Hi, I'm Ciaran

I grew up thinking I’d be an artist.

I studied Fine Art in Belfast because I believed painting was my path. But by the end of the degree, something important had shifted. I wasn’t as interested in making art as I was in seeing things differently. Instead of painting I was spending time questioning assumptions, noticing patterns, and asking why things are done the way they are.

That instinct never left me.

After college, I spent time travelling through Europe and Thailand. Seeing how differently people live and work deepened my curiosity about how environment, culture, and structure shape creativity and motivation.

In 2010, I trained as an English language teacher and moved to Vietnam. I spent five years teaching adults and children, and training other teachers in Ho Chi Minh City. By the age of 26, I had become the youngest trainer in the world for Cambridge English teaching qualifications, supporting hundreds of trainee teachers from around the globe.

This work sharpened skills I still rely on today: careful observation, deep listening, clear thinking, and asking the right questions at the right time.

When I returned to Ireland, I completed a Masters in Entrepreneurship in Limerick in 2016 and started my own design business, Modern Éire, in 2017. On paper, it made perfect sense. In reality, I struggled more than I expected.

I didn’t enjoy the day-to-day running of the business. I forced strategies that didn’t suit me. I made avoidable mistakes. And slowly, I realised something most business advice ignores: a business can look successful and still feel wrong to run. You can be good at something but find it totally unfulfilling for you. 

That experience changed everything.

I began to understand that strategy isn’t just about markets and models — it’s about fit. Fit between the business and the person behind it. When there’s a mismatch, even good ideas feel heavy. When there’s alignment, things begin to flow.

Alongside this realisation, I trained as a coach, adding new tools to my background in teaching and training. Together, these experiences shaped how I work today: as a quiet but deep observer, a strategic listener, and a guide rather than a prescriber.

I don’t push tactics. I help people see clearly.

Now, I work with owners who want to build businesses that support their personality, energy, and lifestyle rather than fight against it. Many want to do meaningful work, stand out by being different, and avoid the painful lessons I had to learn the hard way.

When your business truly fits who you are, everything shifts: your clarity, your energy, your creativity, and your results.

I live in Donegal with my wife Laura, close to family, lifelong friends. I’m inspired by thoughtful businesses, behavioural psychology, personal development, and people who choose a more intentional path.

I’m steadily building resources to help small business owners think more clearly and create work that genuinely fits their lives. If that resonates, I’d love for you to connect on LinkedIn (I‘m most active there) or visit my profile on Instagram. 

Thanks,

Ciaran