We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sarah Bingham a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Sarah, 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.
I don’t think imposter syndrome is something that’s overcome, I think it’s something that’s managed and eventually lived alongside, as terrible as it is to experience. You just have to make peace with it. Socially, we talk about imposter syndrome as something to beat, but I think it’s actually quite a normal experience. For some reason, it’s one of those things we still vilify and try to minimize the hell out of. I manage mine by setting it aside and doing business as usual. At the end of the day, it doesn’t really matter whether it’s present or not. I still have to choose to focus on the task at hand, consult my own internal compass, my intuition, and continue putting one foot in front of the other.
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?
Ritual Glaze produces special effect glazes for use in pottery. We make glazes that are textural and colorful – think crawling, beading, and dripping. First to market with all things gloopy, Ritual Glaze is also the first-ever special effect glaze company. Before we launched, consumers were left to more traditional, earth-toned glazes on their pottery. The ceramics supply industry was in desperate need of some shaking up.
I found ceramic supply by accident. I was living on the East Coast getting my bachelor’s degree nontraditionally (I was 32!) when I got a job at a small ceramic supply company. I learned to make clay and glazes and fell in love with coming home covered in dirt. In my last semester of college, ready to graduate with a degree in psychology and statistics, I pivoted and began learning about entrepreneurship. I pitched the concept of Ritual Glaze in competitions, applied for grants, and ran two Kickstarter campaigns to fund the company. It’s been nonstop ever since!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Having a strong and diverse support system has been incredibly important. It really takes a village. Establishing care with providers and getting yourself taken care of is really important. Identify the things you tend to neglect and set small goals each week to take better care of yourself. Eating regularly, drinking water, and taking small breaks made a big difference for me. Chances are you will overwork yourself. Success is a constant battle of struggling with burnout. Try to take care of yourself!
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
A really amazing business advisor was critical! I found my advisor (love you, Tracy!) after I walked up to her when I was in the launch phase and asked if I could pick her brain as a new business owner. Turns out she’s also an advisor with a local nonprofit! She’s helped me navigate SO many obstacles I didn’t think I would be able to overcome and has served as a shoulder to cry on and the best cheerleader. Turns out lots of local nonprofit organizations offer advising and programs. I have also been part of two business accelerator programs which have provided me with community support and logistical planning along the way. Entrepreneurship can be a lonely career – find your people!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ritualglaze.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ritualglaze
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ritualglaze
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahjoanbingham/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@ritualglaze
