I really want to talk to you today about how to overcome imposter syndrome in your handmade business.

We all get it at some point, and we all feel like we're doing the wrong thing or that the thing that we make isn't good enough. We all suffer with imposter syndrome at one point or another in our handmade businesses. 

1. Trying to perfect & complete with your shop

Whether it's competing with other shops, or making your shop 'perfect' is a loosing battle and you will end up hating your business. 

Instead, focus on your unique strengths. Write 3 things down why people come to you for help. Write 3 things down that you are really good at.

One thing I could sum this all up in is if you are trying to compete and be 'better' than your competitors, and you're constantly comparing yourself to them, you are taking yourself out of your unique genius and plopping yourself into someone else's, and trying to be like someone else and that is just not going to work.

2. You don't have to know everything to be an expert

I know I talk a lot about if you are a maker you are the expert, and customers come to you to hear your experiences and recommendations, and to ask you what your thoughts are on whatever the topic is, so you do almost become a sort of expert in the customers eyes. 

Let's say that you make cakes and the customer is not sure what type of cake to buy, you're going to be the person that they're going to ask. 

But, it's ok not to know everything. Business owners feel like they NEED to know everything there is to know about 1 particular topic, but the bottom line is that it is perfectly ok to say the following: "I'll get back to you on that". 

That's a perfectly acceptable answer. You don't have to know everything. If someone asks you a question and you don't know the answer, it's fine, it doesn't make you an imposter if you reply with "I'll get back to you on that". 

3. Being vulnerable is not a weakness

In fact it can connect you to your audience more. So many people are always a little bit nervous about sharing slightly negative things with their audience.

How many times do you see people sharing their wins and their happy moments? But people are uncertain as to whether they can share the downside. 

One thing I've learned the hard way is that if you are painting your life as being perfect all the time, then people lose connection with you because they start to think that you're this bright shining star that they can't connect with. 

If you were to pop a post up on your favourite social media platform saying that you've had a bit of a tricky week and here's the reasons why, then I bet that your followers will think 'oh thank goodness, it's not just me!' 

I share the good with the bad and it means that I can connect with people more. Don't see being vulnerable as being a weakness. It realigns you with who you are as a business owner. 

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4. Know your business values

If you are building a business that is not aligned with you, your personal and business values, whatever they are, you are going to feel wrong.

Something isn't going to feel quite right, and you are going to feel like an imposter because you're not living your truth.

Write down what your business values are. Is it freedom, intentionality, being the voice of reason, being a community leader, being trustworthy?

Write all of values down and start building your business in honour of your them. Please don't look at what someone else has done, and start doing that because you think it's the right thing to do. 

5. Talk about it

Come to my Facebook group, it's such a supportive space for you to talk about it with people who understand. 

I'm not saying that your great auntie June is not the best person to lean on when you need advice, but I am saying that sometimes that particular person may not understand what you're going through. Talking about it with other makers is going to be an amazing place to start.

And, on top of all of this, if you are looking at other people online, comparing yourself and thinking that they are doing so much better than you, and feeling like an imposter, remember they all started with zero.

They have all been where you are now, it's just what they have done after this point that made the biggest difference. Please don't ever feel like you are alone, or that you can't ever get to that stage because they are so much further than you, it doesn't make a difference. 

Remember, they have been where you are now, and everyone started from nothing. 

If you'd prefer me to visually teach you this blog post, then you can watch it HERE.

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