We recently connected with Caitlin Sloan and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Caitlin, so great to have you on the platform. There’s so much we want to ask you, but let’s start with the topic of self-care. Do you do anything for self-care and if so, do you think it’s had a meaningful impact on your effectiveness?
Self-care is a major buzzword right now and is typically depicted as lighting some candles, taking a bubble bath while listening to relaxing music, and emerging as a brand-new person ready to take on the world. I hate to break it to you, but as much as I love an Epsom salt bath and face mask, they’re not going to fix all your problems.
In my experience, the best type of self-care is proactive – the little things you do every day because you know your future self will thank you. It’s not glamorous but it’s effective. As someone with anxiety, I know what helps calm my racing mind and recognize that some of the most important self-care practices I need to maintain are incredibly simple. For example, my non-negotiable daily list includes some form of movement, fresh air, nine hours of sleep, lots of water and protein, 30 minutes to read a book, and taking my medicine.
Even though these things are simple, they often feel hard and tedious. But I know the small acts of self-care you perform consistently create a bigger impact than the weekend away you take once a year. If I do these things consistently, everything in my life becomes easier. I have more energy, am in a better mood, and feel so much less stressed. I can show up as the person I want to be for my family, for my clients, and for myself. The act of taking care of myself mentally, physically, and emotionally is the ultimate form of self-care.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
Hi there! I’m Caitlin, a Dance Educator and Career Mentor based in Madison, WI. I founded The Brainy Ballerina® in 2019, a virtual resource providing support and guidance for aspiring ballet dancers. I have worked with dancers all over the U.S. to give them the skills and confidence they need to successfully pursue professional dance careers.
I know how it feels to be uncertain, confused, and frustrated by a process that doesn’t always make sense. When I entered the world of professional dance, I had the technique, the artistry, and the passion. What I didn’t have was industry knowledge. While I was fortunate to have many wonderful mentors in my life, I didn’t have someone solely dedicated to helping me navigate the business side of dance. For many dancers I work with, this is the missing puzzle piece to helping them break into the dance industry with less stress and more joy!
I most recently launched The Ultimate Audition Guide – a one-stop shop for EVERYTHING dancers need to tackle professional company auditions with ease. No more spending hours googling and trying to piece together a somewhat coherent audition package. With this guide, dancers are ready to conquer audition season like true professionals.
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?
1. Patience
We’re ingrained in a culture of instant gratification. We stream any show directly to our TV with the click of a button or have Starbucks delivered to our door in a matter of minutes. But as much as we love quick fixes, there will never be a quick fix for learning ballet. It takes time, dedication, and perseverance. The same principle rings true for business.
Did you know that bamboo grows its roots for 5 years underground before growing 90 feet in the air within 6 weeks? There’s no such thing as an overnight success, even when it seems like it to those outside the process. When the progress I’m making seems slow and monotonous, I think back to the millions of pliés I have done in my life, all in preparation for something much bigger. It took years of daily practice, but eventually, it led me to a professional dance career. I’ve been through the process and seen what can happen when you take your time to build a solid foundation. This lesson has been essential to persevering through some of the tough times in business.
2. Perseverance
When I started my business, I was initially excited by all of the flashy parts. Picking out a name, choosing a logo, writing my mission statement – and then reality set in. I quickly learned how much I didn’t know about starting a business (taxes, finances, SEO, oh my!).
I think back to my very first ballet class. I was so excited to go shopping for my first leotard and ballet slippers and put my hair in the perfect ballet bun. I thought ballet looked beautiful and fun – I had no idea how much I was going to have to learn before I could do the steps I had watched on stage. But I took that first step, and the next, and kept going. I came to roadblocks and figured out solutions.
Ballet taught me that it’s OK to not know everything – what’s important is being open to learning and knowing that I have the skills and tools available to me to find the answers. Whether it’s a Google search, reaching out to my coach for guidance, or signing up for a new class – I can take that roadblock and build a bridge to climb right over.
3. Knowing when to pivot
When I first started my dance career, I was convinced I wanted to dance in a classical ballet company. However, after going down that path for a few years I realized it wasn’t for me. I needed to have the courage to let go of outside expectations and pivot to a career that was truly fulfilling for me, even if it was different than my original plan.
Throughout my career, I have repeated this many times. Not in a flighty way, but with well well-thought-out intention to develop my career in a way that aligns with where I am in each moment of life. It’s what led me to start my business and what continues to allow me to evolve.
When I first started The Brainy Ballerina®, I exclusively intended to sell only printable resources for use in the ballet classroom. While this is still a huge part of my business, I realized that dancers needed so much more personal guidance when it comes to their careers. It’s what led me to start offering Career Mentoring and working 1-1 with dancers on the cusp of a professional career. Making a change can be scary, but because I have done it many times in my career (and will many more!), I knew I had to lean into that discomfort to continue evolving.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
When I feel overwhelmed, I go back to basics. First, I revisit the self-care list I shared earlier – Have I eaten anything in the past few hours? Have I gotten enough sleep? Have I drank water today? Have I been outside? Have I moved my body? The first step to overcoming overwhelm is making sure my basic needs are being met.
From there, I pull out my notebook and do a giant brain dump. I get out on paper absolutely everything that has been sitting in my brain. Then, I separate my items into three categories: urgent, but not important; important, but not urgent; neither important nor urgent. This helps me to realize where I need to place my energy so that I can keep moving forward.
Once I know which items I need to prioritize, I make a concrete plan to get it done. I always have to remind myself that it is impossible to do it all. Delegating has never come easily for me, but I know if I can pass on some tasks that are outside my zone of genius, I will allow myself the space to focus on what is important.
Contact Info:
- Website: thebrainyballerina.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/thebrainyballerina
- Facebook: facebook.com/thebrainyballerina
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/the-brainy-ballerina/
- Other: TikTok: tiktok.com/@thebrainyballerina Pinterest: pinterest.com/thebrainyballerina
Image Credits
Scott Shy, Nichole Manner, LG Patterson
