loud to someone who gets it
Or maybe just one thought that makes you feel more hopeful. Sometimes that's enough.
This is for you if:
You've been spinning in your head for weeks (or months) and need outside perspective
You need to talk through one specific thing that's keeping you stuck
You're exhausted from pretending everything's fine
You want to know if you're overreacting or if this is as serious as it feels
What this ISN'T:
This isn't a strategy session with homework and action steps. It's a conversation. Sometimes that's exactly what you need — someone outside your life helping you see what you can't see alone.
Investment: £295
“Getting an outside perspective really helps because I tend to see things the same way. Carola provided me with different perspectives that enabled me to reprogram my thinking and look at things differently. I’ve got so much more freedom as a result.”
"But What If...?"
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No. And that's the point.
Redesign isn't about demolition. My clients who stayed in their businesses redesigned HOW they engaged with them — new roles, new boundaries, new structures.
My clients who left didn't "throw it away" — they transitioned strategically.
You're not starting over. You're designing what's next FROM where you are.
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This work isn't about making impulsive decisions.
It's about getting SO CLEAR on what you want that when you make a decision, you're confident in it.
We explore multiple scenarios and test your assumptions before you make any big moves.
By the end, you'll KNOW whether staying or going is right — not because I told you, but because you've done the work to discover it yourself.
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Perfect. That's exactly what we figure out together.
Most entrepreneurs come to me saying "I don't know who I am without this business." Through the work, they reconnect with themselves.
Not knowing is the starting point, not a disqualifier.
And here's what I've learned: you DO know what you want. You've just been too busy, too guilty, or too afraid to listen to it.
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You absolutely could try. And you probably have been trying — for months, maybe years.
But here's why it's not working: You're too close to it. You can't see the forest for the trees. Your business is wrapped up in your identity, your finances, your relationships, your sense of self-worth. You can't get objective perspective on something you're inside of.
It's like trying to read the label from inside the bottle.
You don't need more thinking. You need someone outside your business, outside your life, with no agenda except helping you get clear. That's what coaching gives you — perspective you literally cannot get alone.
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This is so common. People who haven't built businesses don't understand why you can't just "quit if you're unhappy."
They don't see that:
Your identity is wrapped up in this business
Your finances might be complicated
Walking away isn't simple when you've built something from nothing
This isn't about quitting vs. staying — it's about figuring out what you actually want
Here's what I tell my clients: You don't need their permission to invest in yourself. But if it helps, you can explain it like this:
"I've spent 10+ years building this business. Before I make any major decisions about its future, I want to work with someone who specialises in helping entrepreneurs navigate this exact situation. It's like hiring a consultant — but for my life, not my business."
Most partners respect that once they understand you're being strategic, not impulsive.
And honestly? When you get clear and confident in your decision, they'll see the change in you. That's usually when they get it.
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Because I'm not teaching you how to scale or sell. You already know how to run a business (or can hire experts for the technical stuff).
My expertise is in helping you figure out what you WANT — and that's a completely different skill set.
Here's the thing: I've run businesses. I know what it's like to be responsible for your own income, to make decisions that affect your livelihood, to carry the weight of being "the one in charge."
But more importantly, I understand the psychology of achievement, identity, and life transitions. I understand why successful people get stuck. I understand the guilt, the fear, the "what will people think?" paralysis.
You don't need another business strategist. You need someone who can help you see what you can't see when you're inside your own life.
That's what 17 years of coaching high-achievers has taught me — and that's what this work requires.
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Great question. That's exactly what the Reset Session or free Clarity Call helps you figure out.
Sometimes you DO just need a holiday or better boundaries.
But if you've been feeling this way for 6+ months... if you're fantasising about burning it down... if the thought of doing this for 20 more years makes you want to cry — that's not temporary burnout.
That's a signal you've outgrown something. And no amount of rest will fix that.
Hi, I’m Carola. Life Redesign Coach for Women Entrepreneurs in a Success Trap
I didn't set out to specialise in entrepreneurs. But I kept seeing the same pattern:
Brilliant women who'd built successful businesses... and then felt trapped by them.
They'd achieved what they set out to achieve. Revenue was good. The business was running. But somewhere along the way, "This is exciting!" became "This is draining."
And nobody talks about this phase.
I have my M.A. in Sociology and Psychology because I wanted to understand why capable people get stuck in lives they built but no longer want. I became a certified life coach (CPCC, ICF ACC) because I wanted to help them DO something about it.
I've run businesses myself — I know what it's like to have your income tied to your decisions, to be responsible for everything, to not be able to just "clock out" at 5pm.
But my real expertise is in the psychology of achievement and identity.
Everyone celebrates the launch, the growth, the revenue milestones. Nobody prepares you for the moment when you realise you've outgrown your business — when success starts to feel like a trap.
Nobody tells you what to do when you feel stuck in a business you built, or when you're burnt out from your own success.
I work with women entrepreneurs who've already built it — and need to figure out what comes next.
Not because they failed. Not because they're not capable. But because they're done living trapped in a business they've outgrown — and they're ready to design what's next.
My approach isn't about giving you more strategies or frameworks — you've had enough of those. It's about creating space for you to reconnect with yourself, explore what you really want, and discover your own answers.
If that's you, let's talk.
Want to know more about my background and approach? Read my full story →
You Have Two Choices
Choice 1: Close this page. Keep showing up for a business that drains you. Keep fantasising about burning it down whilst being too afraid to do anything about it. Stay trapped in this limbo for another year, another five years, maybe forever.
Choice 2: Book a free 50-minute clarity call. Tell me the truth about how you feel. See if redesigning makes sense. And if it does? Start figuring out what you actually want — and create a path to get there.
No pressure. No obligation. Just an honest conversation about what's next.
The worst thing that happens? You spend 50 minutes getting clarity on where you are.
The best thing that happens? You design the next 20 years of your life intentionally instead of staying trapped in a business you've outgrown.
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