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Key Takeaways:
- Recognize and celebrate your own achievements: Lydia emphasizes the importance of self-celebration and recognizing your growth.
- Surround yourself with supportive people: The right environment and community can drastically impact your success and mental health.
- Align your personal and professional goals: Success is not just about monetary gain; it’s also about personal happiness and fulfillment.
Finding Strength in Self-Celebration
During her appearance on the Rebel CEO podcast, Lydia Swedberg shared deep insights into her journey as a young entrepreneur. She began her photography career at 12 and started her own brand by 15, skipping the traditional route of college to pursue her dreams full-time. Lydia’s story is a powerful testament to the importance of recognizing and celebrating one’s own achievements, especially when others may not fully understand or support your path.
“If they’re cheering for me, like, girl, stand up, you gotta cheer for yourself too,” Lydia passionately states at the outset, encapsulating the essence of self-celebration and self-recognition. Lydia’s journey reveals that sometimes the most essential validation comes from within. She notes, “I feel so fortunate and I’m in such a happy and healthy place,” emphasizing the importance of mental health and personal fulfillment alongside professional success.
Self-celebration isn’t just about recognizing successes but also acknowledging efforts and progress along the journey. Lydia’s story serves as a reminder that self-recognition can be a driving force, helping us stay motivated and aligned with our larger goals. Moreover, this mindset cultivates resilience, which is critical in the face of challenges and setbacks that any entrepreneur will inevitably encounter.
The Power of Supportive Environments
One of the most compelling elements of Lydia’s story is her emphasis on the environment and community. Growing up in a small town, Lydia faced skepticism and doubt from peers and even teachers when she decided to forgo the traditional college route. “Starting at twelve and shooting weddings by 15 meant that I was going to grow through crucial stages of life and my business was going to grow with me,” she reflects. Despite the negativity she faced, Lydia was determined to surround herself with supportive people who celebrated her passions.
“Ever since I have put myself in Minneapolis and surrounded myself with people that ride for me, I have learned so much about riding for myself,” she shares. The importance of a supportive environment cannot be overstated. Lydia’s move to Minneapolis not only opened up new business opportunities but also placed her in a community that respected and encouraged her work. This supportive backdrop allowed Lydia’s business to flourish and her self-belief to strengthen.
The notion that “you are the sum of the five people you spend the most time with” holds true in Lydia’s experience. By choosing to be around positive influences, she nourished her own creative spirit and professional aspirations. For entrepreneurs, finding or creating such an environment is not just beneficial but essential. It provides a safety net of encouragement and a buffer against the inevitable hardships that come with building a business.
Blending Personal and Professional Success
Lydia’s journey reveals a profound understanding of the interconnections between personal and professional success. “Success is not always going to show up in all the ways that I believe that it would,” she muses, underscoring the multifaceted nature of achievements. Lydia emphasizes that there are other metrics of success beyond financial gain, such as personal well-being and the quality of relationships.
“I treat my business as if it’s myself. I am my brand,” she states, highlighting the deep personal investment she has in her work. Lydia’s approach is holistic; she balances her business pursuits with her mental and emotional well-being. This alignment ensures that her professional endeavors enhance rather than detract from her overall quality of life. “My job is my life, and that’s not a bad thing because I treat it well,” she asserts, offering an antidote to the often toxic hustle culture.
Lydia also speaks to the value of self-love and respect in business. “Being kind to your boss, you, and being kind to your business, yours, all good things just start with a little bit of love,” she advises. For Lydia, success lies in the coherence between her personal values and her professional mission. This alignment not only provides a sense of authenticity to her work but also helps her sustain long-term motivation and satisfaction.
Lydia Swedberg’s journey as a young, self-made entrepreneur offers invaluable lessons in self-celebration, the impact of supportive environments, and the importance of aligning personal and professional goals. Her experiences demonstrate that believing in oneself, even when others do not, can lead to unprecedented levels of achievement and fulfillment. Lydia’s story is not just about finding success in business but about understanding and nurturing oneself along the journey, ensuring that both personal happiness and professional achievements walk hand in hand.
Notable Quotes:
- “If they’re cheering for me, like, girl, stand up, you gotta cheer for yourself too.” – Lydia Swedberg
- “I knew that my favorite cheerleader is myself because she’s the only one who truly gets it.” – Lydia Swedberg
- “You realize so much quicker that you’re living your dreams when you don’t have people behind you telling you that you aren’t.” – Lydia Swedberg
- “You cannot heal in the environment you got sick in.” – Lydia Swedberg
- “Being your own boss and your own coworkers and your own employee is a very lonely thing.” – Lydia Swedberg
Resources:
Dive into this episode to be inspired by Lydia Swedberg’s journey of resilience, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit. Listen now and join the conversation on how to achieve your dreams while staying true to yourself. Stay tuned for more insightful episodes of the Rebel CEO podcast!
About the Guest:
Lydia Swedberg is a talented cinematic photographer based in the Midwest. She started her couple’s photography journey at the age of 13 and shot her first wedding at the age of 15. Skipping the traditional college path, Lydia turned her passion into a full-time career right out of high school. She is known for her stunning couple photography and her remarkable ability to infuse her work with genuine emotion and artistic vision. Today, Lydia is celebrated not only for her photography but also for her inspiring entrepreneurial journey and her strong social media presence.
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