'I Followed My Passion'

Ruby Licciardi, mum and founder/designer, swimwear label LunarSand

Crisis point:

I had spoken and fantasised about launching a swimwear label for years – over wine. In 2014 I spent some time assessing my life and the stage I was at both personally and professionally. I needed to define what truly makes me happy and I came to the conclusion that I didn’t feel I had fully explored or found my calling in terms of a truly inspiring and fulfilling career path. I had always dreamt about doing this as a job, but I guess I had needed to build up confidence in my ability to go out on my own. With the support of my husband Asher, I was able to build up this confidence. Once I made the commitment aloud, it was easier to knuckle down and pursue it.

Core fear:

I guess my biggest fear about starting the business was of failure. I feared that I wouldn’t be able to make the business succeed.

Courage cue:

The experience has been so incredibly liberating. If anything I have proven that I am far more capable then I ever thought I would be. I think you also realise that although fear of failure is very real in your own mind it is completely based on your own beliefs, not what other people think of you. And if you concentrate on championing and motivating yourself, you can move through this fear and surprise yourself.