Can you have anxiety and the drive to be a business owner? Let me share my story with you.
I have anxiety and it's really bad. I can trace back my anxiety all the way to my childhood, as young as four, because I remember being short of breath and almost blacking out every time I stepped out the house. Everyone thought it was asthma or an iron deficiency. When I was ten our family doctor diagnosed me with anxiety but not one took it seriously. I'm a migrant living in Australia, and where my parents come from there is no such thing as depression or anxiety, you're either normal or you're crazy and I didn't want to be crazy so I never brought it up again.
I was a quite kid growing up. I was bullied more than I care to admit both at home and outside the home. I put all my attention and energy into reading, writing and making friends with neighbourhood birds. My list of hobbies evolved as I aged. I started making jewellery in the fifth grade using beads from old jewellery but then I transitioned into sewing and even thought about fashion design but I really didn't want to be part of that world. I only wanted to make pretty clothes so sewing remained a hobby and my focus turned back to making jewellery.
I sold my jewellery to local shops and online, and I still make things to this day but I eventually realised my passion because I knew everything there is to know about beads. I can tell a good bead from just it's picture. I know how they're used and I know how to talk about them. And that's how this whole shop started. Just me and my obsession with beads and now it's grown to over 600 products that are increasing daily.
Sometimes I think about opening up a physical store and not just sell beads online but I'm still waiting for my bravery to show up for that next step. For now I'm happy with what I've been able to achieve; which is to show that even if you do have crippling anxiety, like me, there is a way for you to still be part of this world and thrive.
I have yet to meet a mean crafter, everyone who buys beads and charm from me is a treasure themselves. I'm gonna stick around as long as can in this business just for the awesome people in it. I'm slowly slowly building this business, and still learning how to navigate my way through social media, marketing and setting up websites.
It's currently a one woman show, just me in my garage doing my best to contribute to this world and deal with my anxiety at the same time. I'm not ashamed of anxiety anymore because it has forced to be inventive enough to build a business. I built a business without needing to leave the house and that's not something anyone can boast about.
This is my world and I'm proud of it. Share it with me follow me on Facebook and Instagram and lets build a community together.