
Ditch the Flooberries: the bold mindset for founders ready to lead with authenticity
In a world obsessed with opinions, expectations, and playing it safe, a new breed of entrepreneurs and startup founders is emerging. These bold individuals are rejecting the status quo, cranking up their confidence, and embracing a mindset that I like to call the “Flying Flooberry” philosophy. It’s all about not giving a single fluffy, sparkly, cheese-filled care about other people’s judgments. And trust me, this attitude is a total game-changer.
Bold doesn’t mean brash
Let’s clear something up: being bold doesn’t mean being brash. It’s not about bulldozing your way through life and business with a lack of empathy or integrity. True boldness is about unapologetically showing up as your most alive, aligned, and audacious self – full of spirit, sass, and that unique "special sauce" that makes you, well, YOU.
It’s the kind of energy that doesn’t ask for permission and definitely doesn’t apologise for being different.
Your full self is your biggest asset
When it comes to building a business you love, embracing your full, authentic self is your biggest asset. The energy you bring when you’re unapologetically yourself is magnetic. So stop playing small. It’s time to lean into the power of being exactly who you are.
What is a Flooberry?
You may be wondering: what on earth is a “Flooberry”? It’s a made-up term by me, it captures all the external and internalised opinions you’ve absorbed throughout your life. These opinions, or “flooberries,” show up in many ways – whether it’s about your brand, your appearance, your voice, or your dreams.
Flooberries are the expectations you didn’t ask for but somehow began designing your life around. They show up when you second-guess yourself, shrink to fit into a mould that was never meant for you, or delay something amazing because you're worried someone won’t “get it.”
And… most of the people you’re adjusting yourself for? You don’t even know them. Wild, right? That’s the realisation that hit me when I was about to launch a business that looked perfect on paper but didn’t feel like ME. This led to the “flooberry” epiphany and a complete brand rebirth.
Shifting from survival mode to success mode
When you stop handing out your power in the form of “flooberries,” your energy shifts. You stop existing in survival mode and enter success mode. You stop performing and start creating. You stop fearing judgment and begin leading with confidence, clarity, and contagious sparkle.
Embrace S.A.S for your sassy authentic self
Embody your S.A.S aka Self Awareness Startegy in order to embrace your full sassy authentic self, this is a mindset shift that happens when you stop living in fear of other people’s opinions and start leading with purpose. And it begins the moment you decide to stop giving a flying ‘flooberry’.
The thing is.... You are so much more POWERFUL than you think.
Real magic happens when you blend the glitter with the grit, the pink with the purple, and give yourself the permission slip to go all in on being you.
Self-awareness is everything. But self-awareness without self-acceptance? That’s just a fancy form of self-sabotage.
Stop waiting for someone else’s approval or validation. You are not required to shrink to make others feel comfortable with your shine. If anyone can’t handle your light, it’s not your job to dim it for them. Hand them some sunglasses and keep shining!
This is your call to action: Dust off your sass and sparkle, catch those “flooberries,” and throw them back with a blast of glitter and joy.
Because those who dare to throw out the rulebook and dance like no one’s watching? They don’t just survive in business – they thrive and WIN.
For more startup news, check out the other articles on the website, and subscribe to the magazine for free. Listen to The Cereal Entrepreneur podcast for more interviews with entrepreneurs and big-hitters in the startup ecosystem.