Why ‘Monday’? The story behind our name

THE MONDAY GROUP is approaching its eighth anniversary – a surreal milestone, considering I still think of it as my “new business”. And yet, I recently realised we’ve never really shared the story behind the name. Why ‘Monday’ at all? 

I know the thought of Mondays makes some people shudder, and shifting that mindset is definitely part of the story… 

But eight years on, as I reflect on what we’ve built – the brand, our incredible clients and, most of all, the exceptional team that supports this journey – it feels like the perfect time to revisit why ‘Monday’ became the core of our ethos.

So, why ‘Monday’?

Let’s be honest: Monday has a bad reputation. As the icon of the working week, it signals that the weekend is over, and it’s a reminder of responsibilities piling up. For many, Monday is a day to dread.  

I used to feel that way too. 

Before launching THE MONDAY GROUP, I co-owned a different company. It brought me success and invaluable experience, but over time, something didn’t sit right. Each Sunday, a familiar anxiety would creep in – the weight of another week ahead, knowing deep down that I wanted something different. I wasn’t inspired. I wasn’t excited. I needed change.  

Life’s too short to put up with a job that doesn’t fulfil you. 

So, in 2017, after stepping away from that business, I took time to reset. Sitting on the beach, I asked myself: What do I want this new business to stand for? 

One thing was clear – it had to represent a fresh start, renewed energy and a sense of purpose. And if you think about it, that’s exactly what Mondays are: a new beginning, a chance to set the tone for what’s ahead. 

In defence of Mondays

Monday is an opportunity – a reset button, a chance to start fresh, embrace something new, and move forward with purpose toward both personal and professional goals. 

To me, the energy of Monday is like a wave rolling in from the ocean, smoothing over the trodden sand of the previous week, clearing the way for what’s next. In fact, that’s where our brand colours come from: the monochrome square representing a calendar day, and the turquoise and sand tones reflecting the renewal of ocean waves and fresh beginnings. 

One quote that has always stuck with me is from author and speaker Bill Marklein: 

“Culture is how employees’ hearts and stomachs feel about Monday morning on Sunday night.” 

That resonated deeply. I wanted this to be a place where people look forward to their work week – a company where Monday wasn’t something to dread, me included.  

Now, don’t get me wrong, we’re not on a crusade to get everyone wearing “I 🖤 Mondays” T-shirts. Our team embraces that Friday feeling as much as any! 🥂  

But this mindset was the foundation of THE MONDAY GROUP. 

Staying grounded in the ‘Monday’ mindset

Running a business, it’s easy to get caught up in the next big thing – new tools, new strategies, new directions. But I wanted to ensure that, no matter how much we grew, we never lost sight of what made us successful in the first place. 

I’ve always been inspired by Jeff Bezos’ ‘Day 1’ philosophy – the idea that businesses should approach every day with the hunger, agility and customer focus of a startup. 

Bezos puts it bluntly: 

I see ‘Monday’ in a similar way. Every week, every day, is a fresh start. We never want to lose the passion, adaptability and commitment to excellence that got us here. 

How our ethos shapes THE MONDAY GROUP today

From day one, my vision was to build a high-performing boutique agency driven by integrity and strong human relationships. Eight years later, that remains our core focus. 

We’re not interested in being a high-volume, transactional recruitment machine. We’re here to provide a premium, best-in-class service – one that delivers real impact for our clients and candidates. 

After all, recruiters have enormous power to reshape someone’s career or business. We don’t save lives, but we do change them. 

With that responsibility comes a commitment to the human element of our work. We embrace innovation and technology, but only in ways that enhance, not replace, the relationships that define our brand. 

And that’s why it will always be Monday at THE MONDAY GROUP. Because we never stop striving to make the next chapter even better than the last. 

So, that’s where we come from – and why we do what we do. Feeling inspired about your own career, or looking to find the right recruitment partner for your hospitality or events-based business? Let’s talk.