Week Notes (30 June - 7 July)
A great meeting this week with a client exploring options to expand their digital reach. I’m really enjoying connecting with colleagues across the sector, supporting them through my experience and knowledge. It’s been brilliant to spend time with both new contacts and old friends, hearing about their opportunities and challenges, and discussing ways we might collaborate.
Another excellent session from Ash Mann this week, as part of his work releasing Beyond the Promise, a research report looking at why digital projects fail. Unsurprisingly, the research showed that most failures aren’t about skills or technology, but about leadership, organisational readiness, and the ability to learn from past mistakes to build understanding and resilience. This latest session focused on creating a culture of reflection, alongside Tash Willcocks. If you’re interested, Tash also features as a guest on Ash’s Digital Works podcast, which is well worth a listen. Just don’t tune in when you’re hungry - there’s lots of chat about cheese toasties. (The toast represents organisational structure and processes, while the cheese is the juicy work that happens when people feel safe enough to innovate.)
As we reach the halfway point of the year, I’ve been reflecting on how things have gone. I’m not sure I expected to have launched The Knighton Group and be working with my first clients by now. It’s a significant change to my working life, and I’m enjoying the chance to think and work differently. It’s allowed me to prioritise self-care, exercise, fresh air, sleep, and good food. Nothing fancy, but the basics make a big difference.
I’ve also realised just how important connection is for me, and how much I love spending time with people and talking about ideas. I’m proud of myself for taking a risk and doing something on my own terms. It’s definitely been challenging at times, and I’ve questioned whether I’ve made the right decision. But I’ve come to believe there’s no single ‘right’ choice - only what feels right in the moment. I feel very fortunate to be able to try this path and, if it doesn’t work out, to have the security and stability to change direction.
Looking ahead to the second half of the year, I’ve got capacity to take on more clients. If we haven’t connected yet and you’d like to explore how we could work together, please do get in touch.
And as someone who’s a massive fan of Christmas (is it too early to mention the C word?), I’m already excited about heading towards the end of the year and celebrating 2025.
The weekend was filled with family time, tennis lessons, a birthday party, and shopping for bits for our upcoming summer holiday. On Sunday, it was the school fair - so a busy day setting up and helping out. British summer time brought a slightly earlier end to the festivities, but overall I think it was a really successful day.
Watching / Listening / Reading
📺 Shark Whisperer on Netflix. I’m strangely intrigued by people who feel so comfortable under water and can can hold their breath for 6.5 minutes! Jaws has a lot to answer for in our perception of sharks and I think this documentary goes someway to dispelling the myths. However, I don’t find Ocean a completely endearing character, she clearly connects more deeply with animals than she does with people. It’s also astounding that 100million sharks are being killed annually.
📺 Deep Cover on Amazon Prime Video. A bit of funny escapism was definitely needed.
📖 With the summer holidays fast approaching and this being my first working freelance, I’m thinking about how to strike the right balance of delivering for clients and growing my business while also ensuring I have flexibility to spend time with my daughter. Ultimately this was part of my motivation in establishing The Knighton Group. I loved this post for short 15-20 exercises to do each day to connect with my daughter and build her resilience and mental strength. We’ll definitely be giving them a go in the holidays.
📖 An interested piece on how the arts can use online platforms to reach global audiences, with interesting case studies. It’s behind a paywall but you can claim a free article.
The direct to consumer market offers huge opportunities to bring art and culture to global audiences, which then can help create a flywheel to encourage people to make onward journeys where additional revenues can be made. This can involve visiting a museum or gallery; buying a ticket to see a show; signing up for online course; buying, commissioning or licensing art.
📖 Please god help me bless this mess from Pandora’s Box of Shit on Substack.
This one struck a chord with me. I’m a self confessed clean freak, alongside setting up freelance I’ve been getting my house in order, literally. Banishing anything that is surplus to requirement and ensuring everything has a place. Was some of this to do with giving my life a sense of control when it felt completely out of control, sure. Was some of this to do with my upbringing and childhood in a clean and tidy house with severe punishments for not doing chores, sure. But it was also about creating a space where my family can enjoy themselves, where we can relax and where baking, crafting and mess making are encouraged and also a space where I can work and grow my business.
Roles
📍Location: ENO, Greater Manchester
💰Salary: Unrenumerated
📅 Deadline: 12pm, Monday 28 July 2025
📍Location: Roundhouse, London
💰Salary: £150,000 - £165,000
📅 Deadline: 12pm, Tuesday 29 July 2025
Back again next week with more.