As millennial women, many of us have been told that the only way to 'succeed’ in business is to strive for the big bucks, for followers, and for growth.
Sure, this is the end game for lots of founders, but it’s definitely not the end game for us all.
At lady-brains, we know that pouring every waking second of your life into work doesn’t result in a healthy business. We know that if you don’t invest time in yourself and grow as a founder, then nothing (not your bottom line, customer base, team, nor your fulfilment) will grow at all.
And we know for damn sure that success at all costs is truly not success at all.
Welcome to lady-brains. We’re here to find a healthier, happier, more fulfilling way forward for women building businesses.
We exist to explore the question: how can we build better brands and be better founders, in order to create better lives?
We started lady-brains to rewrite the narrative about what a ‘successful’ entrepreneur looks like, and to help founders grow on their own terms.
We believe that success should be self-defined.
There’s no one size fits all approach to building a business, and there’s no blueprint for what a good business looks like. It’s time to take things into our own hands and define success on our own terms. This is a movement, not a moment.
We believe the hustle is not the way forward.
For too long we’ve been told that the only way to succeed is to grind your way there, but we're calling BS. Our most important currencies are time, energy, love and money, and our work should expand these not deplete them.
We believe you must grow as a founder to grow a business.
Building a business is an ongoing lesson in who we are, as well as a test of our resilience. If we don’t invest time in ourselves and grow as a founder, then nothing will grow at all.
We believe it’s the small moments that lead to something great.
Small ideas, actions, and moments compound over time to paint the bigger picture. A tiny change in perspective or one simple action creates a new pathway forward – one that we may not be able to see yet.
We believe everything and everyone must have a purpose.
When we know our reason for getting up each morning and spending our limited time the way we do we’ve tapped into our why. When our actions align with our knowing, we’re living our authentic purpose. This is where fulfilment lies.
We believe arriving is a myth.
Success is not a destination and arriving there is a myth. The journey is the point. The process is the experience. It’s the small moments of success that matter.
We’re forging a new path and throwing out the rulebook. Come join us.
OUR TEN TRUTHS
We believe there’s a better way to do business; one that results in a healthier founder, team, and bottom line; and we believe that these ten truths may hold the answer.
Over the course of this year, we’re putting these truths to the test: implementing them into our business, and allowing them to guide our decisions every single day.
Our hope is that at the end of the year we’ll have proved ourselves right, and have designed a new blueprint for others to follow.
We invite you to come on this journey with us. Listen to us discuss these on the podcast, watch us implement them over on Instagram, and join the conversation in our Facebook Group.
Perhaps you’ll discover something powerful on the journey too.
1. PLAY
Playtime is as serious as our bottom line.
Play sparks creativity and connection and gives us permission to explore without an end goal in mind. Making space in our routine for play sets off happy hormones.
2. FAILURE
Failure moves us forwards, not backwards.
The truth is that in business, there will be many false starts, failures, and face plants. Embrace the messiness and keep putting one foot in front of the other. Remember, failure is simply learning what may work the next time.
3. HEALTH
Without health, we have donuts.
If we don’t have our health, we don’t have anything. It’s important to maintain the basics of eating right, moving regularly, and sleeping soundly. Equally, our mental, emotional, and spiritual health should always come first.
4. TIME & ENERGY
Pausing gives us power.
There are seasons for learning, earning and resting, and we need to acknowledge our own time, energy and rhythms. Bringing a new perspective to how we manage our time will free us from being busy with unnecessary tasks. You can’t have an on season without an off season.
5. ORGANISATION
Decluttering the business declutters our brains.
Business mess is a distraction and a drain on our energy. Systemise and organise everything we don’t need to touch. Co-design workflows that other people can enjoy and follow. Marie Kondo the business.
6. CURIOSITY
Curiosity takes us places.
Never question following our curiosity or spending time learning new things. See the possibilities and find new opportunities in unlikely places. Cross-pollinate concepts, ideas, and industries. This will lead to transformation.
7. LEADERSHIP
Leading ourselves is as important as leading others.
A good leader knows how to lead themselves before they lead anyone else. A good leader steps forward with grace, courage, openness, and vulnerability, allowing others the permission to do the same. Good leadership and good business go hand in hand.
8. COMMUNICATION
Hard chats make us stronger.
While it might be difficult, the kind thing to do is to have the hard conversations. Creating a safe space where we can voice how we feel will move everyone, including the business, forward. Manage our feelings, own our behaviour, communicate with intent.
9. INTUITION
If it feels right, it is.
The more in tune we are with our gut instinct the less we need to rely on external sources of validation or measures of success. Deep down we have the answer, all we need to do is find it. Trust that everything is working out as it should be.
10. CONNECTION
Our people are our secret sauce.
Building a business truly does take a village. Find the people that understand our mission and purpose - those are our people. Skills can be taught but a good attitude cannot. Remember, a fast way to feel lonely is to be self-sufficient.