Imagine this: you’ve just been invited to speak in front of 500 people. Hold on a second. What rush of emotions do you feel? Excitement? Pressure? Every time I was invited to speak—despite my growing experience and confidence—these thoughts would rush through my mind in an instant: First, there was that thrill of excitement, quickly followed by the weight of responsibility and the familiar flutter of nerves (which, by the way, never really disappears—and that’s perfectly fine!). Then came the moment of self-reflection: How do I feel about myself? What impression do I want to leave? What’s the right dress code? How should I style my hair? What makeup will…

“This will never be beautiful.” “This is too difficult.” “People won’t understand it.” “You can’t possibly open a store with so few items.” I’ve heard it all—and more. I remember each comment vividly, and the voices behind them still echo in my mind. I won’t pretend those words didn’t affect me. They stung, they created doubt, and led to countless sleepless nights. Let’s be honest, sleepless nights are part of the journey of an entrepreneur—especially when you’re building something new from scratch. But after every long night, after each wave of uncertainty, I got up, adjusted my crown, covered the dark circles beneath my eyes, and smiled. Because despite the…