Hey there, fellow adventurers! Today, I want to take you on a whirlwind journey through my life – a life that started as a bit of a misfit with a capital ‘A’ in the middle of my name. Growing up in a tiny town, I quickly realized that I was cut from a different cloth and wasn’t afraid to flaunt it.
From my first-grade tussle with my teacher over the ‘A’ in my name to my peculiar fashion sense that often raised eyebrows, my small town was not the most welcoming environment. As an impulsive fashionista, I sometimes sported a bejeweled orange poodle collar, dyed my hair, popped on vintage items, and rocked trendy ensembles like it was nobody’s business. It indeed wasn’t.
Now, small towns have their charm – friendly neighbors who rushed to the rescue whenever I recklessly wiped out on my bike (which, let’s admit, happened more times than I’d like to remember). They were like my pit crew, and I was their fearless daredevil! But rest assured, my parents knew what I was up to long before I got home.
Being a non-conformist in a place where everyone knew everyone had its challenges. My quirky style and love for cold pizza breakfasts didn’t always align with the powers that be or my family at times. Yet, I wore it well because being a misfit meant I was blazing my trail and wouldn’t let anyone dampen my fiery individualism in a town that expected me to try harder to fit in than it was trying to help me feel like I belonged.
High school was an adventure all its own. A history teacher chastised me for failing a timeline recall test and made an example of me in front of the class while threatening to “tattle” on me to my parents for not taking my education seriously enough! (BTW, I graduated with honors a couple of years later.) But little did he know, my dreams were bigger than memorizing dusty dates. It was a valuable lesson in the respect I’ve carried into my entrepreneurial journey.
Fast forward to today, and I’ve traded small-town quirks and the inability to fit in for entrepreneurial standout status. As a remote entrepreneur, I’ve found my tribe – a group of like-minded rebels who appreciate my unique perspective. Embracing non-conformity has become my superpower in the business world and helps me see the uniqueness of my clients, their Unique Value Proposition, and Brand in business speak.
In the realm of entrepreneurship, diversity isn’t just celebrated; it’s encouraged. I’ve learned that my unconventional ideas and out-of-the-box thinking are the key ingredients to my success. Dress codes or norms no longer bind me – I’m charting my course through the world and helping others find their own clarity, confidence, and direction.
So, fellow adventurers, let’s raise a slice of cold pizza to the quirky, the daring, and the unapologetic individuals who don’t always fit in but have their place in the world and deserve to be valued! Embrace your inner eccentric, dance to your beat, and plunge into the entrepreneurial journey with flair and authenticity. The world’s misfits create masterpieces, innovation, and change in a world that needs it in big and small ways.
Stay fabulously authentic, my friends! It is better to find your fit than to waste your life trying to fit in.