For one mother, the journey into entrepreneurship and activism began unexpectedly with a simple greeting card. When her seven-year-old daughter was struggling with her self-esteem and disliked her natural hair—which she felt was growing out rather than down, as she wished—her mother went searching for a card that could subtly reinforce her self-worth. She hoped to find a card featuring a brown-skinned princess but quickly realized there was a complete absence of representative, multicultural options in the stores.
This absence triggered an epiphany: instead of discarding the thought, she embraced the idea of addressing the gap herself. This decision launched an entire entrepreneurial journey, demonstrating the power of doing something driven by deep personal meaning.
Colorblind Cards and the Power of Representation
The resulting company, Colorblind Cards, became the first independent publisher to successfully secure a presence for black and multicultural cards on the British high street. This achievement won numerous awards, led to international distribution in America and South Africa, and, crucially, played a significant early role in driving the conversation around why representation, diversity, and inclusion are essential in retail. The founder expresses immense pride in this contribution to shifting the cultural landscape of the high street.
Life Lessons from an Entrepreneur
The founder shares several personal practices and beliefs that underpin her success and well-being:
Morning Journaling for Centering: Every morning, she practices stream-of-consciousness writing, allowing her thoughts to flow onto the page before starting her day. This provides an opportunity to check in with herself, process emotions (whether it’s ideas or just being tired), and by the end of three pages, she feels centered and ready to approach the day with self-awareness.
Embracing Your Unique Perspective: A core belief is the importance of stopping apologies. It can be difficult to resist societal pressure dictating how one should look or behave, but what one truly has to offer is their unique point of difference—who they are. Her background, including growing up on a council estate and being aware of the challenges faced by people of color and lower socioeconomic backgrounds, has contributed to her unique perspective and experience of the world, and she is proud of it.
Getting Off the Treadmill: A period of professional life was put into stark perspective when her father was diagnosed with terminal cancer. This drove home the importance of sometimes getting off the treadmill of constant work. She now prioritizes self-care by scheduling "dates with herself"—two-hour periods with no phones or distractions—to simply be present and self-aware. While she remains ambitious, that ambition is now driven by something much healthier and more sustainable.
The story of Colorblind Cards is a powerful testament to how a personal search for meaning and representation can lead to significant cultural change and a healthier, more fulfilled life.
Posting Komentar