Chapter 4 Chapitre 4

Lara would never have believed that a conference could change so many things in her life. It was a rainy Thursday morning, the kind of day when everything seems heavier, more difficult. She went to the event without much conviction, almost out of obligation. Daniel had insisted, saying that it was essential for her to get out of her comfort zone, to meet people, to be inspired. And then, entrepreneurship was one of those paths she had never explored before.

So why not? She had signed up for a conference on leadership, hoping that she would come away a little more enlightened, but without expecting any real revelation.

The room was huge, filled with people from all walks of life. Young, ambitious start-upers, seasoned executives, investors in suits and ties, all there to listen to the speakers who were going to share their experience. Lara sat at the back, as usual, trying to blend in with the crowd, without being too noticed. But as soon as the first speaker took the stage, she felt something change inside her. The topic of the conference was about authentic leadership. A word she had heard hundreds of times, but which seemed to take on a new meaning at that precise moment.

The speaker, a charismatic man with a simple but imposing demeanor, spoke of the importance of staying true to yourself in a world where the expectations of others always seemed to come first. He explained that leadership wasn't about leading others, but about having the courage to follow your convictions, to stand up even when you were afraid, to take risks to make a difference. Lara listened, captivated, each word resonating deeply within her. She found herself taking notes, her thoughts racing as she finally saw a clear direction. It was a path she hadn't considered before, but it seemed to be exactly what she needed.

What struck her was how these leaders had managed to remain themselves while being surrounded by people who believed in their vision. They weren't superheroes or geniuses, they were human beings, with weaknesses and doubts, but who had had the courage to take the plunge despite everything. A shiver ran through Lara. For the first time in a long time, she felt inspired, full of this vague and powerful feeling that she could do it too. Maybe not right away, but the idea was germinating, slowly, in her mind.

The rest of the day was just a series of moments where she let herself be carried away by the collective energy, where she listened to testimonies that spoke to her deeply. But deep down, something had changed. Lara was no longer just an employee in a large company. She was beginning to seriously consider the idea of becoming the head of her own company, of creating something new, of implementing her own ideas. One idea, in particular, began to take shape in her mind. She had always been passionate about emerging technologies, about the impact they could have on people's lives. Why not combine her passion for innovation with her desire to make a difference? But she also knew that such an ambition was not without risks. There were obstacles, possible failures. People who would judge her. She felt ready to take on the challenge, but her thoughts were tainted with doubts.

The following days were marked by ups and downs. Lara returned home every evening, her head full of new ideas, but also of uncertainties. The weight of the decision that awaited her seemed heavier and heavier. The idea of launching her own start-up terrified her. She knew that she did not yet have all the necessary skills. She had no experience in entrepreneurship, and there was always this little voice that whispered to her that she was not cut out for this, that she was not strong enough, ready enough. The fear of failure sometimes paralyzed her. What would happen if she failed? She had left everything to come to New York, and the idea of losing everything again made her shudder. But every evening, deep inside her, there was a little voice that pushed her to move forward. The same voice that had told her to leave her ex-husband, to go towards the unknown. She had nothing to lose. And, at the same time, she had everything to gain.

The first few weeks after the conference were marked by trial and error. Lara threw herself into research. She trained herself on everything she could learn about starting a business, administrative procedures, financing. She learned to define a vision, to understand the market, to identify her competitors. But at each stage, the doubts returned. Why her? Why would her idea be better than someone else's? She had researched the market, but every time she compared herself to others, she felt small. Thousands of people surely had the same idea as her, or even better, more elaborate ideas. Why would anyone invest in her project?

Then the first criticisms came, and with them, a turning point in her journey. At a meeting with a potential investor, Lara presented her idea. It was the first time she had presented it to someone outside her immediate circle. The investor, a man with extensive experience in the technology field, listened patiently, then shook his head.

- I don't see the potential here. There are already too many similar projects. This market is saturated, and you don't have the experience to make a name for yourself.

His words echoed in Lara's mind. She went home that night, depressed, demoralized. Doubt washed over her. Maybe he was right. Maybe his idea was just an illusion. Maybe she wasn't cut out for this kind of project after all. The criticism was cruel, but it was also honest, and Lara knew it was an inevitable part of the process. If she was truly going to succeed, she had to be able to face these obstacles. But that night, fatigue, doubt, and the weight of the criticism washed over her. She lay back on her couch, closing her eyes, trying to find peace, to let the storm in her head calm down.

The next morning, she woke up with a strange feeling. She wasn't ready to give up. She hadn't fought enough yet. There was something inside her, a determination she couldn't explain, but that pushed her to get back up. She had taken her first blows, she had received criticism, but it didn't define her. This wasn't the end, it was the beginning.

With new courage, Lara took up her project again. She began to adjust her idea, to refine her approach. She was not going to let herself be defined by her doubts, by the voices of others. She was going to prove, to herself above all, that she was capable of overcoming adversity. The path would not be easy, but it was no longer the fear of failure that motivated her. It was the will to go all the way, to try, to give herself a chance. And, little by little, this conviction began to transform into action. Lara was no longer simply a woman who dreamed of success. She was becoming a fighter.