As a South African, I have always toyed with the idea of being an entrepreneur. After all, we are taught that this is the pinnacle of success - without using that many words. So, after years of working in a career I hated, and dealing with massive amounts of bullshittery, I started a design business. This is what I have learnt so far:
1.Sometimes the path we're on isn't the one we're meant to follow.
For a long time, I believed my only possible future lay in science, maths or accounting. Considering that it took me 3 goes to pass accounts 1, I quickly knew it wasn’t that. So into the throes of applied maths I dived; sustainability. I mean, come on (eye roll). How bad could it be? Well, a few years into that rabbit hole answered my question. I was miserable. Additionally, I had a light bulb moment on probably the most basic and important factor: I was trying to fit into a vision of success that wasn't mine.
2.There's comfort in following a well-trodden path.
Deep down, I think I knew a 9-5 building somebody else’s dream wasn’t for me, but I was in a constant battle between meeting others' expectations and trying to listen to my own inner voice. Actually, at this stage, I am not even sure I knew what my inner voice sounded like. The proverbial final straw, however, was confronting my own naivety.
I took a step back. I had to. I couldn’t believe that people would continually choose to put profit first, with no concern for the true cost - at most, they may have planted a few trees. It was time to re-evaluate. It was time to understand who I was and how I ended up walking a path that wasn’t for me.
3.Confront the truth.
During the ‘period of introspection’ (which is what I am calling my stint of ultra laziness and feeling quite sorry for myself), I yearned for creativity, for a career that felt meant something. I yearned to feel empowered enough to say no to things I didn’t want to do! I needed something that resonated with my soul.
Somehow I doodled my way to WFC taking shape. It was more than an idea; it was the embodiment of the parts of me that I wasn’t paying attention to.
4.There is a desire within us to create a space where we feel valued.
A lot of my unhappiness stemmed from a place of feeling undervalued and like the work I was dedicating my life to wasn’t worth much. Like sustainability was this far-left radical idea. And that was rough to admit. Was my life meaningless?
Woah.
Finally, I loosely settled on the understanding that there exists a longing within each of us to carve out a little spot where our worth is acknowledged and celebrated. And this is where we stay. This is where we perform our best. I believe it is in our nature to want to be a part of an environment that recognises our contributions and nurtures our sense of belonging.
5.There's a place for you in this world.
People say this all the time, and it sounds a bit wishy-washy, but it is true. We absolutely must believe this about ourselves - our unique skills, our vision – there are people out there searching for exactly what we have to offer. There are people out there, searching for you.
Believing this has been the most challenging part of my journey so far for sure; getting to know myself, being brutally honest about who I am and who I want to be, and most importantly, believing that I am awesome. Screw the imposter syndrome.
6.The hardest battles often take place within us.
Understanding and accepting ourselves can be incredibly daunting. But it's also the most rewarding journey. Everything is hard work, so we may as well work hard on ourselves, for ourselves. If I had to choose one key takeaway so far, it would be that learning to love and believe in your true self, with all its perceived shortcomings, is the key to a fulfilling life and career.
This is only the beginning for me - well, the beginning of this chapter. The journey is not about reaching any particular destination but about the transformation along the way.
To those teetering on the edge of change - feeling uncertain or fearful, do it anyway.
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