Podcast 278: When success feels scarier than failure

What if the thing holding your indie beauty brand back wasn’t failure – but success?

In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, host Lorraine Dallmeier explores why, for many indie beauty founders, achieving success feels more terrifying than falling short.

We often talk about fear of failure, but rarely do we acknowledge that fear of success can be just as paralysing. Lorraine challenges people to think differently about what success means, and how visibility, money, and mindset play into it.

Following on from last week’s inspiring interview with Chinelo Chidozie of Bolden Skincare, Lorraine reflects on the hidden fears many founders face. Chinelo’s story showed the power of visibility but also highlighted the courage it takes to step into the spotlight.

This week’s episode will help you uncover why you’re quietly holding yourself back and how to change that.

If you’ve ever wondered why growth feels so uncomfortable or caught yourself avoiding the limelight even when your brand deserves it, this episode is for you. Tune in and discover how to stop playing small and embrace success on your own terms.

“Success doesn’t have to mean stress. Money doesn’t have to mean overwhelm. And visibility doesn’t have to mean becoming someone you’re not.” — Lorraine Dallmeier

Key takeaways:

• Fear of success can lead to self-sabotage: Many indie beauty founders are more afraid of success than of failure. Lorraine highlights how, time and again, she’s seen students and graduates self-sabotage by avoiding visibility.
• Success brings new and often uncomfortable challenges: Success brings its own set of challenges, from financial decisions to increased visibility. Lorraine explains how success means navigating new territory, which can feel unsafe or overwhelming, especially for those who have been taught to fear money or think they aren’t capable of managing it.
• Visibility is key to building trust and impact: Visibility is a vital part of building a trusted beauty brand, yet it can make founders feel exposed and vulnerable. Lorraine shares her personal journey of overcoming the fear of being seen, recalling her early reluctance to appear on camera or host webinars.
• Bolden’s success shows the power of showing up: Last week’s interview with Chinelo from Bolden Skincare exemplifies the power of showing up. She or her sister-in-law didn’t rely on PR agencies or investor backing — they made themselves visible on social media, and that’s what attracted a major retailer.
• You can define success on your own terms: This week’s episode ends with a challenge: are you playing small because you’re waiting to feel ready? Lorraine encourages both founders and consumers to rethink what visibility means, moving away from seeing it as vanity and towards recognising it as courage.

Thank you for joining us for this episode of the Formula Botanica Green Beauty Conversations podcast. If you enjoyed listening, please share, subscribe and review this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Youtube so that more people can enjoy the show. Don’t forget to follow and connect with us on Facebook and Instagram.

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Lorraine Dallmeier

Lorraine Dallmeier is a Biologist, Chartered Environmentalist and the CEO of Formula Botanica, the award-winning online organic cosmetic science school. Read more about Lorraine and the Formula Botanica Team.