Behind every successful business is a human being navigating the quiet, often hidden, psychological toll of leadership.

In this debut episode of Light Bulb Thinking, I sit down with Paul Young, one of the UK's leading chocolatiers, to discuss the real and often hidden psychological struggles of running a business. Paul shares his journey from an accidental chocolatier to building a renowned brand, opening up about the severe burnout, isolation, and mental health challenges he faced along the way.

What You’ll Discover

- The Reality of Burnout: Why the relentless pursuit of perfection and long hours can lead to physical and mental collapse, and why we need to talk more openly about it.

- Redefining Leadership: How true leadership requires vulnerability, the courage to admit when you are wrong, and the ability to nurture a team rather than ruling through fear.

- A New Definition of Success: Why true success is no longer about accolades or expansion, but about peace, creative freedom, and knowing when to say no.

Paul’s story is a powerful reminder that our mental and physical health must always come first, and that true strength lies in our ability to be vulnerable. If you are feeling the weight of leadership or struggling to keep up with the demands of your own success, this conversation is for you.

Lightbulb Thinking supports schools, educational organisations and professionals with coaching, therapy, mental health first aid training and consultancy. You can learn more at lightbulbthinking.com.

Lightbulb Thinking is produced by Urban Podcasts.