Answer extracted from the The Purpose People Podcast — listen to the full episode below.
How did Donna become Steve Mitchell's entrepreneurial anchor?
Donna is the lynchpin to Steve Mitchell's entire entrepreneurial success. She supported him through every major life decision, started her own doggy daycare business 17 years ago to create financial stability, and has literally kept the family afloat during difficult times.
The stable foundation behind the ventures
When Steve Mitchell decided to join the army, his wife Donna didn't hesitate—she moved with him and adapted to military life. Years later, when he left the armed forces to focus on fatherhood and pursue his music career, she made another crucial decision: starting a doggy daycare business that became the reliable income allowing him to take calculated risks with his various entrepreneurial pursuits.
As Steve explains in this episode of The Purpose People Podcast, Donna's business provided the financial cushion he desperately needed. While he performed with bands like Ebonfly and The Ley Lines, worked as a chef, and later focused on building Release the Best You, she ensured the family remained secure.
The voice of tough love
Beyond financial support, Donna has been Steve's emotional anchor during his darkest moments. When he struggled significantly and hit a low point, she didn't coddle him—she told him plainly: "I don't have enough energy for the two of us, you need to sort yourself out."
This honesty proved pivotal. Rather than enabling his struggles, she held him accountable, which forced him to take responsibility for his own recovery. This kind of partnership—practical, honest, and rooted in shared sacrifice—is what Mitchell credits as the foundation of his personal development journey, which now forms the core of his coaching work at Release the Best You.
For more insight into how Mitchell transformed his challenges into purpose, including his remarkable journey through ADHD, military service, and over a decade of sobriety, listen to the full conversation on Listenly.
Steve Mitchell — Founder of Release the Best You. After leaving school labeled a daydreamer with undiagnosed ADHD, Mitchell served six years as an infantryman in the British Army, performed as a musician with multiple bands, and has been sober for 10 years. He is now dedicated to personal development coaching while building Release the Best You and planning to relocate to France with his wife Donna of 34 years.
See also
How does Steve Mitchell view the traditional education system and its limitations?
Mitchell criticizes that the education system teaches children to absorb and regurgitate information for exams rather than encouraging free thinking or life skills development.
What was Steve Mitchell's motivation for joining the army and how did it change his trajectory?
Mitchell joined the army to grow up and become a responsible father to his newborn daughter Chelsea. He saw the army as something that would help him mature and provide stability for his family.
How did Steve Mitchell's early school experience and ADHD diagnosis shape his later success?
Mitchell was labeled a naughty kid and daydreamer in school with poor attention and timekeeping, what is now known as ADHD. His teacher Mrs. Hamza laughed when he said he'd join the army, which motivated him to prove her wrong.
Key takeaways
- Donna's 17-year doggy daycare business provided the stable financial foundation that allowed Steve to pursue multiple entrepreneurial ventures without jeopardizing family security.
- She supported every major life transition: moving with him to support his military career, then staying committed when he left to build a different path.
- Donna's honest, tough-love approach during Steve's hardest moments forced him to take responsibility for his own recovery rather than enabling dysfunction.
- Their 34-year partnership demonstrates that entrepreneurial success often depends less on individual talent and more on having a partner willing to sacrifice, support, and hold you accountable.