Issue 28: Turning My Struggles into Strength: My Journey with Dyslexia and Building UK Country Hats | Emma Chapman

For as long as I can remember, words have been both my biggest challenge and my greatest teacher. Growing up with dyslexia shaped so much of who I am today, not just the way I learn, but the way I see the world, the way I solve problems, and the way I connect with people.

School

When I was at school, dyslexia wasn’t something people understood very well. There wasn’t much support or awareness around how it affected learning, and for me, that made things even harder. I often had someone sit beside me in class to help me write things down. To other students, that made me stand out. It looked like I couldn’t do my own work, like I wasn’t capable, and because of that, I was bullied. I remember how isolating that felt. It wasn’t that I didn’t understand what was being taught; it was that I processed information differently. But school systems back then weren’t built for people who think differently. They were built for one way of learning, one way of testing, one way of being “smart.” And I didn’t fit that box.

GCSE

When GCSEs came around, I didn’t get the results I hoped for. It felt like proof of what people had said, that I wasn’t good enough. But deep down, I knew grades weren’t the full story. I had drive, creativity, and determination, things no exam could measure. So, I decided to keep pushing forward anyway, finding my way in the working world.

I had drive, creativity, and determination - things no exam could measure.

College

After school, I went to college, not because it was easy, but because I refused to let dyslexia stop me from trying. I wanted to learn, grow, and prove to myself that I could succeed in my own way. To support myself, I worked two jobs, one as a dog groomer and another part-time in a pet shop. I’ve always loved animals, so even though the work was hard, it didn’t feel like a burden. It was my way of taking control of my future.

Eventually, that part-time job at the pet shop turned into something much bigger. I started working there full-time and worked my way up to become Assistant Manager. For someone who had been told I wasn’t capable of much, that felt like a huge milestone. It was proof that my work ethic, not my spelling or reading, was what really mattered.

Biggest Fear

Facing My Biggest Fear. After some time, I had to move on for health reasons and took a new job, one that terrified me: an office job. The very idea of working in an office, where reading and writing were essential, made my stomach twist. I knew it would be hard. I knew I’d need extra help. But I took the job anyway, determined to push myself beyond the limits I’d been told I had. And something amazing happened. Even though I struggled with reading emails, writing reports, and keeping up with paperwork, I made it work. I learned to ask for help, to use the tools available to me, and to focus on what I was good at.

Within my first year, I earned three promotions. That experience taught me one of the biggest lessons of my life: sometimes it’s not about whether you can read or write perfectly. It’s about the other skills you bring to the workplace, your creativity, empathy, problem-solving, communication, and resilience.

Sometimes it’s not about whether you can read or write perfectly. It’s about the other skills you bring to the workplace.

New Chapter

Motherhood and a Pandemic. Then, life changed again. I found out I was pregnant, an exciting, emotional, and life-changing time. But just as I was preparing for that new chapter, the world turned upside down. COVID hit. When my maternity leave was coming to an end, I got the news that my company was closing down. At that moment, everything stopped. I had a new baby, a world in chaos, and no job to return to. It was scary. But it also gave me something I’d never had before, time to think. I realised I didn’t want to pour all my time and energy into someone else’s business anymore. I wanted to build something of my own, something that represented me, my creativity, my love for people, and my passion for hands-on work. So, I took a risk. A huge one. The Birth of UK Country Hats.

Starting UK Country Hats was one of the scariest things I’ve ever done. I didn’t have a big plan at first, just a dream and a passion. I loved country style, cowboy culture, and the feeling of creating something personal and meaningful for people. But I also knew that running a business would mean facing my biggest challenges head-on: reading, writing, and organisation. There would be emails to send, forms to fill in, contracts, accounts, marketing, social media… all the things that dyslexia makes a little more complicated. Still, I told myself I’d find a way.

My dyslexia doesn’t make me less capable; it makes me different. And different is what makes UK Country Hats stand out.

