As a teenager, I hated myself. I was depressed, insecure, and had zero confidence.
I strongly believe you can only reach a certain level of success once you’ve hit rock bottom. You know what it feels like when things are at their absolute worst.
But that’s exactly what happened.
Recently, an old friend sent me a photo of me at 15. Looking at it now, I think I actually looked fine—but at the time, it was the worst year of my life. Heartbroken, insecure, crippled by self-doubt.
Since I’d deleted all the pictures from that year, seeing this one triggered a massive reflection on everything I’ve achieved since then.
This photo reminded me that your reality is your reality. It’s not grounded in some universal truth, it’s shaped by what you perceive. And the beautiful thing? You get to shape it. You can let it limit you, or you can transform it into something beautiful that serves you.
The idea that I’d one day negotiate a £10k pay rise at my 9-5, land brand deals with neobanks like Monzo and trading platforms like Trading 212, gifting from YSL, and get paid a full-time wage simply for being myself? Unthinkable back then.
So what changed in 9 years?
Was it just “growing up”? Or was it something else entirely?
The truth is, there were very clear steps I took to get out of that dark hole and into the life I’m living now—a version of success many 20-somethings dream of (I know how big-headed that sounds - sorry).
The key? Becoming my authentic self.
I know that phrase gets thrown around a lot in the self-help world, but here’s what it actually means to me: living on your own terms, doing what you truly want, and expressing yourself without inhibition.
Steps I Took
1️⃣ Broke Out of People-Pleasing Jail
The first step was realising that no matter what I did, there would always be people who didn’t like me. People-pleasing tendencies are guaranteed to hold you back financially and personally.
It signals:
Your comfort and happiness > my own
For a while, I banked on compliments like “you’re too nice, Mia” as humility points—a classic British trait. But tiptoeing around other people’s feelings kept me small and stopped me from advocating for myself. Once I started putting myself first, opportunities—and pay—started following.
2️⃣ Knowing My Worth
Even at 22 or 23, I didn’t fully know my worth. And when you don’t set your own rates or value, others will decide it for you—and you’ll get lowballed left, right, and centre.
Once I claimed my worth, negotiated confidently, and refused to settle, my financial trajectory changed dramatically.
3️⃣ Expanding My Consciousness
This means opening my mind to new possibilities:
Reading books not to memorise every detail, but to spark new ways of thinking.
Shifting from consuming to creating—constant scrolling lets distractions hijack your mind.
Learning from successful people like Dan Koe, Ali Abdaal, and Nischa, who show that achieving big goals is possible.
The more I expanded my thinking, the more I realised the possibilities were endless. How could I know what was ‘authentic’ to me if I didn’t figure out what I loved, what I could obsess over?
4️⃣ Knowing What You Want
When I had no clue what I wanted, life decided for me. I followed passive, “natural progression” paths that felt safe—but suffocating.
The moment I got crystal clear on my goals—financial freedom, creative freedom, and building wealth young—my actions aligned. Focus created direction. Direction created momentum.
5️⃣ Becoming selfish (in the right way)
Instead of pouring all that obsession into other people. I stopped comparing myself to others on social media, stopped stalking people or keeping tabs on people from the past. Focusing on myself became an obsession but in the best way possible.
Content creation was the outlet that allowed me to express my creativity and authenticity and actually get paid to do it - basically getting paid to be myself.
If you’re in a dark place right now, here’s what I want you to take away: your current reality isn’t permanent. It’s just a reflection of your mindset, choices, and the story you’re telling yourself. And the best part? You get to rewrite it.
Success isn’t built overnight. It’s built in the small, consistent steps you take when nobody’s watching—the moments you decide to choose yourself, even when it feels impossible.
Today, yes—I’ve got £100k invested, 200k followers, and opportunities that younger me could never have dreamed of. But the real win isn’t the money or the milestones. The real win is looking in the mirror and finally being proud of who I am.
If I could go from self-hate to self-made, you can too.
YouTube
That’s all from me,
Mia xx