![\"\"](\"https:\/\/emn.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/20251114_121027.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
A reflection from the Founders\u2019 Fables roundtable event<\/em> Passion.<\/strong><\/p>\n It\u2019s a word that is often thrown around \u2013 sometimes too often \u2013 when talking about Lively conversation flowed easily as the founders explored the key characteristics of Hearing the stories of the founders, their challenges and successes, reminds us that at One founder even remarked, after all\u2026 \u201cHow hard can it be?\u201d A reflection from the Founders\u2019 Fables roundtable event Sitting in a room with some of the North East\u2019s key business founders is a real privilege \u2013 one that very few […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":9670,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","_cbd_carousel_blocks":"[]","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9665","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-member-news"],"yoast_head":"\n
\nSitting in a room with some of the North East\u2019s key business founders is a real privilege \u2013
\none that very few can experience without joining that elite crew themselves. Being
\nsurrounded by leaders from across sectors, each at different stages of their growth
\njourneys, and all displaying a vast array of battle scars from building their businesses in
\na Chatham House Rules setting, one thing is perfectly clear: what binds them together
\nis\u2026<\/p>\n
\nstarting and growing businesses. \u201cThe team are passionate\u201d, \u201cthe region is driven by its
\npassion\u201d, and so on. But what it truly comes down to is this: the single unifying factor
\namong the business leaders in this room was genuine, undiluted passion for their craft.
\nFrom digital to consultancy, PR and brand, funding, business development, and change
\nand transformation, the mix of founders were united in a single mission for one morning:
\nto discuss their own voyage, how they have steered their ship to where they are today,
\nand what they have learned along the way.<\/p>\n
\nbusiness leaders. Are there particular traits that can predispose someone to being
\nsuccessful? From this room, the answer was a clear yes:
\n\u2022 Passion
\n\u2022 Humility
\n\u2022 Agility
\n\u2022 Adaptability
\n\u2022 Thirst for knowledge
\n\u2022 Tenacity and grit
\nPassion<\/strong> \u2013 You must love what you do. Truly love it. Founding and growing a business
\ncannot be done successfully without being \u2018all in\u2019.
\nHumility<\/strong> \u2013 You need to surround yourself with people and strategies that support your
\ngoals, champion you when you need it most, and keep you focused when it wanders.
\nBeing consciously aware of the vulnerability that comes with being a founder is key.
\nDrawing on personal experiences, delegates discussed their ways of avoiding burnout,
\nsupporting their vision, and what they felt they had to sacrifice to get to where they are
\ntoday.
\nAgility<\/strong> \u2013 Constantly needing to move, physically and metaphorically. Many of the
\nfounders find respite in physical activity or simply \u2018being on the go\u2019 to gain clarity for
\ntheir business thinking, while also allowing themselves time to learn new skills beyond
\ntheir core functions.
\nThirst for Knowledge<\/strong> \u2013 Staying relevant, learning, and growing is a cornerstone for this
\ngroup. Many agreed that if they had free time \u201cto spare\u201d, they\u2019d fill it with something
\nproductive \u2013 reading, investing, developing skills to continue their journey in whatever
\nform it takes. These founders rarely binge-watch Netflix; they keep going and keep
\nlearning.
\nAdaptability<\/strong> \u2013 You must be able to adapt, evolve, and remain agile at all times. Standing
\nstill is not an option for a successful founder \u2013 but adapting while in motion is just as
\nvital. Statements like \u201cGet used to being uncomfortable\u201d were shared throughout the
\ndiscussion, highlighting how challenging our human response to change can be.
\nTenacity and Grit<\/strong> \u2013 As businesses based or born in the North East, the founders are perhaps predisposed to embody this clich\u00e9 of a phrase. The region is known for its grit \u2013 for getting back up and trying again. In this room, it has never been more apparent.<\/p>\n
\nthe heart of it all, they are human. They are real people driving our communities forward
\nin countless ways that can be easy to overlook. Distracted by the new \u2018next best thing\u2019,
\nwe often forget the experience and skills that have built the businesses we admire \u2013 who
\nstarted them, who leads them today, and who sets the example for the next generation.
\nSo whether you recognise yourself in the traits of a founder, or you are tenacious enough
\nto try anyway, one thing is clear: we need more people like these \u2013 people committed to
\ncreating opportunities for all.<\/p>\n
\nWell, while it cannot be categorically quantified, what we do know now is that it can be
\nvery hard \u2013 but ultimately, incredibly rewarding.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"