We recently connected with Jenifer Martinez and have shared our conversation below.
Jenifer, 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.
You never really do. Have you ever seen that episode of Star Trek where Picard and Kimberly can read each other’s minds? There’s a moment when she asks where they should go and he says “That way.” and starts walking. And she looks at him and tells him since she can read his mind she KNOWS he has no idea where he’s going. He explains to her that it’s important for a Captain to make decisions and exude confidence no matter what he actually thinks and feels inside because that is what the crew is relying on him to do. Well, my business is the crew. And it NEEDS me to make decisions and choices by acting with confidence even when I have no idea if I’m truly making the right choice or not. It’s a play on “fake it ’til you make it. ”
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?
Chainmaille is a bit of a dying art form. Most people aren’t interested in the complex math and endless hours of grinding that goes into making handmade chain. So I try to get people excited about it! Geometry is rad! Chemistry is amazing! I’m all about bringing new blood into our field. I will teach you every design on my table if you’re patient enough to learn it. I have a personal mission to get “chainmaille” out of the Renaissance Faire mindset and get people thinking of it as more than just something you wear as a costume. It’s a very small niche in the crafting world, but it has unbelievable potential for high fashion and industrial use.
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?
1) Motivation comes from accomplishment. Don’t wait to get inspired. This is a death nail in your muse’s coffin. Just start doing SOMETHING, even something lame or redundant, and the inspiration will come.
2) Grinding has value. Think of it as farming or practicing, gaining XP or memorized motion… however you need to wrap your head around it. Hours matter. Repetition matters. “Slow is smooth, smooth is fast.” That doesn’t mean your process speeds up. It means you make less mistakes because you have perfected certain moves, and that is how you become faster.
3) Trolls are everywhere. Theft of your ideas is inevitable. If you plan to be on the internet you are putting yourself out there to be a target for the leeches. IT WILL HAPPEN AND YOU CAN’T STOP IT. So learn to roll with it. People stealing your designs? Sell tutorials and make money off it. People being jerks in the forums? Use those block and report buttons freely and liberally. Don’t get in fights. Keep it professional. The internet is forever, and it’s so sweet when money from people you hate pays your bills and funds the causes YOU believe in.
As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?
Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely. It teaches behavioral economics and explains the psychology around how people shop. It is FASCINATING and has been a huge help in figuring out how to price things in relation to each other.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.steampunkgarage.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/steampunkgarage/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steampunkgarage/
- Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@steampunkgarage
Image Credits
Andrew Merrill
