In September Ground & Water celebrated its 16^th Birthday. The start of the ‘season of mists and mellow fruitfulness’ saw Director, Dipalee Jukes, celebrate this and two additional personal milestones that mean the world to her.

Dipalee says: “My youngest turned eight – full of energy, curiosity, and joy. I completed the Berlin Marathon raising funds for the Charity: Water. And my ‘oldest’, Ground & Water Limited, turned 16. Ground & Water was born from a shared dream between two geology students. Sixteen years later, it’s grown into something I could never have imagined. A company built on our shared values of courage, commitment, and community.

These milestones filled me with pride, gratitude, and a touch of disbelief because September was a whirlwind… Juggling party bags, business and travel plans, cake crumbs and client calls. But once the dust had settled, I paused. I reflected on how far I and we have come… As an individual, as a family and as a business. So to mark the last 16 years, here are 16 lessons I have learnt in that time that have shaped me as a leader, a colleague, and a human:

1. “Work harder on yourself, than you do on your work” (Jim Rohn).

2. “Life doesn’t get easier, you have to get better” (Jim Rohn). Healthy habits, rituals, self-discipline – the boring every day stuff needs to be worked on.

3. Consistency over effort – small actions everyday compound over time. (James Clear on Atomic Habits).

4. Self-awareness is the key to transformation – understand your triggers, then learn how to mitigate against them, or manage them, work through them.

5. Kindness beats everything. Kind is my ONE word for 2025.

6. Courage comes before confidence – I am a natural introvert, and confidence was something I struggled with massively well into adulthood. Learning to embrace vulnerability as a strength, led to me being courageous with my life.

7. Confidence is a skill – no one is born with it. You learn it, then keep practicing, flex it like a muscle, and it gets stronger.

8. Clarity comes from taking action – take the bold action, then figure it out. For example: aged 29, I didn’t know how to run a business. I started, and the clarity unfolded itself. Aged 41, I decided I was going to run a marathon. I then figured out how I would achieve it.

9. Let go of perfection – the 80/20 rule. Perfection paralyses progress. Be messy, iterate, improve, it’s a process, enjoy the journey.

10. Remember your value is not defined by your work or how people treat you. Value yourself, be your biggest cheerleader, back yourself. Self-confidence is a superpower. Once you start to believe in yourself, magic starts happening.

11. Let go of trying to please everyone It is impossible and it will lead to burnout, stress and anxiety. Be kind, and respectful to yourself and others and learn when to let things go.

12. Keep family close, they are the real joy and happiness in life. Remember they love you no matter what you do at work or what title you hold. Children especially keep you humble, grounded, real.

13. Remember what peace there is in silence. Take a beat, stop, breathe. Learn to create space for stillness in between the chaos of our fast-paced world.

14. Grit, resilience, perseverance – the ingredients for success in any endeavour. Life is not linear; you will always face challenges along with the wins.

15. Enjoy the wins, no matter how small. Notice the details of everyday and practice gratitude. As corny as it sounds, it makes me a happier, more fulfilled person.

16. Embrace the Japanese philosophy of Kaizen, continuous improvement.

Thank you to everyone who’s been part of this journey, especially the incredible Ground & Water team and our brilliant clients. You inspire me and reinforce my faith in human nature every day.

Here’s to the next chapter. 💙