When I started my journey into entrepreneurship it wasn't planned, going into business for myself wasn't planned either. I've always felt somewhat of a fraud. This feeling has absolutely crippled me during my start-up adventure with Kind Currency. Crippled me to the point of making me quite poorly.
I’ve always struggled with Imposter Syndrome, I’d had learning difficulties at school and went to intervention after intervention, so going to university was very unexpected and I didn’t exactly align with the other students on my course. Becoming ill when young, removed so many opportunities, whilst everyone was becoming an adult, starting their career journeys and learning about business I was trying to accept and learn to manage a life with several chronic illnesses. I feel like I missed a whole chunk of learning, although I absolutely value the different lessons my life has delivered, it still makes me feel inferior in the world of entrepreneurship, I don’t talk the talk. Even when I became selfemployed, I wasn’t ‘in business’, noooo, not me. Businesspeople don’t act, look, or sound like me, they were over there, and I was here doing my own thing, not being ‘businessy.’ So, when it came to turning a passion idea I had in my head, into a viable business with a purpose concept, I immediately felt inadequate. I did not feel good enough to deliver this opportunity to the world. But only I can do it. Facing the fear and feeling extremely uncomfortable I commenced with taking this idea to concept and beyond. Everyday whilst I bubble with passion, storytelling, and action, I am screaming inside, overwhelmed with feeling incapable, lost in the wilderness not knowing which path to take, which turn in the road to trust. Can I even trust myself? I torture myself with my non-business intelligence and persona. I feel absolutely undeserving of such an amazing business concept. But I have to remind myself that it is my idea. An idea grown from my life experience. An idea developed from identifying real world problems I have witnessed and faced every day. A solution that is created from my understanding of the needs we have. Delivered by my absolute passion and desire to live life by kind values and create a difference in the world by sharing kindness. ‘A little bit of kindness makes the world sparkle’ is a moto I created many years ago, something I would say to people when they asked why I gave so much time and energy to the third sector, something I would say to people who had delivered an act of kindness, something I would say to people when they were struggling, something I believe with my whole being. By reminding myself of these facts, I am learning to quiet the imposter. I appreciate now, that the imposter will always be there, I can’t catch up the lost years, lost education, career, and business life. I’ll always feel like I don’t align with the business world but I’m learning everyday and I’m battling everyday to dream big because I want to deliver change and I want to make a difference, I want to protect and celebrate people, planet, and purpose. Whilst the imposter is trying it’s best to tell me I’ll not even make a mark never mind the dent I aspire to achieve, I’m holding on tight to my passion, my story, and my aspiration. It comes from a place of kindness, the imposter does not. So, if you see me not making much business sense, not looking, or sounding like a businessperson but bubbling with purpose, please be kind. I’m looking to learn; I’m looking to grow, I’m looking to kick the imposter into the abyss and most importantly, I’m looking to do good.