Four years ago, I took a leap of faith and embarked on the adventure of launching my own business. As I reflect on the past four years, what I’m struck by the most is the growth not just as an entrepreneur but as a person whose calling catapulted me into a whole new way of being. On day one of launching my business in 2020, I knew I was signing up for an unpredictable and wild ride, but even with that knowing something inside kept insisting I “keep going, don’t stop”, and most importantly to “trust myself”.

I knew that my message of supporting a child's individuality needed to be shared, and with my twins being the inspiration it was no accident that I needed to be the one to share it. When I was first starting out I was inspired and excited to share my vision, so much so that I would wake up in the middle of the night and ask myself, “Am I dreaming? Am I really going to do this?” I was fully energized by what I was visualizing and creating and even though I didn’t (and still don’t) know where it’s all going to take me.

While I took steps forward in faith, I wasn’t sure I would have the fortitude. The leap into the unknown came with a lot of fear and insecurity but the alternative of not trying was far worse than taking the risk - it was regret. Building a business meant cultivating the courage and resilience even when the mountain is steep and you don’t have all the right gear to keep climbing. It’s not impossible to continue going upward but you have to go slow so that each step builds upon the last. During these past four years I’ve found myself doing many, many things outside my comfort zone that my mantra has become “I am comfortable being uncomfortable”. It’s one of the biggest lessons and hurdles I’ve had to work through since no one likes being uncomfortable.

It’s an edge for me because part of sitting in an uncomfortable place is looking at all the reasons why you feel that way. One big reason for me is that I’m not an extrovert and I don’t like to be the center of attention, but when you have a business you have to put yourself in a place to be seen even if you don’t want to, something I’ve handled with baby steps every year. It’s a work in progress to come out of my shell but I’m beginning to embrace this side of myself with wonder instead of fret. One thing I know for sure is that in the world of entrepreneurship, growth often lies just beyond the boundaries of our comfort.That realization can either halt you or draw your curiosity. Growth doesn’t happen when everything is running smoothly and lining up perfectly, the growth lies down in the dirt where it’s messy and you can’t see beyond what is in front of you. It’s cultivating a deep trust that the seeds you are planting are going to grow upwards towards the sun in the direction you intended. In those moments of planting you’re only left with the faith that whatever is meant to grow will and you can’t lose trust that the seeds will germinate someday, even though you want to harvest them immediately

These past four years have taken me on the most expansive adventures of my life and even without a map I’ve been able to tune into my inner compass for guidance of each step. This year my compass guided StereoType to Japan, a place I’ve dreamt of visiting for many years. When StereoType was invited to join a trade show in Tokyo, it felt like a dream come true as well as an invitation to take a leap of faith - and that’s just what I did. I spent several months organizing the details of the trade show, and with the help of my very small team, we were able to participate successfully. It wasn’t without scrapes and bruises along the way, but I did make it happen and that filled me with a sense of pride for overcoming all the obstacles that were presented. I also challenged myself by giving a presentation while I was at the tradeshow, that was beyond what I thought I would be doing there, and that pushed me into the spotlight which meant I had to cultivate belief in myself. That belief required a complete trust that by sharing my story and my message, I would capture the attention of the audience.

Thankfully I did. Because I was able to follow my inner GPS, participating in the tradeshow introduced the mission and the products that make StereoType unique to a whole new audience. All of this happened with my 11 year-old co-founder twins in tow, and they stood witness to my growth and because of them, I was able to cultivate courage and together we were able to stand out in the crowd. The experience was positive in many ways but mostly I was able to show up and do what I set out to do, and that is sometimes the only success that truly matters. I was able to add water to all the seeds that have been growing since day one. While it’s too soon to know what the impact and outcome of my visit to Tokyo really means for StereoType, one thing is clear, I accomplished a massive goal! And even with the language difference presenting challenging obstacles, the message of StereoType wasn’t lost in translation in Japan, and we were able to inspire people who were ready to receive it and needed to hear it.

Through the ups and downs of the past four years, one thing has remained constant - my drive to show up again and again for a mission beyond even my own understanding. Sometimes when you’re called to do something outside the box, the logic isn’t always there, but the heart knows more than the head and that’s where the compass steps in and guides you, it only takes the trust in yourself to step forward onto a path that only knows your own footsteps.

Here's to embracing the wild and unpredictable journey of entrepreneurship, to stepping out of comfort zones, to showing up and sharing vulnerability, to persevering through challenges, and charting our own course. It’s not for the meek or the mighty - it’s for the courageous.

With Love,