This month, 5miles turns 10.
That’s a whole decade of building, iterating, experimenting, making (and learning from) mistakes, and most of all—growing alongside the frankly wonderful people who make up our team and community.
To celebrate our journey so far, we’ve pulled together 10 key lessons we’ve learned along the way. Some are serious, some are fun—but all of them reflect who we are and how we work. We’ve learned so much from you all, it’s about time we give back.
If you’re building something, leading a team, or just curious about what it has taken us to keep going for 10 years, we hope a few of these resonate.
1. Real-life needs are the only starting point
Before 5miles was a company, it was a frustration. Our founders, realised they were missing something in their professional life—a way to actually develop relevant skills continuously, without waiting for the next overwhelming training program. So they built the thing they needed. Turns out, a lot of others needed it too.
2. Measure that intuition
Intuition is powerful—but we’ve learned it gets even better when you validate it with data. At 5miles, we trust our instincts, but we also obsessively track, measure, and test. That combo has helped us make smart decisions while staying true to our vision
3. Slow and steady wins the race
Big goals can feel overwhelming. So we break them down into manageable chunks. Whether it’s a complex feature rollout, a challenging client request, or an ambitious personal learning goal—we chip away, bit by bit. Progress is progress.
4. There are lots of I’s in team
Every team is made up of individuals. When each person feels seen, heard, and supported, the whole team wins. We put love and care into building a culture where people can focus on and flourish in the tasks that suit them best.
5. Stay open & adaptable to stay relevant
We adapt fast. Whether it’s to feedback from members, a shift in the market, or remote working via Teams during a global pandemic, we listen and adjust. Being open-minded (and a little light on our feet) has helped us stay ahead of the curve.
6. Community is everything
Our members, partners, and network have been a huge part of our evolution. Their feedback, encouragement, and challenges have shaped who we are. We don’t build in a vacuum—we build out there, with them. Some partners even create their own learning tracks with our author module.
7. Precision over speed
Fast is flashy and messy, focused is precise and effective. Moving with clarity and purpose accomplishes more than sprinting in circles. Whether we’re building a new course, developing a feature for a client, or fulfilling a member’s needs, we stay aligned and intentional.
8. Our members say it best
Our friends and families will confirm; we can (and do) end up talking about our product all day. But, the most powerful stories come from the other people who use 5miles every day. Their experiences and growth are the clearest reflection of what we’re building.
9. Celebrate even the very small stuff
Yes, we celebrate big milestones. But we also celebrate completing an easy challenge, solving a quick bug, or someone’s kid losing their first tooth. Life happens in the small moments—and we’re here for all of them.
10. #AlwaysBeLearning
We talk a lot about continuous learning because, well... we live it. Feedback loops, user insights, tech trends, and self-reflection all fuel our curiosity and help us evolve. It’s how we stay relevant—and excited about what’s next.
The past 10 years have been full of lessons, people, and moments we’re deeply grateful for. We’ve learned how to build a product, a culture, and a company—but more than anything, we’ve learned how to keep on learning.
Thank you all for being part of the journey.
Here’s to the next 10.
