We recently connected with Lana Mcdowell and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Lana, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
In my mind, the basis of imposter syndrome is feeling as if you are pretending to be something you’re not, but that gets flipped on its head when you come to terms with the fact that YOU get to decide who you are. The behaviors you choose to perform shape who you are and where you end up. If you are in a role where other people helped put you there in any way, shape, or form, it was not an accident. They were not just doing it to be nice.
At my 9-5 job, I have been appointed as the lead for high-profile software implementations where I have never touched the software before. Early on, it was incredibly challenging to provide updates confidently or speaking on much of anything with certainty. The thought of resigning from the role crossed my mind multiple times, but ultimately I had to realize that someone had brought up my name for a reason. People had seen my previous work, my behavior, and formed genuine opinions based on that.
In my business, there have been lots of times where I don’t feel confident in Balmer for one reason or another. But then I randomly meet someone who purchased one and says they use it every night before bed. Or someone tries it for the first time and gushes over how much they love it. Or a well-known maker or local influencer posts about it unprompted. If good things are happening, you deserve them; if people are paying for your product or service, it’s WORTH the price.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
The name “Balmer” came to me when I saw a DIY lip balm reel on Instagram. I was looking for where to direct my entrepreneurial spirit, and a product with a local focus (“Balmer” is how some locals pronounce “Baltimore”) that could help people feel better in their own skin sounded perfect. From there, I set out to create a formula and packaging. I knew I didn’t want anything harsh or artificial in it, and I didn’t want to produce plastic tubes that would end up sitting in a landfill for hundreds of years, so I decided to use eco-friendly paper push-up tubes and all organic ingredients. I hit on a formula that my friends would not stop telling me they loved. Their families and friends loved it too, and that is really what kept me moving forward. The formula is incredibly smooth, and the packaging is bright, colorful, a little retro. I still make the balm myself and design all of my packaging and marketing materials.
Last year was the first real year being in business, and it was so much better than expected. I was able to form relationships with really well-known businesses, organizations, and people in the city and beyond. I’ve sold thousands of balms in total, and have sold to ~40 retail stores. This year is still an open book, but I have joined a business coaching group that I’m excited about, I have a new scent launching soon, and am planning to host a lip balm making experience here in Baltimore.
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?
Although I do not have an extensive background in making cosmetics or body products, I do have a background in the sciences, so I came into this with some understanding of how to weigh, measure, and mix materials. This might sound simple, but I do think it makes a big difference. For anyone missing this, it might just take some research or a conversation with someone in either industry.
I also think I’m good at viewing my own product from the perspective of a consumer – I have an eye for what looks clean, what looks professional, how to help make the product easy to use and easy to purchase. You have to catch the eye and you have to make things easy – attention spans are at an all time low. For anyone who wants to develop this skill, I encourage them to just look closely at the marketing that’s really working for other brands – what do they have in common? What do you NOT see them doing? If all else fails, ask some “cool” people you know to be your focus group!
Finally, persistence is probably the most important quality to practice, and perhaps the most difficult. Keep going. If you encounter a problem, there is a solution out there and your job is to find it. Google it, ask ChatGPT, and definitely talk to people about it – you’ll be surprised the solutions that will come up. If you can surround yourself with others pursuing similar goals, that is ideal.
What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?
The answer to this probably varies person by person, but in my case it has been most valuable to direct effort toward my weaknesses. I have strengths that I kind of work on naturally and it’s pleasant, but working on a weakness leads to real, painful, growth. A weakness I’ve been working on for years has been worrying about what other people think.
One of my trauma responses is hypervigilance, which manifests itself in situations where someone I encounter treats me in any way that isn’t overtly friendly or positive, or if I just haven’t heard from them in a while. Any evidence that is negative, neutral, or even just missing can allow my mind to weave a narrative about what this person thinks of me, of my product, anything. It’s not usually based in reality, but it feels quite natural and intuitive. I’m finally breaking out of this habit because of the numerous occasions where my mind’s narrative has been proven completely wrong, by both personal experience and scientific evidence. For one thing, most people are too busy thinking about themselves to form a strong opinion on others, and there are tons of studies that show this. For another, people have lots of opinions that are not correct or do not matter. When confronted with the idea of someone’s disapproval, one of my mentors says “Who cares?! They’re not getting me a Christmas present!” which has really stuck for me.
If I wasn’t working on this weakness, I would be allowing myself to fall into the same trap over and over again, which is a huge waste of time and energy.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://balmerlip.myshopify.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/balmer_lip/
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