The little girl who lived in a world of her own, who solved problems in her own unique way and never quite seemed to fit in with the other children. While others played with dolls, she was running her own bakery selling actual mud cakes in the backyard, and if you did find her playing with dolls, they were Barbies, and more often than not - Barbie was the boss babe of a major business corporations.
I’ve been running or dreaming of running different kinds of businesses for as long as I can remember. My dad was a multi passionate jack of all trades, and as a daddy’s girl I was inspired by his wide range of knowledge. I wouldn’t go as far as to call him an expert on everything, but the fact that he knew at least something about almost anything and was never afraid to learn or try new things inspired me. My mum was a nurse who loved watching shows like” Falcon Crest” and” Dallas” (as I presume most 80s mums did). And even if it was far from age appropriate, she let me stay up and watch it with her from time to time. And watch I did – and dreamed. These women had power, they had empires and real-life Barbie closets – and on top of that amazing homes with big gardens and acres of land where they kept horses. WOW!
But to get there I was told I needed to get a formal classic education, and school and I… lets just say we weren’t exactly a match made in heaven. Looking back, it’s likely I might have had both ADHD and dyslexia, but that’s not something anyone admitted or let alone talked about. Instead, I quickly became ashamed of who I was. But the harder I tried to fit in, the more I felt out of place.
While most kids played kids games, I used the big rocks at the back of the houses we currently lived in as my imaginary bakery – my very first business. After selling all of my treats to mum and dad I decided to expand. At 6 years old I had already been with dad to the restaurant a number of times and knew the ropes quite well. So for my next dream, I was going to open my own restaurant and hire my dad as a chef. I was as convinced as only a child could be that one of our regulars would be none other than the king of Sweden himself. Where else would he find himself a better arctic charr? As the years went by I started to see the connection between business and problems, if I could offer a solution I would have a business with customers. So while there might have been one or two boys’ names sketched across my notebook they were mostly filled with inventions and design ideas on everything from dresses to technology.
If only there had been a grown person to see her potential… For example; a bottle of Nivea Sun lotion SPF beta carotene costs about 70 Swedish crowns – per bottle! – imagen if someone had helped her to obtain a patent for that idea!
Fast forward and this young woman have a multitude of different job experiences on her sheet of references. Like her father she has taken chances to try and learn different things. But no matter how many of the jobs she tried it never felt like a good fit.
It wasn’t until she visited California and heard of Marie Forleo and the word Multipassionate and entrepreneur that it all clicked. That’s what I am! What I’ve been hiding in the shadows under my bed in shame is actually considered as a great strength, to be able to see the picture among the pieces or turning a mess into a working strategy – or even coming up with new businesses. Entrepreneurship and thinking outside the box was in my blood.
As happy as this insight made me, I could not help but feel that I had let so many years and opportunities slip through my fingers…
Was it too late? Or could I still turn my dreams into reality?