In the early days, I relied heavily on technology, text-to-speech tools, spell checkers, voice notes, and writing assistants. They helped me write messages, create posts, and respond to customers in a way that sounded professional. But after a while, I started to feel like I was losing myself. Everything felt robotic, too polished, too perfect. It didn’t sound like my voice anymore. And that’s when I made one of the best decisions of my business journey: I decided to be open about my dyslexia.

I stopped hiding it and started talking about it. I made it part of my story, part of my brand, part of who I am. Because the truth is, my dyslexia doesn’t make me less capable; it makes me different. And different is what makes UK Country Hats stand out. Building a Brand from the Heart.

As UK Country Hats started to grow, something beautiful happened. People connected with my honesty. Customers loved not just the hats I was creating, but the heart behind them. They saw someone who was working hard, overcoming challenges, and building something real. They loved coming to the Hat Bar, getting involved, and creating their own custom hats. It wasn’t just about fashion; it was about experience, creativity, and authenticity.

And the more my confidence grew, the more my business did too. I started doing live events, pop-ups, and workshops. I began expanding into weddings, festivals, and private parties. I surrounded myself with a small but incredible team who believed in what we were building together.

My sister became one of my biggest supports, helping with admin, messages, and anything that took pressure off me. Having that support system allowed me to focus on the creative and customer-facing side of the business, the part I love most.

Overcoming Challenges

Overcoming Challenges Every Day. Even now, running a business with dyslexia isn’t easy. I still find some things really challenging. Writing long messages, keeping up with paperwork, remembering details, it’s all part of my daily routine of finding ways around the obstacles. But I’ve learned that success doesn’t come from doing things perfectly. It comes from finding ways that work for you. I use voice-to-text when I’m tired or struggling to spell something. I make checklists and colour-coded notes. I surround myself with people who balance my weaknesses with their strengths. I’ve built a team, a system, and a rhythm that fits the way my brain works, not the way others think it should. Every day, I remind myself that dyslexia doesn’t define me. It’s part of me, but it’s not all of me. And actually, in many ways, it’s helped me. People often say that those with dyslexia are more creative, more visual, and better at thinking outside the box. I used to roll my eyes at that. I thought, “Well, if that’s true, what’s my special skill then?” It took starting UK Country Hats to find it. My gift isn’t spelling or grammar; it’s spotting gaps in the market. It’s seeing opportunities that others overlook. It’s having the vision to create something people haven’t seen before, like the UK’s first live Hat Bar experience. That’s where I shine. That’s what dyslexia gave me, a different lens through which to see the world.

Turning Fear into Fuel

Looking back, I’m proud of that scared girl who took a leap into the unknown. When I started this business, I didn’t have all the answers. I didn’t have a big financial cushion or a team of experts behind me. I just had a passion and a dream. And yes, there were moments when I thought I couldn’t do it, when I doubted myself. When I worried that people would think I wasn’t “professional enough” because of my spelling or writing mistakes. But then I realised, people don’t care about perfect spelling. They care about passion, about connection, about heart. They care about the feeling they get when they put on a hat that was made with love, and the story behind it. So, instead of letting my fear hold me back, I used it as fuel. Every time I felt doubt, I reminded myself of how far I’d already come. From being bullied at school for needing help, to running a growing, successful business loved across the UK - that’s not failure. That’s strength.

People don’t care about perfect spelling. They care about passion, about connection, about heart.

My Message to others

I used to think I was “bad at everything.” Now I know that I just hadn’t found the right thing yet. Building UK Country Hats showed me that success isn’t about spelling, or perfect grammar, or grades. It’s about creativity, persistence, and having the courage to show up as yourself, even when it’s scary. Every message I write, every hat I make, every event I host, I do it with the same belief: that you can achieve incredible things, no matter what obstacles you face. So, to anyone struggling with dyslexia or feeling like they’re not good enough, this is my promise to you: you are capable of more than you think. Your brain might work differently, but that difference is your superpower. I hope my story encourages you to take that leap, to chase your dreams, and to believe that you can build something amazing, because you absolutely can. If this story helps even one person feel a little braver, then it’s been worth writing every word.

Your brain might work differently, but that difference is your superpower.

Emma Chapman

Extracts from Dystinct Magazine