Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Jasmine Baxter. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Jasmine, 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.
Imposter syndrome isn’t something that goes away for me. It’s something that suffers many little deaths, like when I find out the person running the show doesn’t know how to send a PDF, it reminds me why I’m there and instills confidence in my abilities. On the other hand, there are times I didn’t speak up in meetings because I thought my answers were too obvious, only for someone else to bring them up and receive praise for the innovation.
It’s important to know as much as possible about your subject and even a few things adjacent to your industry because the more you know, the less you’ll feel like you don’t. Trying to overcome imposter syndrome by playing the part of someone confident is a way to get started, though not as sustainable because you’re still in character. You have to know yourself and what you have to offer is of value, lead with integrity, and focus on that until you’re confident and competent at what you’re doing- so it doesn’t matter what anyone says because you’re doing it.
As someone who worked for many businesses in the Triangle, I’ve dropped into different parts of my personality to give better service. Still, as a business owner, I ground myself to remember that if I’m playing a role that isn’t true to myself, I’m attracting the wrong people. It’s been incredibly eye-opening to write these things down to catch the synchronicities and start to move in a way that aligns with business and personal principles.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
This year has been the most exciting and expansive one yet for me! I’ve just recently celebrated the 3rd birthday of my digital marketing agency, Open House Socials. It felt like such a big risk to start my business, and I couldn’t imagine how things would have worked out if I hadn’t. And now, at this point, we’ve helped over 20 small businesses and professionals build their business online, whether it’s been through creating their socials, website, setting up sales funnels, editing projects- we’ve made an impact. It’s been so satisfying to build my business and other people’s businesses while learning so much.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Working in the service industry prepped me to talk to all different types of people, being “in-the-weeds” taught me to prioritize, and early morning liquor bottle weighing sessions taught me the importance of efficiency. Everyone should work at least one service industry job at some point because you can really learn a lot of monetizable skills in those environments. If you discover you’re an amazing salesperson or team member, you can translate that into any business; the rest is about continuous learning and growth in your chosen industry. Most importantly, you also need to be able to laugh at yourself and let things roll off your back. It’s hard out here, so a sense of humor is incredibly important, especially when dealing with business owners; we’re all stressed out! A lot of the time, you’ll have to climb Cringe Mountain to get to the rewards part of your journey. It’s fun to help people through that.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I am always seeking out opportunities to collaborate, particularly female founders and creatives based in Raleigh and Durham. My ideal connections would be those who are passionate about design, and enjoy sharing their unique perspective and creating amazing things. Whether it’s in the music, art, design, beauty, or fashion industries, I love working with ambitious folks who are looking to establish their online presence and gain clarity on how they can improve their business.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed, don’t hesitate to hand the reins over to me for gentle and effective online strategy and coaching.
Contact Info:
- Website:openhousesocials.com
- Instagram: @openhousesocials / @jasminebaxtre
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/openhousesocials
- Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/jazzbaxter
Image Credits
Anna Haddock
