11 Years of The Kartel Solution, 11 Hard Lessons That Built It

At The Kartel Solution, we don’t usually stop to celebrate milestones. We’re focused on building, evolving, and staying a step ahead. But 11 years in business is worth acknowledging, not for vanity, but for reflection.

Because behind every year of growth is a series of hard, unfiltered lessons that shaped the way we operate today. These lessons weren’t taught in a textbook. They were earned through trial, error, pressure, and persistence.

Whether you’re starting, scaling up, or refining what you’ve built, here are 11 truths from 11 years that we’ll never ignore again.

1. Hiring under pressure leads to costly mistakes

When you hire out of urgency, you get short-term relief and long-term regret. Every poor hire slowed us down. Skill and cultural alignment matter more than a fast fix.

2. Not all coaches are worth the investment

We’ve spent serious money on support that was never delivered. There’s a fine line between strategic mentorship and expensive fluff. Vet harder, invest smarter.

3. Undercharging cost more than revenue

In the early days, we undervalued what we brought to the table. It didn’t just hurt the bottom line; it impacted confidence and client dynamics. Now, we price based on value, not insecurity.

4. Working around the clock isn’t sustainable

Yes, we used to wear busyness like a badge of honour. But exhaustion isn’t strategy. We’ve built systems that allow for space, sustainability, and smarter operations.

5. Delaying personal development held us back

Every dollar went into the business or the team. But without investing in ourselves as leaders, we stalled progress. Growth starts at the top.

6. Tolerating the wrong clients drains everything

Just because someone wants to pay you doesn’t mean they’re a fit. Disrespectful, disorganised, or constantly pushing boundaries? We’ve learned to walk away quickly.

7. Overwhelm doesn’t disappear on its own

For too long, stress was the baseline. Every quiet moment was still consumed by the mental load of business. We now recognise overwhelm as a signal to change something, not push harder.

8. Holding onto everything creates bottlenecks

We thought we had to do it all ourselves. The truth? Delegation doesn’t dilute quality; it multiplies capacity.

9. Lack of boundaries erodes leadership

We used to think boundaries made us difficult. In reality, they make us dependable. Boundaries protect the integrity of the work and the health of the business.

10. Not marketing ourselves kept us invisible

Great work doesn’t speak for itself, not at scale. Visibility, consistency, and presence matter. You can’t rely on word of mouth forever.

11. Trying to separate business from motherhood never worked

We spent years pretending they were two separate identities. Now, we build with both in mind. Success doesn’t require sacrificing who you are; it requires designing the business around it.

The Business Behind the Brand

This isn’t luck. The Kartel Solution is a business built on sharp decisions, strategic systems, and unwavering clarity. It’s sustainable, it’s intentional, and it’s personal.

We’ve built a business around our life, not the other way around. And the result? A business that works, with or without us, in the day-to-day.

If you’re building something that’s meant to last, here’s the truth:

You can’t do it alone.
You need structure. You need the right tools. And you need people who see what you’re building and know how to support it.

This is our legacy business.
And after 11 years, we’re just getting started.

Need support with financial clarity, structure, and business systems?
That’s what we do best.
Book a discovery call and let’s talk about where your business is headed next.