The million-dollar question every entrepreneur gets

So, you want to know what it feels like to be an entrepreneur.

First and Foremost, I was ridiculed for launching Unmute in the middle of the pandemic.

But I was determined in my mission of creating the workforce of the future - a future where everyone is seen and heard!

Am I facing setbacks? Am I being discriminated against because I am a woman? 1000%.

Is it easy? HELL NO. But I am confident, now more than ever, that my work is so needed.

So, what’s it like when the grind kicks in? That’s the question most people are truly interested in. Let me tell you the honest truth.

It's been six months and counting. And I knew the “honeymoon stage” would be bliss. But will I be left with blisters? Only time will tell.

Here’s what I do know:

?My values are my organizational chart now. I used to ponder my career chart and wonder how high I'd get despite my obvious differences: being an immigrant, being a woman, being a woman of colour. It was a constant game of comparing myself to others. Now I compare myself only with who I was yesterday. The goal is to always be a better version of myself.

?Working on what matters, matters. Whether I'm designing the next leadership program, working on the next big idea, writing, speaking, facilitating, teaching - I feel alive. The corporate chain of command has been replaced by a thread of command, a thread running through my life that commands happiness. It all comes down to the form of meaningful work and the impact I’m creating in building the next generation of thought leaders and workplaces that works for everyone.

?My glass ceiling is based on seeing possibilities, not promotions. I no longer wait to see how I'm stacking up compared to others. What my boss thinks of me no longer defines me. Living up to others' standards has been permanently replaced by living up to my own.

?Unlearning and growth are no longer distant, they're constant. On most days, I don’t have all the answers. I am unlearning more than I am learning. This has been a game-changer for me. I am dropping all the baggage that I have inherited from my parents and society. I’ve never felt more free and liberated. I've embraced the concept of constant challenge.

?Next month and or even next year's revenue is always unknown and it's thrilling. As an entrepreneur, you're constantly hunting, gathering, and most days coming home with no-kill. My back is against the wall. You win some, you lose some. However, between comfort or courage, I'll take the latter.

?Everything has led up to what I'm doing now. I harbour no malice toward my corporate days even the days when I was made to feel small, unseen, and passed over for opportunities. It gave me everything I have today. There were times when I didn't see the point. I see it now though. It was all in preparation for what I'm supposed to be doing. I see now that all roads pointed to the one I'm on today. Sometimes, life waits to turn on the GPS. I wish I had Unmute growing up, I am so glad I am here to be the catalyst for others.

If you're considering the path to becoming an entrepreneur, I hope my personal realizations and lessons help you consider the potential. So, thank you to everyone who believes in the mission of Unmute and what we hope to accomplish in the months to come!

Follow along our journey and help us reimagine the workforce of the future.

The million-dollar question – is it challenging being an entrepreneur? You bet!

Is it worth it? Definitely.

Priyanka Mehandiratta

Founder and CEO, Unmute

https://www.unmuteyourself.ca/