I love it when a hugely successful and inspirational female entrepreneur offers a glimpse into her mindset, and Natalie Massenet, founder of Net-A-Porter.com has done exactly that today.

Stepping down from the company she founded 15 years ago, she has talked about her desire to start a new chapter in her life and also laid bare her own personal values, which you can see if full below. Within these, there has to be a takeaway thought for everyone.

Although the (small) business that I sold in 2014 was nothing like Net-A-Porter on ANY level, I can imagine at least a little how Natalie is feeling.

I spent 6 years creating an award-winning news agency, Talk to the Press, enabled it to carry on without me and then, also driven by a desire for pastures new, sold it. Then, everything goes quiet, the company is no longer yours, it actually CAN function without you, the phone stops ringing, and the initial high of the achievement, thrill and money turns into slight fear about what this much longed for new chapter will actually involve! I guess you find yourself in some sort of no-mans land.

I love the way Natalie says in her full note, which you can read here: ‘As for my own future, my entrepreneurial drive is as strong today as it always has been.‘ And again, I felt the same way. You don’t sell a business at 37 (as I was) to give up and stop working, nor do you in your 40s, like Natalie is! The drive that compelled you to create the business in the first place will be there for life. You sell it to move on to something even better – even if you have no idea what that better thing will be.

I had to put all my faith in the old saying that as one door closes, another opens (and you know what, this turns out to be true!) and trust that great things would head my way (which they have!)

So good luck Natalie – although she won’t need it – and thank you for sharing your wisdom.

Now, I’d love to hear your thoughts on what you can learn from her personal values. Leave a comment below!