No 2 & Loo: BIG Lesson On Self-belief.

Humble and grateful to see this memory from 7 years ago. My little self, just having started Natalka Design invited to visualise key takeaways from Prime Minister's (David Cameron then) speech at 10 Downing Street + met Richard Branson and Prince William on the same day. This day made me feel like the world is my oyster and anything is possible. I couldn't believe I was going to be in one room with such important people.

I remember being very nervous about being still quite new to graphic recording and stepping into the most known house in UK to deliver something in real time that needs to look well and make an impact. My mum sow me a huge black tube for my big paper as I always carried it with me in case my old overheating tablet fails me. Little did I know that the security would stop me and properly search through as it looked dodgy, like I'm entering all armed! (they couldn't grasp why I'm bringing a huge tube of paper with me).

On reflection my mum gave me the biggest equality and confidence lesson through the most random comment that's stayed with me until now. I remember calling her before entering the building saying how much I'm nervous and what if I fail or not fit in (bare in mind it was a room full of powerful high profile people, which I've never been exposed to before, having just started the business year ago, coming from a different country, English not being my 1st language, being a woman, not knowing anyone there, I can go on and on:) she said: 'Natalia, if you're stressed, just remember that even the Prime Minister needs to go to the loo in the morning and do Nr 2 just like everyone else. Imagine that, take a big breath, chest up, give a big smile and know you're worth to be there, you have a rare skill and you are adding value to that moment.'

I was like: whaaat? mum??! Who says that, right? But it weirdly was the BEST piece of advice I could ever get on self confidence and belief in myself and it stayed with me till this day. It thought me: to value and believe in myself more, that we're all equal wether you are a student who is just starting or The Prime Minister of UK, we all add value, our voices are equally important and if someone doesn't value you just because they are more rich or 'important' then well, that's their problem. I quickly learned that all that it matters is: are you a nice and kind person? Do you respect others? I'm not interested in your status, money or power. 'Are you nice and kind' is so much more important than anything else.

The moral of the story is: believe in yourself, you can do this, be kind, we're all equal, respect others' voice. Be nice, show your passion, work hard and people will see it and value it.

Have a beautiful weekend you lovely lot! Hope this random thought stream was a positive read to your day. And yep, you may from now on visualise some people on a loo that's ok - becomes normal after a while...thanks mum.