Why Accountability and Community Changed Everything, My Founder Story

Wed Jan 07 2026

Feeling Unfulfilled Despite a Full Plate

It was October 2024. I was working full time as a Group IT Director in London, helping my wife with her growing business, and juggling a few side projects. On paper, it looked like I was winning at life. Successful. Busy. Productive. But deep down, I knew something was missing.

I felt burned out, yes, but it was more than that. It was the sense that I was not living in alignment with who I really was. I had climbed the corporate ladder, only to realise it was leaning against the wrong wall. I wanted more, not just more to do, but more meaning. More truth. More connection.

Saying It Out Loud: The Power of Accountability

That is when I decided to work with a coach. Not because I needed fixing, but because I needed a space to say the quiet things out loud. I had this idea, this urge, and I knew that once I said it, I could not unsay it.

“I want to start a club,” I told them.

Not a business. Not a coaching programme. Just a space, a space to belong. I did not want to be the coach or the leader. I just wanted to be a part of it. I wanted community. I wanted accountability. I wanted real human connection.

And once I said it, that was it, no more hiding. I handed in my notice, with my last day set for December. That was the moment everything shifted.

Finding the Right People

I had the seed of an idea and a huge desire to just be a member, not the person running the show. That is when I found Shanti on Upwork. From our first conversation, I knew she was the one to help me bring this vision to life.

Together, we began shaping what would become The Accountability Club. We hosted our very first event on 7th November 2024. Six people joined, half of them total strangers, and yet the connection in that virtual room was electric.

People shared their goals, their recent wins, and their hopes. And in that moment, it felt like we had built a home, somewhere safe and grounded.

A Safe Space to Grow

Those early calls were deeply emotional. Not because we had it all figured out, but because we were honest. People showed up as they were. No pretending. No posturing. Just real life and real support.

That is what accountability should feel like, not a pressure to perform, but a gentle nudge to keep going.

Some people wanted to run their first 5K. Others were starting a creative project they had shelved for years. Some simply needed someone to ask, “How has your week been?” and really mean it.

And that is when I knew this was not just a club. It was something sacred.

The Comparison Trap and the Brain’s Role

In today’s world, it feels like everyone is chasing a highlight reel. Who has the best car? The most followers? The flashiest lifestyle?

Social media is a constant flood of curated perfection, and our brains, wired for comparison, struggle to keep up. According to social comparison theory, we naturally evaluate ourselves based on what others are doing. But here is the thing, our brains do not always know that social media is not real. They respond to it as though it is.

Studies show that seeing idealised images online can increase feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, and low self-esteem. It hijacks our attention and creates a dopamine feedback loop, likes, follows, notifications, that pulls us further away from being present and focused on our own journey.

That is why The Accountability Club is different. No filters. No facades. Just people showing up with their real goals, messy progress, and genuine wins.

A Club Built on Real Growth

Whether someone is trying to drink more water, change careers, or finally get around to that DIY project, there is no judgment here. Just encouragement, accountability, and kindness.

When we surround ourselves with like-minded people, something shifts. You stop comparing. You start growing. Not in the shadow of self-doubt, but in the light of shared support. This club gives us space to breathe, reflect, and focus on our version of growth, not the one sold to us online.

The Journey Continues

By the end of 2024, my life looked completely different. What started as a quiet idea became a community. A place where people lift each other up. A reminder that you do not have to do it all alone.

And we are just getting started.

So if there is something you cannot stop thinking about, say it out loud. Throw it at the wall. And if it sticks, pay attention. Put in the work. You never know what kind of magic might grow when you are surrounded by the right people.