The Untold Story of My Entrepreneurial Journey

Even when I’m on holiday, on occasion, you’ll still catch me sneaking in a bit of work. Not because I have to, but because I love what I do. This photo taken by my wife, was me sneaking in a little work before the kids got up whilst on holiday. (we were at Africamps in the Drakensburg, I recommend a visit! ) While I love what I do, balance is what makes it sustainable.

That being said, the last few years have taught me a lot about the fine line between passion and burnout, and how to walk it without falling.

I’ve been an entrepreneur for over 20 years, and truthfully, there have been seasons when the business owned me more than I owned it. But nothing tested me quite like the last few years, navigating a pandemic, pivoting an entire business model, supporting and serving my wife who decided to enter the Mrs South Africa Pageant ( and won 😉) whilst trying to be present for two boys who are growing up far too fast.

The Backstory You Don’t See on a LinkedIn Profile

In 2006, I launched Participate Technologies. Back then, our service offering was a shadow of what it is today. Fast-forward to now, and we’ve supplied event and educational tech in 15 countries to over 500 customers. Growth came through constant reinvention, a fair bit of grit, a lot of trust, and prayer.

In 2018, I co-founded FutureproofSA with Lisa Illingworth, a project close to my heart that helps kids think like entrepreneurs. A year later, we hit pause on my wife’s successful online retail business to support our eldest son’s development needs (he’s on the Autism Spectrum).

And then came 2015: my personal crash into burnout. That moment forced me to rethink everything. I turned to cycling for clarity. I got my health back. I found my energy again. It was the first time I really understood that success without wellness isn’t success—it’s a ticking time bomb.

But 2020? That was the real test.

When the World Shut Down

COVID hit, and overnight both my businesses were shut down by regulation. We had no income from events, and for a while, no clear way forward. Many people asked, “Why didn’t you retrench?” Truth is, it never felt like an option. We have a culture thing #workfam, but that is a different story, I digress.

Instead, I:

• Took out a personal loan
• Stopped drawing a salary
• Pivoted our entire service offering to virtual events

That period lasted 2.5 years. Two and a half years without a paycheck, but not without purpose.

Looking back, we came out stronger. More agile. More focused. More determined.

3 Hard-Won Lessons for Entrepreneurs

If you’re early in your business journey or feeling stuck in the messy middle, here are the three truths I’ve anchored myself to:

1. Integrity is non-negotiable.
   Build your business on trust. In a crisis, people remember how you showed up.
2. The customer is the real boss.
   Treat every decision like your future depends on its success, because it does.
3. Balance isn’t a luxury—it’s a leadership skill.
   I’ve learned this the hard way. Don’t trade your health for hustle.

Inspired by life, written by David Wilson (human), accelerated by AI (the precision) October 2024