02.09.2026
The Value of Having the Right People Around You
Why the people behind the scenes can make all the difference.
Where sharp thinking meets bite-sized reading...
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“There’s no one way to live a life.” One simple line from an International Women’s Day panel stayed with me. We spend so much time following narratives we think we’re supposed to live by. But real change begins when we take ownership of our choices and start writing our own.
Yesterday Bianca and I had the privilege of attending an International Women’s Day event with some truly inspiring women: Pip Murray (founder of Pip & Nut), Billie O’Connor (CFO at Mulberry), Danielle Freeman (Global Leadership Development at Google & Exec Coach) and Vicki Anstey (Motivational Speaker, World Record holder, Adventurer). There were so many brilliant takeaways, but one line struck me harder than the rest: “There’s no one way to live a life.”
It’s deceptively simple yet profoundly liberating. The truth is, we all make choices every day, whether big or small. And with each choice, we have the opportunity – and the responsibility to take agency over our own path. In our work, in our personal journeys, and in life more broadly, this is where transformation begins.
We often get caught in narratives that aren’t ours – expectations of what success “should” look like, the roles we’re “supposed” to take on, or the life someone else imagined for us. Peel back these layers of conditioning – and see what is truly ours. Be selfish in the sacred way: nurture your own calling, build your own house, do the work yourself. At Biscuit, our motto is simple: Own it.
This is not just philosophy – it’s practical. When you stop accepting the narrative that conditions you, you start creating real impact. One person’s courage can ripple out like a kaleidoscope, changing countless lives. In recruitment, that’s literally what we do: we help people thrive, find joy, and step into roles they might never have thought possible.
And yet, owning your life doesn’t mean going it alone. Find allies who support you on your journey. Allow others to live lives you might not choose for yourself. Stop sweating the small stuff! Trust that your choices – authentic, deliberate and courageous – will lead to a life of meaning.
At which point do you decide to stop living the life that others expect of you? The answer is now. Because there’s no one way to live a life.
Written by Frances
Where sharp thinking meets bite-sized reading...
Why the people behind the scenes can make all the difference.
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