My story

Sam Page with his wife Gemma and their two children, by the sea

I was born in Bury St Edmunds, lived in Hadleigh, and we moved to Felixstowe in my first year.

I was incredibly shy, and incredibly worried about other people. I was terrified of doing new things and meeting new people, and I remember feeling scared every day in the school playground. I was also a chatterbox and a dreamer, with an imagination to make things happen. I was artistic. Not amazing, but OK.

School

I didn't find words easy. I was bullied at junior school and found my feet at secondary school, but it never really clicked. I got by through building a rapport with my teachers. I'd be interested in how they were and what they had been up to. But I didn't fit the linear model at school, and I kept finding I couldn't bring my ideas to life through the things our education system relies on.

Work

I found work easy, though. I loved work. Whether it was the pot wash or a paper round, I could thrive. If I looked after people and did a good job, they looked after me. That's where my obsession with looking after the customer was born.

I always found my way through an interest in people: my bosses, my colleagues and our customers. We became friends. And I learnt how to sell. Selling Christmas trees stands out.

Family

I was inspired by my grandad, who had his own PR business and went on to become a gardener who published books and was on the radio. He used to take me along with him, and we painted together on Monday evenings. My other grandfather was a gardener too, with a huge garden. It was inevitable I would fall in love with gardening.

My parents were always supportive. They gave me belief and, most importantly, the space to do things in my own time. That space let me be full of dreams about doing big things that would make a difference, and I try to live that forward with my own children.

Little businesses

I started my own "companies": selling plants, selling business cards, selling things I bought from the newsagent and sold on, and selling CDs and electrical equipment out of a catalogue.

I loved architecture too, I think because of my love for Design Technology. I loved the idea of creating spaces that help people to thrive. And I admired people like Richard Branson, who had done so much from humble beginnings.

Technology

Then my dad borrowed a computer from work, and boy, did I fall in love with technology. Where words failed me, code, a language built around logic, made sense. It became my ultimate tool to bring my ideas to life and access an entire world.

I built a website for the estate agent I worked at and built websites at school. At 18 I built a website for the Suffolk Dyslexia Association, to help them promote the amazing work they do. Then I created Being Dyslexic to help other people with dyslexia. It became the largest online dyslexia community of its time, and I later transitioned it into The Dyslexia Shop, a business now run by my family.

Dyslexia

It turned out I had dyslexia. It has shaped how I solve problems and how I connect ideas together, and it's a big part of who I am. I'm a proud champion of neurodiversity.

University

I studied Business Management at the University of Essex from 2003 to 2006, and I was a Student Union Representative. On my very first day I met Gemma, who is now my wife.

A letter from Richard Branson

Richard Branson mattered to me for another reason too. He's dyslexic, and he had achieved so much in business at a time when dyslexia carried far more stigma. Being dyslexic myself, it was both inspiring and reassuring.

At university I had lots of ideas, but no idea how to really make them happen. So in 2003 I wrote to him, asking for advice on setting up a business.

He wrote back, and I still have the letter. His advice: "The real secret of success is to find good people to work with, people you can trust." And: "You sometimes have to take risks in order to be successful."

I've shared the letter, and I'm still trying to thank him properly.

London

At the end of university, Gemma and I went travelling. When we came back, we decided to move to London, to get more experience and, eventually, to start a company.

And I followed Richard's advice. I found Ed Gossage. We were frustrated in our jobs, so in 2009 we took the risk of leaving to start 7DOTS. It became the thing I believe about business: good people, and good businesses, can help everyone to thrive.

From the start we wanted 7DOTS to have a healthy work-life balance, where people work sensible hours, are treated with kindness and have the space to follow their own dreams as well as their professional ones.

Today

Ed and I have been building 7DOTS ever since. I'm also building DealCraft, I chair Kingston Giving and Pippa Labs, and I advise founders and leadership teams.

I'm a proud husband to Gemma Page, a communication and confidence coach, and dad to our two children. We now live in Kingston upon Thames with Mabel, our cocker spaniel. When I can, I'm outside, usually in the garden with the roses.

What I believe

I believe good companies and good technology can help everyone, and the world, to thrive.

I think people need to make more space to dream, to dream bigger, and then to make those dreams a reality. As children we dream all the time, and as adults most of us stop. I've written more about it in Making space to dream.

I'm obsessed with reading and personal development. Most days start with a couple of hours of exercise, journaling and reading. I try to give, because the more you give, the more you gain. And I try to lean into my fears, because that's usually where the greatest opportunities are.

I believe in seeing the other person's point of view first, and that the world needs more empathy.

And I'm deeply driven to make sure technology serves humanity, connecting people more than it disconnects us.

