Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Shericia Hodge. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Shericia, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
It’s been a journey, for sure. So, you know every time I reach a new milestone, I think to myself, “Wow, did I really just do that?” And then, of course, there it is… some self-doubt kicks in and I start to wonder am I qualified for this, and do I really deserve it?
I have found myself time after time needing to do some self-talk. I go over my accomplishments in my mind to remind myself that I worked hard for every single bit of success that came my way. It wasn’t handed to me on a silver platter; I earned it. I’ve had to dig deep and acknowledge that, so yeah, I do belong here and reality check – I hit that milestone because I am in fact qualified!
A huge factor is also acquiring knowledge and confidence! I make it my mission to soak up as much wisdom as I can. No one is off limits, you can learn something from anyone or any situation, good or bad. I got educated and learned the ropes because the more I knew, the more confident I felt. It took time to build that mindset, trust me. But with each success, I gained a little more confidence, until I could stand tall and proud in any room, no matter how unfamiliar.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Well, I’m from Anguilla, British West Indies but grew up in the US Virgin Islands. As a kid I was involved in multiple leadership activities at once. I’ve always loved a challenge but loved chasing a win even more. I initially wanted to go into the financial field but fell in love with fashion. So, after 25 years in the apparel industry, I decided that if I could work that hard for someone else, I could do it for myself. Now my focus is on building my brand, Good Morning Punkin!
My business name came from my mom. Every morning when she calls me, she says… Good Morning Punkin! It still makes me smile. I decided to use that as my concept. GMP is where fashion meets function but of course… clothing is nothing without personality! We thrive on knowing our kids are happy. As parents, we also want them to look as good or better than we do but they should also be comfortable and confident! And the exciting news? We have recently rebranded, increased our size range and added more unique pieces to our collection.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Oh yes, let’s get into this! So, I know this is going to sound generic, but I promise you it needs to be your primary focus. You… need… discipline! I cannot stress this enough. For sure, the excitement will wear off and no matter how hard you try or how many prayers you’ve prayed or how many positive songs you have played on blast, there will still be many days where you have zero motivation but plenty of tears. However, if you have built up your discipline and taught yourself that no matter what is going on, you still need to make it happen; whether you feel like it or not or even if it looks like you have made no progress at all, the habit will keep you focused.
The next skill you need to develop is the ability to work through fear. Know for sure it will set in at some point and it’s totally ok to be afraid. It’s also ok to second guess yourself sometimes, you are human! What’s not ok, is succumb to it. Keep moving! Work through fear, work through doubt, work through failures… just keep moving! And you know what? Most times, what we are afraid of does not even exist. Haven’t you already had times where you didn’t know what you were going to do or how you would have made it through? But you did, and this time will be no different. Use that discipline to get you through the challenges the fear presents in your mind.
Get a coach. Even the greatest coaches have coaches!! There is always more to learn. Sometimes, it’s something as simple as brainstorming or they may have said the smallest thing that will spark your creativity. I tried learning completely on my own and let me tell you the mountain was unbearably steep. My mindset shift was incredible and being around knowledgeable, like-minded people was and still is invaluable. If you want to win, you must invest in yourself. You are worth it!
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
“The One Thing” by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan. My mentors suggested I read this book, and it flipped up my whole approach to getting things done upside down. Seriously, it’s a game changer. I used to proudly wear the multitasking crown. I got a lot done but I never felt quite accomplished at the end of the day because there were so many loose ends and unfinished projects. I was just jumping from one thing to another.
I learned to prioritize, set clear goals, and embrace my newfound power of single tasking, putting my complete focus on “the one thing” that truly matters. Time blocking became a part of my daily schedule and my productivity increased. The level up was insane! It’s not about doing more; it’s about doing the right thing at the right time. I love a good quote, so I leave you with this; “You need to be doing fewer things for more effect instead of doing more things with side effects.”
Contact Info:
- Website: www.goodmorningpunkin.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/goodmorningpunkin
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/gmpunkin
