Burnout to Balance: How Coaching helped a Creative Director Reclaim Calm, Clarity, and Confidence
John Harris, Creative Director of Redhound Studio Ltd, understands the emotional and mental cost of leading a small business. A talented professional John was well versed in leading teams, delivering high quality for global brands. As a creative professional and entrepreneur, he faced the constant demands of running a business, from client delivery and decision-making to long hours and quiet pressure. But what if success didn’t have to come at the cost of well-being?
Through Self-Leadership and Compassionate Business Coaching with elementas founder Lou Booth, John truly connected with another human being to realise he was not alone, what he was experiencing was quite normal. Through the coaching process John discovered a new way to ‘tend and mend’ his attitude; thoughts, feelings and beliefs. He became more awareness of his well meaning but unhelpful inner critical thinking and started to befriend himself. He started to self-lead grounded in mindful awareness, emotional clarity, and self-compassion.
“Lou is an amazing lady with a wealth of knowledge. With just one session, she can unlock self-understanding, equip you with self-healing tools, and set you on a path of positive progress.”
The Hidden Weight of Small Business Leadership
Running a business is deeply personal. Small business owners often hold the responsibility for everything — vision, people, finances, and delivery — with little space to pause, reflect, or recharge.
‘More than half of small business owners in the UK experience poor mental health…Business owners report inability to focus (66%), anxiety (64%) and disrupted sleep (63%)” The Small Business Commissioner (OSBC) 2024
From Overwhelm to Empowered Clarity
John had normalised stress and self-judgment as part of being successful until he realised they were limiting his creativity, clarity, and confidence.
As part of redefining his self-leadership coaching process, John worked with Lou Booth, from elementas Coaching, to explore mindful leadership tools rooted in neuroscience, breathwork, and emotional agility.
“I have experienced your compassion, generosity and caring nature. You have restored something in me which I feared had long since died and it’s been a very long time since I allowed myself to be happy and hopeful within myself.”
So what shifted for John?
+ Sharpened Focus – “I can now focus for longer and achieve more in a day.”
+ Stress Reduction – “My stress and anxiety levels have decreased.”
+ Improved Judgment – “I feel more in control, even under pressure.”
+ Mindfulness in Action – “The overwhelming feelings have faded.”
+ More Energy – “I’m mentally stronger, motivated and more resilient.”
By developing a mindfulness practice, John learned to respond to stress and the emotion of anxiety with presence and awareness. He reclaimed calm and became a more present, effective self-leader. He leaned into what he already knew helps him; reminded in the sessions, and he naturally remembered and gained new tools and insights.
Self-Leadership for Entrepreneurs: A Natural Way Forward
This wasn’t about working harder — it was about leading from within, reconnecting with what is important and true.
Lou Booth, founder of elementas Coaching, listened to John and guided him in cultivating emotional awareness, nervous system regulation, and mindful self-leadership practices. These internal tools are now part of his daily leadership rhythm.
“Lou proves that stress and anxiety can be reduced to a point where they are of little consequence — allowing you to focus, perform at your best, and even appreciate yourself.”
Are You a Small Business Owner experiencing high stress or starting to feel demotivated and burned out?
Are you craving clarity, calm, and a more mindful approach to work.
Ready to strengthen your emotional resilience and focus.
Wanting to lead with presence and purpose, not pressure…
Then, Men’s Self-Leadership Compassionate Business Coaching at elementas may be exactly what you need right now supporting:
Mindful decision-making
Nervous system regulation
Clarity of purpose and performance
Sustainable, human-centred leadership.
Ready to Lead With Calm and Confidence?
If you’re carrying a lot — and ready for a shift that brings focus, energy and self-kindness — start your journey today with Self-Leadership and Compassionate Business Coaching get in touch with Lou Booth
Additional Resources
Enterprise Nation Business Owners and Stress
The Small Business Commissioner (OSBC)
