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The story of a projector entrepreneur before she found Human Design

You have probably had quite the journey as an entrepreneur (& human) already. Trust me, every entrepreneur has. In this article, I’m sharing a part of my journey as a projector and entrepreneur BEFORE I found Human Design.

I could tell you that Human Design is the key to creating a successful business. But I do not believe in quick fixes. Comparable to most tools, Human Design can be a good indicator of what to look at within yourself and gives you directions for your (business) strategy. It is both empowering and reassuring to understand your design.

 
I love the analogy that you are the captain of your own ship”; the ship being your business🚢.

 

In that analogy, Human Design is like the compass that guides you toward your next destination.
Everything within your design — centers, profile, authority, channels, gates, energy type — acts as anchors ⚓. A place to stop, dive deeper, and explore.

Let us get a bit personal, in this article you’ll read how Human Design basically changed my whole life and business.

✨🌎 Before Human Design found me
Projector - Image of Stephanie before she found Human Design

When I first discovered Human Design, I wanted to run away from it. As you probably, I have been through some storms ⛈️ when it comes to being an entrepreneur. It all started when I got my first actual business invitation. I had no idea about Human Design at the time. I also didn’t know I was a projector and had to wait for the invitation (waiting for the invitation is a vital strategy for projectors).

My former boss invited me to take on more responsibilities in the company he founded. He had the vision to transform the event rental business into a service company with hostesses, bar personnel, etc. He recognized I was a people person; you know, the kind that gets along with anyone and is a real team player.

The only thing was, I just turned 19 that summer and would be hiring team members twice my age AND be their “boss”.
Projector

To compensate, I started to work harder to prove my worth. Work was my only focus, and growing the business was the ultimate goal, no matter what!

Combine that with coming from a long family line of entrepreneurs and a completely open solar plexus, heart, and spleen center, and you have a recipe for disaster. (You’ll discover what all of this means in my free guide about aligning your business with your Human Design. Click here to download the guide.)

✨ The pressure was ON!

In my teenage and young adult years, I lived as a manifesting generator.

  • Working + 60-hour weeks
  • building my business with multiple side-hustles (MG much?)
  • studying because I needed paper in case my business failed
  • trying to balance my social life  

I have a long list of achievements from that period in my life, of which I am still very proud. You see, I have a 6/2 profile, which means up until the 30th birthday, I live life as a 3 line. This means trial and error or a LOT of life experience and experiments. I don’t see this time of my life as a failure but as gaining a lot of insight information. 

Now, in hindsight, I can see where I was not living in alignment with my design, but at the time, I was so focused on the next goal that I did not check in with myself. 

✨Living this way is not wrong, just not sustainable.
Projector

Six months after Human Design found me, I drastically changed my life and made decisions that everyone thought I was going crazy.
I had to go through this journey to discover what was NOT for me. I believe this makes me a better coach. It is much easier for me to identify what might be out of alignment with other people.

Like a true before & after, I want to share how my life changed starting from the moment I made those crazy decisions. Can I?

Part 2 of my entrepreneurial journey will come to your inbox after you download the Human Design Guide. It will be worth it, I guarantee you…

But before I sign off, I want to share with you one exercise that helped me see when I was living out of alignment with my design.

✨exercise: your story

Step 1

Make a list of your life path and the key moments that shaped you into who you are today. I made a simplified version above in bullet points. 

Step 2

Answer the following questions:

  • What is/was your single greatest struggle/insight/AHA moment from birth to now?
  • Looking at these experiences, what makes you most proud?
  • What are the most important lessons you learned?
  • How can you relate these lessons to your business or ideal client? Then pick ONE thing you think is your superpower and explain why.
 
Hint: maybe you take it for granted.

 

Your story can be added to your about webpage, included in your marketing, and publications in media. This is often also ‘ your why’! Why do you do what you do?

There is a lot to cover when it comes to Human Design. I’m looking forward to sharing more with you.

Make sure to sign up to ‘Invited’, the place where I update you with new content, special invitations, and personal stories. (it’s 100% free)

P.S. If you are new to Human Design, download this free guide to Human Design for your business.

I would love to hear your insights from this exercise 🦄.

