After years of building a career in a big city, I moved to a small town. It was the best move for me as a business owner.

Moving to a small town in Wales was surprisingly great for me as a business owner. Meredith Whitely After spending most of my working life in or near London, I moved to a town of about 3,000 in Wales. I wasn't sure how this move would impact me as a small-business owner , but I saw immediate benefits. I've built a supportive community here and been able to prioritize work-life balance. For most of my working life, I lived in or near London, where I was surrounded by bustling, big-city energy. Lots of the people I knew were focused on climbing the career ladder and earning more money. My own definition of personal success was also tied to this for a long time — but in 2015, after many years of working for big companies, I decided to follow my dreams and develop my own small chocolate business .