See my CV Read my thinking Work with me

--- title: My story url: https://sam-page.com/story author: Sam Page type: biography copyright: © Sam Page. All rights reserved. --- # My story I was born in Bury St Edmunds, lived in Hadleigh, and we moved to Felixstowe in my first year. I was incredibly shy, and incredibly worried about other people. I was terrified of doing new things and meeting new people, and I remember feeling scared every day in the school playground. I was also a chatterbox and a dreamer, with an imagination to make things happen. I was artistic. Not amazing, but OK. ## School I didn't find words easy. I was bullied at junior school and found my feet at secondary school, but it never really clicked. I got by through building a rapport with my teachers. I'd be interested in how they were and what they had been up to. But I didn't fit the linear model at school, and I kept finding I couldn't bring my ideas to life through the things our education system relies on. ## Work I found work easy, though. I loved work. Whether it was the pot wash or a paper round, I could thrive. If I looked after people and did a good job, they looked after me. That's where my obsession with looking after the customer was born. I always found my way through an interest in people: my bosses, my colleagues and our customers. We became friends. And I learnt how to sell. Selling Christmas trees stands out. ## Family I was inspired by my grandad, who had his own PR business and went on to become a gardener who published books and was on the radio. He used to take me along with him, and we painted together on Monday evenings. My other grandfather was a gardener too, with a huge garden. It was inevitable I would fall in love with gardening. My parents were always supportive. They gave me belief and, most importantly, the space to do things in my own time. That space let me be full of dreams about doing big things that would make a difference, and I try to live that forward with my own children. ## Little businesses I started my own "companies": selling plants, selling business cards, selling things I bought from the newsagent and sold on, and selling CDs and electrical equipment out of a catalogue. I loved architecture too, I think because of my love for Design Technology. I loved the idea of creating spaces that help people to thrive. And I admired people like Richard Branson, who had done so much from humble beginnings. ## Technology Then my dad borrowed a computer from work, and boy, did I fall in love with technology. Where words failed me, code, a language built around logic, made sense. It became my ultimate tool to bring my ideas to life and access an entire world. I built a website for the estate agent I worked at and built websites at school. At 18 I built a website for the Suffolk Dyslexia Association, to help them promote the amazing work they do. Then I created Being Dyslexic to help other people with dyslexia. It became the largest online dyslexia community of its time, and I later transitioned it into [The Dyslexia Shop](https://www.thedyslexiashop.co.uk), a business now run by my family. ## Dyslexia It turned out I had dyslexia. It has shaped how I solve problems and how I connect ideas together, and it's a big part of who I am. I'm a proud champion of neurodiversity. ## University I studied Business Management at the University of Essex from 2003 to 2006, and I was a Student Union Representative. On my very first day I met Gemma, who is now my wife. ## A letter from Richard Branson Richard Branson mattered to me for another reason too. He's dyslexic, and he had achieved so much in business at a time when dyslexia carried far more stigma. Being dyslexic myself, it was both inspiring and reassuring. At university I had lots of ideas, but no idea how to really make them happen. So in 2003 I wrote to him, asking for advice on setting up a business. He wrote back, and I still have the letter. His advice: "The real secret of success is to find good people to work with, people you can trust." And: "You sometimes have to take risks in order to be successful." I've [shared the letter](/thinking/this-is-a-letter-i-received-from-richard-branson), and I'm still [trying to thank him properly](/thinking/please-help-me-to-thank-richard-branson). ## London At the end of university, Gemma and I went travelling. When we came back, we decided to move to London, to get more experience and, eventually, to start a company. And I followed Richard's advice. I found Ed Gossage. We were frustrated in our jobs, so in 2009 we took the risk of leaving to start 7DOTS. It became the thing I believe about business: good people, and good businesses, can help everyone to thrive. From the start we wanted 7DOTS to have a healthy work-life balance, where people work sensible hours, are treated with kindness and have the space to follow their own dreams as well as their professional ones. ## Today Ed and I have been building [7DOTS](https://www.7dots.com) ever since. I'm also building [DealCraft](https://www.dealcraft.ai/), I chair [Kingston Giving](https://www.kingstongiving.org.uk/) and Pippa Labs, and I advise founders and leadership teams. I'm a proud husband to [Gemma Page](https://www.linkedin.com/in/gemma-page-cpcc-424353275/), a communication and confidence coach, and dad to our two children. We now live in Kingston upon Thames with Mabel, our cocker spaniel. When I can, I'm outside, usually in the garden with the roses. ## What I believe I believe good companies and good technology can help everyone, and the world, to thrive. I think people need to make more space to dream, to dream bigger, and then to make those dreams a reality. As children we dream all the time, and as adults most of us stop. I've written more about it in [Making space to dream](/thinking/making-space-to-dream). I'm obsessed with reading and personal development. Most days start with a couple of hours of exercise, journaling and reading. I try to give, because the more you give, the more you gain. And I try to lean into my fears, because that's usually where the greatest opportunities are. I believe in seeing the other person's point of view first, and that the world needs more empathy. And I'm deeply driven to make sure technology serves humanity, connecting people more than it disconnects us.