The Reality of Starting and Building a Business:
Running a business alongside raising a young, growing family is never easy — and it’s a side of entrepreneurship that often goes unseen.
ICM was founded back in 2009, and in those early days it was just Martyn and I. We worked every hour going — evenings, weekends, whatever it took — to get the business off the ground while delivering the best possible service to our customers.
It was hard work, exhausting at times, and not something many people ever see once a business starts to grow. From the outside, people see ICM today as an expanding, successful company — and we are proud of that. But growth comes with real personal sacrifices.
2012 was no exception. While still working relentlessly to grow the business, my partner and I found out we were expecting twins, followed by the arrival of our son and daughter. Juggling newborn life, sleepless nights, feeding shifts, and the demands of a growing business was incredibly challenging.
During that period, my partner often held the fort — me working many evenings and weekends — ensuring the business continued to grow, support customers, and ensure we maintained the high standards we’d set.
Looking back, it was one of the most demanding and testing times of my life, both personally and professionally. What people don’t often talk about is how long it can take to reach a point where you feel comfortable letting go. It took ten years to get to a place where I could truly delegate and rely on a team to take care of things — if such a thing ever truly exists in running a business. Trust, systems, and the right people don’t happen overnight.
Over the last couple of years, thanks to the growth of ICM and the incredible team we now have around us, I’ve been able to slow down slightly. I no longer work weekends as a rule (although occasionally it’s still necessary), and I can focus more on leading/ steering the business forward rather than being everywhere at once.
We’re still growing, still busier than ever — and I am incredibly grateful to the team behind me. Their commitment allows me to concentrate on keeping the business moving forward, while also being present for my family.
Entrepreneurship isn’t always glamorous — but it’s deeply rewarding.
Every challenge, sacrifice, and long day has shaped where we are today!
Phil Gwinnell
