Keeping A Small Circle of Friends Saved My Life

I Refused to Let the UK Mindset Hold Me Back

I’ve seen a lot of talk lately about how the cost of success is embarrassment, feeling like a weirdo, having your blinkers on, and being alone. And honestly? It’s true. Success often requires you to move differently, think differently, and act differently from those around you. But a lot of people struggle to find success because they’re too afraid of being the only Black woman, the only woman, or the only *insert difference* in the room.

People always ask me what my experience was like working in banking as a Black woman. And honestly? It was great. Everyone remembered me. And if something good was attached to my name, they remembered that too. Now, I’ve reached a place where I’m so comfortable with all my differences that I actually seek out opportunities to stand out. Because being different makes you memorable. And I want to be remembered.

Daniel Priestley mentioned in his interview with Steven Bartlett that people have a limited ability to remember everyone they come across. But if someone has had 7 hours of content, 11 interactions, across 4 platforms of exposure to you, they’re more likely to remember you—especially if you or your content falls into one of these categories: scary, strange, sexy, free, valuable, or familiar.

It’s the little things—like being the only female speaker on a panel full of men, and on top of that, wearing pink. So when people look back, they’ll say ‘the girl who wore the pink dress, she was the only female presenter, how could you forget?’

I was at my friend Hayley’s event this past week, and one of the things we spoke about was how, in the UK, there’s this unspoken rule about not wanting to "do the most" or be seen doing the most. And that mindset holds so many people back. Tall Poppy Syndrome—where people want to cut down anyone who stands out too much—has kept a lot of talented people from stepping into their full potential. But so what? If that’s the cost of success, then let me have it.

I kept a very small circle of friends and rarely went out for socials when I was living in the UK. I’m sure some people had their opinions about it—but who cares? I had to protect my vision and mindset. Instead of spending time trying to fit in, I was studying American creators, watching how they moved, how they thought. I even made a whole video on the women who inspired me—guess where they were from? I needed to see people doing the extraordinary and making it look normal.

And honestly, so much of my life today is a result of being different from the people around me at the time. If being a loner for a season is what it takes to grow, then sign me up for isolation.

So if you’re the only one in the room, if you feel like the odd one out—good. Use it. That’s your advantage. Stop focusing on why it makes you uncomfortable and start thinking about how you can make it work for you.

Update for Property Investors

It’s Here! The UK government has introduced a 5% additional property tax for individuals purchasing their second homes or buy-to-let properties. This initiative aims to discourage investors from acquiring multiple properties, ultimately improving housing availability for first-time buyers—an approach that is both fair and necessary. If you’re planning to invest in property in the UK, be sure to factor this cost into your budget. Use this change as motivation to negotiate the best deals possible. When you receive a valuation report, pay close attention to any issues that may require future work—these findings can serve as leverage for negotiating a lower purchase price. Alternatively, consider investing in property markets where the government is supportive of property investors and multiple homeownership like Dubai. If you’re interested in purchasing property in Dubai, I offer free consultations to discuss your options. Book your session here: calendly.com/d/cqzz-ykv-g6q.

Building Wealth for Women

We’re back with a lineup of powerhouse speakers for another Building Wealth for Women event in Dubai on the 10th May at DIFC in Dubai! Grab your ticket to join us: https://www.professionellenetwork.com/event-list

This week’s topic for the paid community is Who you are behind closed doors, keep scrolling past the links to hear me talk about this topic.

📹 The Latest Episode of Building Wealth with No Borders

🎙️ Listen to the Building Wealth with No Borders podcast

🏠 Interested in Investing In Property In Dubai or the UK? Book a call

calendly.com/d/cqzz-ykv-g6q