We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Monique Van. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Monique below.
Hi Monique , we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?
My confidence and self-esteem started at a really young age. My parents played a huge role in how I carry myself. Simple phrases from my parents like, “You make the clothes, they don’t make you”, “BAP ( Beautiful African Princess), or “You are blessed beyond belief and can do anything you set your mind to”, were game changers for me. My parents always have my best intrest at heart and I knew what they were telling me was true. It is so easy to look at other people and doubt yourself. We live in a world where everything is broadcast on social media for everyone to see. So many, including myself, fall victim to comparing ourselves to what we see on social media. Anytime I start to feel insecure, I remember the things my parents told me growing up and it brings me back to reality. Everyday I wake up and I tell myself I am strong and confident and can do anything I set my mind to. True confidence is shown through the good and bad times in life. No matter if everything is going right or wrong, it is important to still believe in yourself and create a space for confidence to live within you. Easier said than done of course, but confidence is like a muscle, the more you work it the stronger it will be
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
My life has been a whirlwind over the last few years! Growing up I always wanted to go into the medical field. I wanted to be a pediatrician or a physician assist. After graduating college I quickly learned this was not the field for me and I needed to switch gears. At the time, it felt like an early life crisis. I am someone who plans out everything and does everything Inset out to do. I felt lost and like I had no direction. I decided to go back to school to get my masters degree and now I work for the government as a federal agent.
Work life balance is very challenging. I am very family oriented and love to spend time with my family. Over the last three years I have missed birthdays, Christmas, Thanksgiving, sporting events, etc due to my demanding schedule. It’s really hard not being around for these events, but my family has made such a great effort to work with me and my schedule to help make it easier to see each other.
My demanding schedule also makes it difficult trying to run my business Fierce Competitor. Fierce Competitor is a fashion fitness athletic brand for people of all walks of life. We specialize in performance gear, and athleisure wear. Fierce Competitor is truly a family owned business. I would not be able to do it without the help of my family. I run the day to day, my dad processes the orders, does the screen printing, and shipping/handling, and my mom and younger brother help with marketing/social media.
It is hard to have a full time job and still try to run a business, spend time with family, my boyfriend, friends, keep up the household, and take care of myself. I would be lying if I said it was easy to manage. Thankfully my support system is amazing and I wouldn’t be able to do anything without them.
I am excited this year to bring more awareness to my brand. I am very passionate about my business and I want everyone who wears my clothes to feel empowered and confident. Confidence and inner strength are the backbone of what my brand is built on. Fierce Competitor is so much more than apparel. There is a purpose and message behind the brand. I will be putting out new collections and items throughout 2023 I am excited to share with everyone.
Upcoming we have our Black History Month collection that will be out starting February 2023, Spring Firness Challenge in March 2023, & our High School Scholarship that will be open from July 1st-August 1st. All details will be on our website.
2023 I am looking forward to success in all aspects of my life, personal and professional. I hope to bring readers along on my journey..
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Work ethic, determination, and personable. Work ethic is so important because this is how you are going to get things done. You can’t be successful with poor work ethic. You can have for 15 minutes of fame, but without a good work ethic, you won’t be able to achieve consistent success or longevity.
Determination is important because this is what drives you to be successful. This is the reason and the backbone behind why you do what you do. This is what wakes you up everyday with a mindset to get stuff done.
Lastly, being personable will take you to new heights. Building relationships with others is key to success. Being able to have conversations with anyone you meet is crucial to building a network and gaining friendships. When people want to be around you just because of your charisma that will pay dividends in your personal and professional success. Don’t burn any bridges by being unpleasant.
My main advice is to never give up. When you truly believe in what you’re doing, that is what is most important. The more you believe, others will too. Even when times get hard and it seems like nothing is going right, that is where faith steps in. Continue to work and be the best version of yourself you can be.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
The most impactful thing my parents did for me growing up was making me earn everything I had and showing me their love and support.
Although my parents could provide the things ai needed growing up, my parents always made a conscious effort to make sure I earned it. Two things come to mind when ai think about my parent impact at a young age. I’m middle school I wanted an iPod so bad. I thought ai could simply ask my parents for one and that would be the end of it. My parents told me no and to figure it out on my own. At that point I had to find strategies and ways to earn money. I started collecting bottles and cans and doing extra chores around the house. I finally earned enough after months to buy the iPod. It was that much more worth it because I earned and worked for it.
Second, I used to get $2 a week for allowance. Although I know getting an allowance at all is a privilege, it made it difficult trying to save up or buy things. I had to leave early on how to handle my finances. What were good decisions, and what was just a “waste of money”. I had a bank account and I would proudly put my $2 in there every week. It has helped me so much in my adult life when it comes to budgeting and staying organized with my finances.
Lastly, my parents have always supported me in everything I did. They showed up to everything I was apart of and never failed to give me a hug or tell
Me they loved me every day. Having that love and support means so much for my inner confidence.
Contact Info:
- Website: Www.fiercecompetitorsports.com
- Instagram: Fierce_competitor
- Facebook: Fierce Competitor Sports
