The New Chapter

The Accountability Collective: The New Chapter

For more than thirty years, my work has centred around helping small businesses grow. Long before I ever imagined launching The Accountability Collective, I was already walking beside business owners in one way or another. From the craft makers who stood behind their tables at the markets and festivals I organised, to the exhibitors I worked with at trade events, to the advertisers who trusted me with their message in the SwadStyle magazine, I have spent decades supporting people who pour their heart into the work they do.

Over the years I have spoken to hundreds, if not thousands, of business owners from every background, every skill set and every ambition. I have listened to their hopes for growth, their fears about competition, their exhaustion when everything felt heavy, and their uncertainty when decisions felt impossible. I have heard their pain points again and again. Not enough time. Not enough clarity. Not enough confidence. Feeling pulled in too many directions. Trying to do everything alone. Feeling overwhelmed by responsibility and expectation. Wanting structure without losing freedom. Wanting progress without burning out. These conversations have stayed with me because I understand these challenges deeply, not just because I have heard them for so long, but because I have lived them myself.

When I launched the SwadStyle magazine, I believed in my vision and knew it mattered. But I also carried the full weight of it on my own shoulders. I had deadlines, advertisers, content, distribution, community relationships and a constant flow of decisions that only I could make. People saw the finished magazine on their doormat each month, but they did not see the late nights, the piles of notes spread across my desk, or the worry that sat quietly in the background when I hoped everything would come together in time. I had determination and belief, but what I did not have was accountability. No one to talk things through with. No one to help untangle the thoughts that gathered when I was trying to do too much. No one to remind me what truly mattered when everything felt urgent. I often think how much lighter that journey could have felt if someone had been there beside me, understanding the realities of working alone and helping me find clarity when my mind felt crowded.

Through all my years of supporting others, this one truth kept rising to the surface: people do not struggle because they are incapable, they struggle because they are carrying everything alone. And for entrepreneurs, especially those working by themselves, accountability is not simply helpful, it is transformational. It brings steadiness, clarity and encouragement, and it offers a sense of partnership in a world where you are expected to hold everything yourself. It shifts the emotional load as much as the practical one.

This is why The Accountability Collective means so much to me. It is the culmination of decades spent supporting business owners, combined with the lessons, insights and lived experiences from my own journey. It brings together everything I have witnessed, everything I have learned and everything I believe about how people grow best. The Accountability Collective is built on a simple but powerful understanding. People thrive when they feel supported. They flourish when they are encouraged. They move forward when they have clarity. They stay committed when they are not alone. It is not about pressure or strict rules, nor about pushing people harder. It is about walking alongside them, helping them feel grounded, and creating space to think, breathe and plan. Most of all, it is about nurturing the confidence that already lives inside them.

For many years I supported business owners from the outside, through events, exhibitions, community projects and my magazine. But the more I listened, the more I realised that people needed something deeper. They needed support not only for their business tasks, but for the thoughts, emotions and fears that shaped those tasks. They needed guidance that went beyond tips and strategies and a space where they felt seen. The Accountability Collective is that space.

It has three core parts, each designed to support people in different but connected ways. The Accountability Club is a calm, supportive community for self employed people and solopreneurs who want structure, clarity and encouragement. It offers a steady rhythm of weekly check ins, monthly sessions and clarity tools, helping people stay on track without pressure and grow their business without sacrificing their wellbeing.

The 90 Day Clarity Challenge is a guided reset, a chance to step back, clear the mental clutter and focus on what truly matters. It helps people get intentional, prioritise effectively and build momentum with purpose. It is ideal for anyone who wants a fresh start, a clear plan and a renewed sense of direction.

One to one Coaching is for those who want deeper support. It offers personalised conversations and space to explore ideas, fears, goals and decisions. This kind of coaching helps people think clearly, act with confidence and reconnect with the vision that once inspired them to start their business.

Together, these three offerings form The Accountability Collective, a complete support system for people who want to grow their business with clarity, confidence and companionship rather than stress, confusion and isolation.

I am proud to bring this forward now because I know the difference it could have made for me in the early years of my own journey. I know how many people feel overwhelmed or unsure of their next steps. I know how many carry the weight of everything alone. And I know how powerful it is when someone finally says, You do not have to do this by yourself. I also know how many people I have already helped over the years. Launching The Accountability Collective feels like the most natural next step in my work. It brings together every skill, every experience and every insight I have gathered over the last three decades. It feels aligned. It feels meaningful. It feels ready.

If you are reading this and thinking, This is what I need, or I wish I had this sooner, I would love to talk with you. If you want clarity and structure, encouragement and a calm space to think, consistent focus and someone in your corner, or simply a place where you feel supported as you build the business you dream of, you will be very welcome inside The Accountability Collective.

If you would like to find out more, you can send me a direct message or visit ingridvanderweide.com/the-accountability-collective. I would be delighted to share the details and help you discover whether this is the right place for you.

As we step into 2026, there is no better time to reconnect with what you want, create space for clarity and build a plan that feels grounding rather than overwhelming. You deserve to start the new year with a renewed sense of optimism, a clear direction and the confidence of knowing you are not doing it alone. The Accountability Collective is here to support you as you move forward with purpose and create a year that feels aligned, steady and full of possibility.