Feel free to message me on Instagram, or share your insights in the comments below ✨
Is your business aligned with your Human Design?
Do you want to make an impact through your business?
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stephanie Smolders
Hi, I'm Stephanie

I’m a business and Human Design coach on a mission to help entrepreneurs design a business strategy that feels fun and aligned! 

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  • Growing & Grieving Sharing a little window into my heart, without needing to say it all. But 11/11 says it all Right now, I’m holding space for both grief and growth. I’m releasing parts of myself and visions for the future that no longer match, while also making room for new light—a physical glow-up, the joy in simple moments like watching a butterfly, the depth of true friendship, and the steady support I feel around me. All while realizing that my business is my anchor, a place of stability that holds me through all of it, and I’m so grateful for this foundation. Honesty, openness, and authenticity guide everything I do, in life and business. And today, I want to extend a gentle hug to anyone else navigating a similar path. And wishing for you that your business feels like a support like it is for me! Here’s to growing through what we’re grieving, to finding joy in the smallest things, and to knowing we’re not alone 💛✨
  • It’s 7 PM, and you’re staring at your computer screen—another day lost in the whirlwind of emails, client requests, and that never-ending to-do list. You’re exhausted, yet there’s this lingering sense that you should be doing more, achieving more. Sound familiar? I’ve been there. The grind, the hustle, the feeling that no matter how much you cross off, the true needle doesn’t move. That was me until I realized something profound: I was stuck in the weeds, tangled in the day-to-day, and had completely lost sight of why I started this journey in the first place. It wasn’t about the tasks. It was about the vision—the bigger picture. The purpose that pulled me toward something more than just making money or checking off boxes. The moment I tapped into my vision, everything changed. 
I stopped obsessing over every small task and started asking myself the real questions: ‘Why am I doing this?’ ‘What does this moment serve in my larger purpose?’ 
Because here’s the thing: 
when you’re so deep into your business, it’s like driving through fog. 
You can barely see two feet ahead, let alone the horizon. You’re reacting, not creating. This isn’t just about adding more hours to your day or outsourcing tasks. It’s about stepping into that higher frequency of leadership, where grace and flow replace chaos and hustle. Where clarity guides your every move. So if you’re feeling lost in the grind, if you’re constantly ‘busy’ but feel like nothing’s truly shifting… maybe it’s time to pull back, to see the whole picture. Let me help you do that. Send me a DM if you’re ready to see your bigger picture. 📸 @nastasibarey
  • Do you have a line 1 in your profile? (1/3, 1/4, 5/1, 6/1)
This is for you 👇🏼 You are the curious truth-seekers, always building a solid foundation for yourself and those around you.
 It’s okay to dive deep into your research and explore every layer—it’s how you create the security you need to thrive.
 Your dedication to understanding empowers not just you, but everyone who comes into your world. Here are five affirmations to honor your journey and remind you of the power in your pursuit of knowledge and truth.
 ✨ Save this post for the times you need to ground yourself in your own wisdom! P.S. Which affirmation resonates with you the most (1-2-3-4-5)? 👇🏼
 & remember: your foundation supports the growth of all
  • Today I woke up with a million thoughts spinning in my head “Should I promote this more? Should I run webinars? Should I buy that course?” The mental ping-pong game started early, and I’ll admit—it was exhausting. I kept going back and forth, wondering what would be the right move. Should I wait? Should I push? What if I choose wrong? 🙃 But then I realized… this is the exact trap I help others avoid. 
Funny how we often forget to take our own advice, huh? Indecision. It can keep you stuck in your head for days, weeks—sometimes even longer. But here’s the truth I’ve learned (and yes, I need to remind myself too):
It’s not about knowing every step or getting it 100% right. 
It’s about trusting that, deep down, you already know what’s aligned for you. And yeah, sometimes that decision will feel scary as hell. 
But guess what? The fear doesn’t mean it’s wrong. It means you’re growing That’s why I created Clarity. Because I know what it’s like to feel paralyzed by options and second-guessing every move. And I also know the power that comes when you finally trust yourself. Imagine waking up tomorrow knowing exactly what to do next, not because someone told you, but because you felt it was right. Are you ready to stop spinning and start trusting?
 If so, let’s dive into Clarity together. 👇🏼 Comment Clarity for more info
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