She Lost Everything in Business… Then Rebuilt in Her Late 40s | Kirsten Harris

What happens when a successful career collapses, and you have to start again from scratch?In this episode, Kirsten Harris, founder of BDB Agency, joins Cait Muir to talk about the messy, unpredictable reality of entrepreneurship.From leaving school at 16 to running international logistics companies, becoming a CEO, losing a franchise network, and eventually building a digital marketing agency in her late 40s - Kirsten shares her powerful story of business failure, resilience, reinvention, and starting again.This conversation dives into the real side of business ownership that rarely gets talked about - financial pressure, leadership responsibility, and the courage it takes to rebuild when everything falls apart.If you’re a salon owner, service-based business owner, or entrepreneur navigating uncertainty, this episode will resonate deeply.Tune in to hear about:✅ The reality of running a business when everything goes wrong✅ Lessons from building and losing a franchise network✅ Why many business owners hide financial stress✅ How failure can shape stronger entrepreneurs✅ Starting a new business in your late 40s✅ The power of surrounding yourself with the right people✅ Why non-linear career paths often lead to the biggest opportunities✅ The mindset needed to rebuild after major setbacks✅ How automation and smarter systems are changing service businesses✅ Why it’s never too late to start againThis episode will change how you think about failure, reinvention, and what's actually possible on the other side of rock bottom.Key moments:00:02:00 Kirsten's Non-Linear Career Path00:07:16 International Logistics at 1600:12:40 Investing in a Global Company at 2300:19:40 Pivoting Into Franchising00:23:00 The Co-CEO Disaster00:27:20 Pouring Money Into a Failing Business00:36:00 The Power of Sharing Failure00:40:20 Rebuilding at 4700:45:00 The 80/20 Launch Rule00:54:20 Automation and AI in Business00:57:40 Automate Tasks Not Relationships01:05:38 It's Never Too Late to Pivot01:11:00 Sleep, Health, and Body Clocks01:17:55 The Future of BDB AgencyIf you've ever felt like it's too late to start, too scary to pivot, or too shameful to ask for help - press play. -👉Connect with Kirsten Harrishttps://www.linkedin.com/in/kirsten-harris-bdb/https://www.instagram.com/bdb.agency-👉Find out more about how we can work together:https://iconiccoaching.com.au/coaching/Support the show-👉Here’s how to connect:https://www.instagram.com/tellmeaboutit__podcasthttps://iconiccoaching.com.au