Don’t Assume.

He assumed I wasn’t a founder because I’m a woman.

You know what they say about assumptions:

ASS.U.ME

Let me tell you the whole story…

I saw a post on LinkedIn from a guy organising a founders event in Manchester and asked him for some details. Rather than share them, he just asked, “Are you a founder?”

I was irritated because it’s fairly clear from my profile that I am.

So I responded, passive-aggressively: “Yes, that’s why I asked.”

The story I could have told myself is that he assumed I wasn’t a founder because I’m a woman.

But I didn’t.

I figured the more likely reason was that he assumed I was a recruiter, since the last time we’d spoken was in 2018 when I’d asked him about a role.

He confirmed this at the event. We laughed about it. He was extremely apologetic, said he’d written the message in a rush, and was sincere.

He and a room that was 95% men made me feel at ease, welcomed, and included. I got so much from the event.

My point here isn’t that sexism doesn’t exist.

Sadly, it does, as do a lot of other ‘-isms’. But it’s you who gets to choose how you take and respond to something.

Nobody else is responsible for how you feel. You get to decide which story you tell yourself.

So many people tell me, “I can’t get a remote job because I’m… too old, from the Global South, the market is impossible, I don’t have a degree, or a linear career path, or I’m neurodivergent,” etc. etc.

You name it, I’ve heard the excuse.

Because that’s what it is:

An excuse.

Now, I’m not saying it’s easy. But if you continue to make assumptions and give reasons why you can’t do something, you’ll never achieve it.

I’ve worked with folks aged 21 to 68, across all six continents and all races – from nurses to techies, some with serious conditions, and across the neurodivergent spectrum.

Those who succeed in reaching their goals of finding remote work and living a life of freedom don’t make excuses. Instead, they find a way.

What’s stopping you?

Ready to shift the story and take action? 💻 Book a consultation call and let’s talk about how to find remote work that fits your life.

Stay Rebellious,

Michelle

This week’s article is sponsored by Remotivated. Remotivated helps exceptional remote-first companies turn their culture into a competitive edge. Through their Top Remote Culture certification, they transform employee experiences into powerful social proof that attracts both top talent and loyal customers. The remote revolution already happened, and Remotivated is here to make sure it thrives.