my journey…
Hi, I’m Paul. Welcome to Just Blog Life: Your Guide to Business Support, Technology, and Growth!
My entrepreneurial journey began early. At 17, I launched “Scope,” a monthly newsletter, and marketed shareware. This venture quickly expanded to selling computers nationwide through the popular computer fairs of the 90s. The business continued to grow, evolving into building custom computer systems and eventually transitioning into an IT brokerage, supplying computers and tech in bulk to trade outlets, businesses and individuals.
Throughout this journey, I discovered a passion for inspiring others. Speaking to students in schools and colleges, I found joy in igniting their interest in entrepreneurship, which sparked a desire to foster personal growth in others.
In 2006, I began a new chapter by establishing a business focused on support, training, web design, and hosting. Over the years, I’ve held various roles and contracts in this field, with my most recent involvement being the community project, Focus Futures.
Now, my journey is taking a new direction. Last year, on August 17th, I boarded my first flight to Bolivia, South America, to reunite with my girlfriend. After completing her project at Swansea University, she returned to Brazil to finish her PhD studies at UNESP – Rio Claro.
I decided to join her on a five-month South American adventure, navigating our future together. It was perfect timing as the project I’d been employed on had ended. Thankfully, my savings and offering my house as an Airbnb supported the journey. I also planned to explore the possibilities of embracing the digital nomad lifestyle.
My experiences have been a valuable source of learning, and with this blog, I aim to share these insights on topics I’m passionate about. It might sound familiar, but if I can positively impact even one person, that’s a worthwhile goal.
what now…
On January 1st this year, I returned from South America, going from 40 degrees to a brisk 5 degrees. Don’t you just love the Welsh weather! While in Argentina, I was offered a position as a Digital Business Advisor for a new project called Focus Futures, delivered by Business In Focus.
This 12-month contract, supporting both startups and established businesses, really appealed to me, so I decided to stay in Wales for a year. Fortunately, Vanesa’s postdoc in Brazil allowed her to work remotely, so she joined me in early February.
In August, Vanesa left the UK to return to Brazil before heading to Bolivia, and in September, she traveled to Melbourne, Australia, where she delivered a successful presentation on her research into carnivores at a conference. She’s now back home in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, while I’m in Swansea, keeping busy as always.
whatS next…
So, what’s next? I’ll be heading back to South America on January 3rd, 2025, with plans to stay for at least 12 months as we sort out visas and plan our wedding. I’ll be arriving in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, and will likely travel around to places like Argentina and Brazil, among others.
At the same time, I’ll be launching a new business, which is currently in the final stages of planning and development. I began working on this venture during my last tour of South America, but I found it hard to focus on the project while being so captivated by the incredible places I visited.
The business, called Digital Growth 101, is a platform designed to equip small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs with the knowledge, tools, and community they need to accelerate their growth and achieve their goals by understanding and using digital marketing and technology.
Stay tuned for updates!
