Don’t Diminish Yourself – Dare to Be Many Things
We humans have a strange tendency to put things into boxes. Not only other people – but ourselves as well.
We draw boundaries around what we can be. We decide far too early what “belongs” to us and what does not. And often, without even noticing it, we diminish ourselves.
But what if we didn’t?
When Everything Was Still Possible
Recently, I found the diary of seven-year-old Mirja. In it, I had written down what I wanted to become when I grew up: a poet, a writer, a track-and-field athlete, a ballet dancer, a figure skater, a visual artist, and an actress. I didn’t consider any of these dreams impossible. Quite the opposite – they all felt completely achievable.
At what point do we lose that way of thinking? When do we start believing that we must choose only one version of ourselves? I wish we adults could hold on to that same childlike faith in possibilities.
“What Will I Be When I Grow Up?”
In high school, I encountered for the first time the idea that I now had to choose. It felt overwhelming. By choosing one path, I would be closing many doors. Actress, architect, or interior architect? In the end, I chose to study communications. I thought that as a journalist, I could remain curious about everything and keep my options open. But life had plans of its own.
The Path I Never Planned
During my studies, I ended up writing my master’s thesis for ABB. That led to a call from Citec (now Cyient) and a job that was supposed to be just a temporary stepping stone. That short “stepping stone” eventually became 16 years.
I had the opportunity to be part of the company’s growth and international expansion from a small local business into a large international company. Most importantly, I learned something about myself: developing and growing businesses is what truly excites me. I no longer dreamed of becoming a journalist, I had discovered something else.
Then I was headhunted into my first startup as CEO. The following decade-plus was spent as CEO of three different startups. I founded companies, acquired businesses, sold a company, and started over many times – in different industries, under different circumstances, and sometimes completely from scratch.
You Don’t Need to Know Everything
One of the most important lessons I have learned is that a leader cannot and does not need to know everything. What matters is finding the right people, giving them room to grow, and building a team that is greater than the sum of its parts.
And above all, you must know how to trust. When you trust others in addition to yourself, the result is always greater.
Don’t Limit Others – Just as You Shouldn’t Limit Yourself
Too often, we keep people trapped in roles where they are considered “irreplaceable.” But no one is irreplaceable, at least not in a single role. Sometimes the greatest act of leadership is recognizing someone’s potential, encouraging them to move forward, and giving them wings to fly, allowing them to shine somewhere else.
Me Today: Many Things at Once
A child’s confidence is a strength that can be rediscovered in adulthood.
Today, I am almost like that seven-year-old Mirja again. I lead a company in a traditional industry, a business that has been operating for more than 35 years. I bring a culture of experimentation and fresh perspectives into it. But I am no longer just one Mirja. I dare to be many different Mirjas at the same time.
I am a strong and empathetic leader. I am a loving mother. I am a loyal friend. I am a fearless world traveler and a meditating free spirit. Most days I carry a gym bag on my shoulder, and sometimes that gym bag is replaced by an evening purse.
I also serve on company boards and run my own business. I buy apartments, plan renovations, create value (with Excel spreadsheets – but also with intuition and passion), rent properties, and sell them.
Through my own company, I get to express my creativity in a different way while simultaneously building financial security.
I also invest in asset classes beyond real estate and encourage others to take care of their own financial wellbeing, among other things through my Instagram account, @closethegaplikemirja. Not everyone needs to strive for financial freedom, but I encourage everyone to aim for at least financial independence.
Even today, too many women are not financially independent. Financial independence provides freedom of choice and security. It gives you the opportunity to be many things—or even take the leap into entrepreneurship without fearing that you will be left without a safety net.
Remember This
You are not just one thing.
You are not one choice.
You are not one career.
You can be many things at different times and even simultaneously. Don’t make yourself smaller for the sake of the world.
The world can handle you becoming a little bigger.
Mirja Palola
CEO of Bobi.com Oy – and many other versions of Mirja