Curtin alumna Iris Smit
Launching a business comes with many challenges, however what I wasn’t prepared for was the toll a rapidly growing business would take on my mental health.
After my appearance on Shark Tank, The Quick Flick grew at a rate that I didn’t predict. With this quick growth came unsustainable working hours, isolating myself from my support networks and a lack of internal trust, given that each challenge was new, and I didn’t have the confidence to back myself and my ability.
More success is not what will make you happy if you haven’t done the internal work.
As the pressure in the business grew, I found it hard to celebrate the wins and truly experience the positives of a growing business, because I wasn’t feeling happy as a human being in general. At this time, I felt numb and emotionless and with that came an internal frustration at myself for not being able to let myself enjoy the high points and success of all my hard work. To combat this, I forced myself to work harder, thinking that the harder I worked, the more I would feel, however this only ever leads to burnout.
There is a real stigma around mental health and it is incredibly important that we eliminate the shame that often acts as a barrier for people seeking professional help. The way I think about it is, people go to a personal trainer to get their body in good shape, so why wouldn’t we do the same for our mental health?
People go to a personal trainer to get their body in good shape, so why wouldn’t we do the same for our mental health?
Seeking professional help gave me tools to implement in my everyday life, that I still use to this day to maintain my mental health. For me, establishing a routine that includes journaling, affirmations and reading self-help content helped me get into a positive and strong headspace.
From this more confident and self-assured headspace it has been easier for me to handle things that I previously found challenging, such as dealing with negative feedback and trolling. Although I don’t recommend people read or engage with negative commentary about themselves, when I do come across it, I can step back and see that it’s not something I need to carry.
Clarity comes from having done, and continuing to do, the internal work.
These days, I am a more resilient, confident person who no longer looks to third parties for approval as I have done the inner work and can seek validation from myself. This has allowed me to be a better business owner, have more confidence in my decisions and know my personal and professional boundaries. This prevents me from burning out and creating a burnout culture in my business. As a result, I am much happier and passionate about what I do, as I do it within the boundaries of what is healthy for me.
It’s important for people to speak up about their experiences.
I think it’s important for people to speak up about their experiences so they can help others who may be experiencing a similar situation. Having shared my story in the past, I have had people reach out to me to share their stories – being a safe space for people to talk to and being an example for others will always be important to me.
If you or someone you know needs help, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 for round-the-clock assistance and support.
Written by
Iris Smit, Founder & CEO of The Quick Flick & Beauty Fridge
Graduating from Curtin with an interior architecture degree in 2017, Iris has since taken the beauty and cosmetics industry by storm with her two rapidly growing brands The Quick Flick and Beauty Fridge. She also recently made the Forbes 30 Under 30 list, named 7News 2020 WA Young Achiever of the Year and EY’s 2019 WA Entrepreneur of the Year.
