You on Top or You on the Bottom? :)

Relax your mind. We’re talking business, success, ambition… not a yoga class gone wrong.

In business, people love labels.
“The ones at the top.”
“The ones at the bottom.”
“The successful.”
“The struggling.”

But honestly? That whole scoreboard mentality is a little broken.

Because success isn’t a bunk bed. It’s not like someone gets the top bunk with the fancy pillow while everyone else fights over floor space and emotional support coffee.

Success is movement.

And movement looks different depending on where you are standing.

The startup founder working from a kitchen table with three tabs open, one investor ghosting them, and £14 left in the business account? That’s not “the bottom.” That’s the beginning of a climb.

Meanwhile, the CEO sitting in a glass office on the 42nd floor? They’re still climbing too. Bigger company. Bigger pressure. Bigger risks. Bigger headaches hidden behind expensive watches.

Different altitude. Same mountain.

The funny thing about business is that nobody really arrives.
You just unlock new levels of chaos.

At the start, you worry about getting customers.
Later, you worry about keeping them.
Then you worry about scaling.
Then competitors appear.
Then trends shift.
Then AI enters the group chat and suddenly everyone’s pretending they predicted it five years ago.

Every stage comes with its own version of “What on earth am I doing?”

That’s why measuring your success against someone else’s chapter is dangerous.

Comparing your startup to a multinational company is like comparing a toddler with a spoon to a Michelin-star chef. One is learning not to throw mashed potatoes at the wall. The other charges £200 for “deconstructed potato foam.”

Both are still working with potatoes.

People also forget that “top” and “bottom” can switch overnight.

One bad decision can humble a giant.
One smart idea can launch an underdog.

Business is basically a rollercoaster designed by someone who hates stability.

You can have a winning quarter and feel unstoppable… then spend six months wondering why your “genius strategy” is now on fire in a spreadsheet somewhere.

And failures? Completely normal.

Actually, failure in business is a bit like going to the gym. Nobody enjoys leg day, but somehow it builds the strength you need later.

The brands we admire most didn’t glide to success on a cloud of motivational quotes and LinkedIn posts.

Behind every “overnight success” is usually:

• years of doubt,
• terrible ideas,
• awkward meetings,
• rejected pitches,
• panic,
• caffeine,
• and at least one moment where someone dramatically said, “That’s it, I’m done.”

Then came back on Monday.

Because resilience matters more than appearance.

A lot of businesses look successful from the outside.
But polished websites and shiny offices can hide messy foundations.

And on the flip side, some businesses look “small” while quietly building something powerful brick by brick.

Never underestimate slow growth.

Microwaves heat food fast.
Slow cookers make the better meal.

The real flex in business isn’t being “on top.”
It’s continuing to grow without losing your mind, your purpose, or your ability to laugh when things go sideways.

So whether you’re:

• launching your first idea,
• rebuilding after failure,
• growing a team,
• pivoting directions,
• or celebrating a small win nobody else notices…

You are still moving.

And movement counts.

Because success isn’t a fixed location.
It’s not “top” or “bottom.”

It’s the courage to keep climbing, even when the staircase occasionally feels like it was designed by a lunatic.

So next time someone asks whether you’re on top or on the bottom…

Just smile and say:

“I’m still in the game.”