Tattoos, Judgment, and Building Your Own Damn Table

Dear Woman Entrepreneurs Who Don’t Fit the Corporate Mold,

Let me tell you a story. Stick with me until the end…

I promise you it will be worth it.

Are you ready?

Here we go:

I was recently having a conversation with another woman in business (who I thought was a friend to me), and she said she wouldn’t feel comfortable referring anyone to me because… I have tattoos.

Tattoos.

So, naturally, I responded:

“My tattoos aren’t even that big. You must bleed internally and die slowly every time you see someone with a sleeve.

Also,

Help me understand how you wouldn’t refer anyone to me because I have tattoos (even though I’ve done work for you for FREE), but you consistently refer people to a woman who, if you sneezed and closed your eyes for a split second, would fuck your husband and then smile at you on the way to the bathroom when she visits you at your home for the 🙃first🙃 time.”

She didn’t like my response. But she knew exactly who I was talking about.

Now, her referral habits (and her husband’s poor choices) aren’t the point of this story.

The point is this:

As a business owner, there will always be doors that are closed to you because of who you are, what you do, or what you don’t have. That’s just the reality of the game.

But here’s the thing:

Those doors aren’t your doors.

And the people behind them? They’re not your clients.

There will always be spaces where you don’t belong—and that’s okay. Your energy, your talent, and your time aren’t meant for everyone.

When you’re deciding how to present yourself to the world, keep this in mind:

Your Refinement is personal.

If there are things about yourself you want to grow or change, do it for you. Not because someone else said, “You’d make more money if you were like this.”

The right clients, your people, will be drawn to the real you. Not the version of yourself that others pressure you to be.

When you try to attract clients by being someone you’re not, two things happen:

1. You’ll burn yourself out trying to maintain the façade.

2. You’ll attract the wrong clients who drain your energy, not replenish it.

And that’s not a sustainable way to run a business.

Don’t chase approval from people who were never going to let you sit at their table. Their judgment isn’t a reflection of your value; it’s a reflection of their need to control who gets access to what.

You are enough.

Who you are right now—tattoos and all—is more than enough to build something extraordinary.

And here’s the thing about being an entrepreneur:

You’re not a one-trick pony.

If one business hits an income ceiling because you refuse to shrink yourself into their box, fine. You can take your knowledge, your skills, your network, and your grit—and build something else.

There’s no rule that says your wealth has to come from one business, one industry, or one audience.

You’re capable of creating new opportunities, new income streams, and a legacy that feels good to you.

So, if you’re on a journey of refinement, that’s beautiful. But don’t forget this:

Who you are right now is also beautiful.

And anyone who has a problem with that?

Well, they can kick rocks.

Barefoot.

In the Sahara.

Wearing a chinchilla coat and latex gloves.

They were never going to cheer for you anyway.

Their judgment is not your business.

Your business is being YOU.

Unapologetically. Boldly. Fully.

Because you are enough.

🥃❤️🥃