Tips for Managing Imposter Syndrome from a Small Business Owner

This month I was given the opportunity to interview with Bold Journey, an online lifestyle magazine that gives people the chance to have conversations about the challenges they face along their journeys. I thought it was really cool to be able to shine light on things not often talked about. Imposter syndrome is one of the biggest challenges I face as a handmade artist. It’s been such a struggle for me but over the years I’ve been able to learn ways of managing it that I was fortunate enough to be able to share on such an inspiring platform. If you missed the news, here is the interview or you can click here to see it live.

We were lucky to catch up with Taylor Huggins recently and have shared our conversation below.

Taylor, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.

Honestly, I’m not really sure I’ll ever “overcome” imposter syndrome so much as I’ve gotten better at living with it. There is always going to be the doubt in the back of my mind that tells me I’m not good enough or I’m not qualified enough to be where I am. It’s how I push past it and use it to grow, as a motivator.

I felt like no matter how many cool things I got to do, no matter how many brick and mortar locations sell my stickers, or how many friends I made along the way, my brain is always trying to tell me I’ll never make it. Especially in a world where we advertise all of our good on social media, there’s always someone to compare ourselves to.

I see this small business that makes insanely intricate polymer clay earrings and I’m like “wow, I’ll never be that good!” Sure, that’s a compliment to them, but I deserve a compliment, too. I deserve credit because I am a valid, talented maker – just like all those other handmade business owners. I have the right to exist in the small business world just as much as they do. I had to learn to accept that there is always space for me, even if I’m not as skilled as others, even if I’m not selling out at every event. It was a long road to acceptance but it’s been more than worth it.

Instead of letting imposter syndrome tear me down, I use it to motivate me to try harder, to learn new skills. I use it to motivate me to prove I do belong and that I am good enough. I remind myself that these feelings are valid and normal to have, that I am not the only one who experiences these feelings of self-doubt and fear, and that they are no more than just feelings. They aren’t facts.

When I make a mistake, I normalize it. I don’t hide it. I embrace the fact that failure is a natural part of growth and learning. I don’t view my mistakes as inadequacies, I view them as opportunities to learn and grow. I remind myself that even the most accomplished individuals make mistakes along their path to success. I treat myself with kindness and understanding, the same way I treat my friends. I practice self-compassion and remind myself that it’s okay to not be perfect.

I surround myself with people who uplift and support me. From personal friends to other small business owners, I know that they will help me see things from different perspectives and remind me of my success when I need it.

I have changed my outlook on life and I have started challenging my negative self-talk. Instead of listening to my inner dialogue say that I’m not qualified, I tell myself that I have the skills and knowledge to accomplish this goal.

The process of changing the way imposter syndrome affects my life has been an ongoing process. I’ve changed thought patterns, built self-awareness, and fostered a sense of self-acceptance. With time, patience, and consistent effort, you can slowly diminish the hold that imposter syndrome has on your life and your career or you can let your true talents and achievements shine through.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am currently a freelance graphic designer and I own a small business called Sage & Oak as well.

Sage & Oak specializes in handcrafted polymer clay earrings, waterproof stickers, home goods and glassware, and more. Everything I sell is made by me in my home.

Sage & Oak was born during the pandemic as a way to survive after losing my job as a preschool teacher right when it all started. I put my skills to work and I created my small business using my graphic design knowledge and my love for art. I knew the world needed some positivity throughout all the uncertainty so I used my brand as a way to communicate that. I focused on spreading love and light to those who surrounded me and I’ve always kept that goal in mind when creating new products.

I create stickers that I need to hear and it’s so cool to get to share those with others who can relate.

All of my products are like little pieces of me so it’s really cool to see people connect with them. I don’t just make things that I think would sell well. I make things I know people will resonate with. I wanted to stand out and be different than everyone else. For example, I really love houseplants so most of my products have houseplant themes behind them. I design stickers with positive messaging to remind myself that I am loved and I am capable. I have glass coffee cups that remind me that I am strong as I start my day. These reminders really keep me going and I really felt like they needed to be shared with the world. I know how hard it is to feel like you’re all alone and my goal with Sage & Oak is to make sure no one feels that way. Seeing people smile when they come to my booth shows me I’m doing something right in the world.

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?

Communication skills are incredibly important and they play a crucial role in the success of business owners in many ways. Building and maintaining relationships with customers ensures they’ll keep coming back. Having excellent communication skills allow you to effectively convey the value of your products when marketing. Being able to create connections and networking with others are essential for your business to grow. As someone with social anxiety, I’ve learned to push myself past my comfort zone when it comes to talking to people. It has taken a year but I finally feel more confident when speaking to people in my booth for example. Communication skills are the most important thing you can do for your business and it’s free to learn and practice.

Without my determination for success I would have given up a long time ago. I’ve known a lot of small handmade business owners who don’t see immediate results and they give up. In this day and age where social media exists and makes imposter syndrome more difficult than ever, it’s important to not compare yourself to others and get discouraged enough to call it quits. There have been so many times where I thought even my best marketing attempts would result in sales and it barely even resulted in traffic on my website. I’ve had more product launches online where I didn’t sell a single thing than I have sold out but I don’t let even the most discouraging days break me down. You have to fail sometimes before you can succeed but you won’t get there if you give up.

My willingness to learn new things has without a doubt helped my business keep growing and thriving. Running a small handmade business requires a lot of tasks besides just making the product. There are a long list of tasks that need done in order to be successful like marketing, photography, graphic design, content creating, blog writing, social media posts, order shipping, inventory, etc. In my down time I like to sit down and learn something new and because of that, I don’t have to outsource my work. I can do it all myself and it feels really good to be able to be self-sufficient like that. I would always recommend trying to learn something new. You won’t ever be perfect at something but you can be good at everything if you’re willing to put forth the effort.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

I often feel overwhelmed as a small business owner for many different reasons. From the number of tasks that I need to do, managing my time to balance between my small business and my graphic design clients as well as my family and personal life, to feeling unmotivated to do anything. I know this is a normal feeling but sometimes it happens so often that I don’t feel normal. I’m still trying to figure out what works the best for me but I’ve had some time to work on it and I’d love to share what helps me.

By prioritizing your tasks and responsibilities by importance, you can find a good place to get started. We all know that starting a task can be the hardest part. For those really difficult tasks, I break them down so they’re less overwhelming and more manageable. Plus it’s more rewarding at the end that way.

Sometimes it can be easy to set unrealistic goals for ourselves which can lead to stress and overwhelm. It’s best to set realistic and attainable goals that you can break down into smaller milestones and celebrate your achievements along the way.

Managing your time is a great way to maintain productivity avoid burnout. There are many time management techniques that you can practice to help you. I personally use the Pomodoro Technique (time blocking) where I work for 4 blocks of 25 minutes and then get a 15 minute break at the end. I even wrote a blog on how it helped me after I practiced it for 30 days.

Taking breaks is something I really started doing this year and they’re not fit into my schedule. Regular breaks, whether short or long, are essentially for recharging and maintaining mental clarity. You can step away from your work and come back with a fresh perspective.

Self care is often overlooked but by prioritizing your well-being by getting enough sleep, eating balanced meals, and exercising is important for your physical and mental health. These things directly impact your ability to manage stress and overwhelm.

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