We were lucky to catch up with Cy’Ress Cade recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Cy’Ress, 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.
Imposter syndrome is one of those things that I am still overcoming. I don’t think it’s going anywhere. I compare it to the thorn that the Apostle Paul talked about in 2Corinthians 12. The way I battle overcome it is to lean into what it communicates to me–”you’re not good enough,” ” you don’t belong here,” and so forth.
The reality that sits in front of us all is that we all have limitations and imposter syndrome is one of things that reminds us of that. But with practice, over time, we can flip the overwhelming thought and feeling of inadequacy on its head and start to ask ourselves why we actually are good enough or why we do belong in a certain space.
Circling back around to 2Corinthians 12, though I have this thorn called imposter syndrome, I have someone who provides the help I need to succeed despite the pain and aggravation the thorn causes.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I am first and foremost a graphic designer, and I specialize in branding and brand design. Graphic design happens to be one of the most powerful things on the planet, because it touches and is involved in almost everything we engage with in this world. From food packaging, to highway signs, social media, tv, movies, books, etc… There’s nothing that graphic design has not been involved in.
I currently serve the creative director for a Christian publication company called Urban Ministries Inc (UMI). My professional focus outside of that is that of a freelancer. The thing that seems to be drawn to me as a freelancer is small businesses or startups that are in need of branding and brand design, which happens to be what I love doing.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
The three most important qualities, skills and areas of knowledge I’ve picked up during my journey are:
1. Be integral. There’s nothing more valuable than doing what you say you’re going to do. It builds trust in personal and professional relationships with people.
2. Choose a new skill to learn every six months. The idea is not to have a bunch of skills, but to continue helping your brain think outside of the box we often put ourselves in.
3. Do your best to not be afraid of being or getting wrong. When you don’t make attempts, you remain wrong. When keep trying, you inch closer and closer to something that works and you also become efficient.
My advice to anyone starting a journey toward anything is simply start somewhere. You’re not going to have all of the answers. You’re not supposed to. It’s a journey, and the moment you feel like you’ve arrived, find something else to learn. People who have arrived have nowhere else to go.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
Collaboration is something that I truly love. Doing things alone is boring. I have a limited perspective and having additional creative ideas and perspectives from other people is what really brings a project to life.
I’d love to collaborate with people on branding design projects, magazine publications, event design, websites, and teaching graphic design to school age kids.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @thecyresscade
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cy-ress-cade-112a4496/
Image Credits
Jonathan Summers
