Dear Female Founder,
Slow down. Take a deep breath.
I am so proud of you for being here, for showing up, for searching for answers.
This feeling you have inside tells you that there is more to life, and that you have tremendous potential. It’s real. Hold onto it. I promise you, you are here to create incredible things in your life. And even though sometimes you feel lost, beaten up, lonely and not enough, I want to tell you: everything will be just fine.
During our lifetime, we do a lot of silly things. We chase money for the wrong reasons, follow fame, go to places we hate and do things we have no passion for.
Like many of us, you may feel like you need to live up to other people’s and society’s expectations; doing things you should be doing, instead of doing what you want to do.
After a while, you might realise that all you want is to be yourself and to follow your inner desires.
But it’s not easy. It requires you to be brave, to stand up for yourself and to work on your inner self. Friends might try to drag you back to safety and call you crazy. You might hit walls and run out of money. You might start questioning and doubting yourself.
Most of the people around you are tempted to give up in this situation, but not you. You will learn to become stronger and better.
Eventually, you will discover a few things you wish you would have understood sooner.
- Fall in love with yourself and follow what feels good
You are an amazing and unique person. You have talents, stories, experiences and thoughts that no one else has. You are here to share your gifts with others, to create tremendous value, to serve people while creating an abundance for yourself, your family and others.
I know that sometimes you feel that you are not enough. Not good enough, not pretty enough, not smart or outspoken enough.
If you follow that negative voice in your head, it will make you doubt your gut, your decisions and yourself. It will unconsciously sabotage you financially and make you feel like you don’t deserve success, like you have nothing to offer. It will want you to give up on your dreams and follow others.
Don’t let it do that.
Instead, fall in love with yourself. Your face, your body shape, and the way you walk and talk. It’s you, and you are so beautiful when you are yourself. Self-compassion is a skill you have to learn to be able to endure all the ups and downs that life has to offer. When you do that, you will be ready to make decisions. Not out of fear, and not because you wanted to prove something, but because you decided to do what’s best for you.
This is where everything starts. No one should ever tell you how to live your life. You are the only one who truly knows what’s best for you. Look inside and ask yourself: What do I love doing? What makes me feel good? When do I feel in the flow? Then do that.
It’s not as easy as it sounds. It requires you to get in touch with your emotions. You can do that through practicing mindfulness and meditation (Headspace, the meditation app, is a good place to start). When you do it sufficiently, you will discover a space inside you that you can trust, which is solid, which is you. Do whatever it takes to connect with yourself. Once you know what you want, go after it with power and focus.
- Success is not what you think it is.
It has taken me a few long years to understand that following my own path and my own happiness is what really makes life worthwhile.
Overnight success does not exist. It takes years of consistent, committed effort to build something of value, whether that’s your business or your own personal development.
Examine your beliefs regularly and learn how to get rid of those that don’t support you anymore. Ask yourself today: What does success really mean to you and where do you want to be in one year, three years and ten years from now?
Find a mentor or a development programme, and read as many books as you can. ‘Awaken the Giant Within’ by Anthony Robbins has helped me tremendously. Exhaust all resources that are available to you.
- Sh*tty things happen. A lot. And that’s ok.
You will need to face a lot of tough situations on your entrepreneurial journey. Things will not go according to plan, projects will fail and some of your supporters will leave you. Don’t be harsh on yourself; know that this is normal. Think about what you can learn from each experience. Note it down, and then move on.
At the end, life won’t be at all as you imagined it to be.
So stop guessing and go experience. Breathe life in with everything it has to offer.
This project you have been thinking about for a while? It’s time to make it happen. You are unsure or not feeling quite ready yet? Let me tell you, no one ever is.
Close this book and ask yourself: ‘What is one thing I can do today to push my dreams forward?’ Now, go and do it. Do you feel the fear creeping up right now? Kick it in the ass. You will rock it, I know. That is just part of your nature.
And one day, you will sit in your rocking chair, look back at your life and cry. They will be tears of joy, gratitude, and an immense love for life. And you will remember that day when you decided to absolutely own your life.
I am so proud of you.
Love,
Aga