We recently connected with Ingrid Wilson and have shared our conversation below.
Ingrid, 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.
Imposter syndrome is still very much an issue for me. I can look at the facts on paper, that I started a business from scratch, on a shoestring budget, and I now have 10 titles to my name, including six bestsellers, but there is always that niggling voice in my head telling me I don’t deserve it.
I combat this negative self-talk by continuing to work and succeed, in spite of my own misconceptions. Deep down, I have faith that I’m on the right track, and this is borne out in my continued success and the many accolades I have received for my business without expecting them.
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?
I publish books on a variety of subjects, mainly poetry, memoir and fiction. The work is varied and interesting, from cover design to proofreading and editing, typesetting and text design to publication and publicity!
My 10th title with EIF, In The Shadow of Rainbows by Selma Martin, was published on 15 July 2023. This delightful poetry collection is also my 6th Amazon-bestselling title! My first fiction publication, The Colourblind Grief by Jude Gorini, was a runner-up in the San Francisco Book Festival.
I also offer an affiliate publishing service to authors who want to self-publish their work, but are looking for help with the technical and design aspects of the process.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Resilience has been very important to me throughout the growth of my business. There have been times when I have had to work with very limited cashflow, and also deal with many people who doubted my ability to succeed. I put my success in spite of these hurdles down to a certain single-mindedness, and even stubbornness, on my part.
I have a very strong work ethic – I work all hours of the day and night if necessary to ensure a project is delivered on time, and to the quality and standard that authors and readers alike have come to expect of EIF.
Not only do I believe in what I do, I love what I do, so I am dedicated to the work. Without that level of dedication, I think it would be impossible to keep going, let alone succeed.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
When I begin to feel overwhelmed, my body gives me signs that I need to take a break: sleeplessness, anxiety attacks, depression. This is just a sign that things are out of balance. I need to take a break in order to get back on track. Sometimes this can be as simple as doing a half-hour meditation or yoga, at other times I need to completely detach from work and social media, and have a day or two of rest. Getting out in the countryside always helps. My advice would be, listen to your body. Rest when you need rest. You will come back to work with renewed energy and vigour. Modern life has us thinking we have to respond to everyone, and everything immediately, but this is an illusion, and trying to do so can drive us crazy!
Contact Info:
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