This month, Electric Peach turns four.
Four years ago, Electric Peach started with one client: Ever Nimble. There was no fancy office, no long client list and no elaborate business plan. Just an idea, a lot of ambition, and probably a few too many peachy puns waiting to happen.
Today, Ever Nimble is still one of our clients, and we’ve had the privilege of watching them grow into one of Australia’s most recognisable MSP brands. Along the way, we’ve worked with MSPs, MSSPs and technology businesses across Australia, New Zealand, the UK and beyond, helping them build brands that stand out from the IT crowd.
We’ve also grown ourselves. What started as one person has become a talented team, a growing client base and a business I’m incredibly proud of.
As a marketing agency, we spend our days helping other businesses tell their stories. Reaching four years felt like a good excuse to turn the spotlight back on ourselves and reflect on what building Electric Peach has actually taught me.
I’m Gabby, founder of Electric Peach. I’ve spent more than 15 years in marketing, but running a business has taught me lessons I never learnt in a textbook.
Here’s four of the biggest.
Lesson One: Don’t Let Perfection Get in the Way of Progress
I’ve never considered myself a perfectionist.
But there’s something different about putting yourself and your own business out into the world. Suddenly every decision feels bigger. Every post gets over-analysed. Every launch feels like it has to be perfect before anyone sees it.
In the early days of Electric Peach, I was constantly telling myself:
“I’ll do this when…”
“We can’t launch until…”
Looking back, I realise I was treating everything like a final destination, when really it was just the next step.
One of the biggest mindset shifts I’ve had is accepting that businesses are never finished. Brands evolve. Websites change. Services change. Even your own confidence changes.
Sometimes you just have to press publish before you feel ready, because progress has a funny way of creating the confidence you’re waiting for.
Lesson Two: Don’t Count Your Chickens Before They Hatch
I’ll admit it.
Even after four years, I still get excited every time a new enquiry comes through.
Every proposal represents possibility. Every conversation feels like another step forward for the business and for our team.
But I’ve learnt the hard way that interest isn’t the same as commitment.
Early on, every opportunity that disappeared or every proposal that got ghosted felt incredibly personal. I spent far too much time wondering what I’d done wrong.
Eventually I realised that’s just part of running a business.
People’s priorities change. Budgets move. Internal decisions take longer than expected. Sometimes it’s simply not the right timing or the right fit.
What you can control is your process. Build better proposals. Follow up consistently. Keep improving the way you communicate your value.
And remember that a “maybe” isn’t a “yes” until the paperwork is signed.
Lesson Three: Don’t Underestimate the Power of Being Human
There’s an old marketing framework called the Four Ps of Marketing.
When I studied marketing, they were Product, Price, Place and Promotion. These days there are seven or eight depending on who you ask.
Personally, I think they’re missing one.
Personality.
Especially in the MSP world, it’s easy to fall into the trap of looking like everyone else. Blue logos. Stock imagery. Corporate buzzwords. Safe messaging.
But businesses don’t build relationships.
People do.
One of the best decisions I made was finally putting myself out there. Sharing my thoughts. Posting on LinkedIn. Recording videos. Speaking at events.
Was it perfect? Absolutely not.
Is it still a work in progress? Definitely.
But it’s helped me build genuine relationships with people I probably never would’ve met otherwise.
People connect with people.
So if you’re waiting until you feel polished enough, experienced enough or confident enough, don’t.
Write the post.
Record the video.
Join the conversation.
You never know where it might lead.
Lesson Four: The Desk Theory
This one might sound a little random, but stick with me.
If you’ve ever watched How I Met Your Mother, you’ll probably remember Lily’s “front porch” theory. It’s the idea of imagining who you’ll be sitting beside years into the future.
When I hired my first team member, I found myself thinking about something similar.
I call it the Desk Theory.
It’s simple.
Could I happily sit next to this person every day? And could they happily sit next to me?
Of course skills matter. As we’ve grown, we’ve needed talented people who can do incredible work.
But personality matters just as much.
Curiosity.
Kindness.
Humour.
The willingness to support each other when things get busy.
Those are the qualities that shape a culture.
I’ve been incredibly fortunate to work alongside some amazing people over the past four years. Some are still part of Electric Peach, while others have gone on to do exciting things elsewhere.
No matter where they’ve ended up, the Desk Theory has stayed with me.
Because at the end of the day, businesses are built by people. And finding the right people has been one of the most rewarding parts of this journey.
Here’s to the Next Chapter
Four years in, I’m incredibly grateful.
To every client who’s trusted us.
To every team member who’s helped shape Electric Peach.
And to everyone who’s followed along, supported us or simply cheered us on from the sidelines.
Building a business has been equal parts exciting, terrifying, rewarding and unpredictable. I wouldn’t change it for anything.
Here’s to whatever the next four years have in store.
If you’re looking to build a brand that feels more human, more memorable and more you, we’d love to help.
