We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Alison Barrows Ronn. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Alison below.
Alison, 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.
Addressing imposter syndrome is an ongoing challenge rather than a one-time fix.
Being at midlife, I appreciate having a long perspective. I have seen over and over that my feelings change. Feeling like an imposter can be feeling like feeling angry – that is, it is not a permanent feeling. It will change and almost definitely pass.
I enjoy the days (or even hours) when I have the perspective to see my successes and the skills and opportunities I have that set me up for future success.
When I’m having hours (or days) when I am less confident of my abilities, I trudge forward anyway – finding solutions for clients and learning more about the things I don’t know enough about. In my field, there is always more to know, and I find there are two methods to approach that. The first is to always be learning more. I stay aware of industry developments, and note where I need to know more so that I can fill that gap as quickly as possible. Secondly, I cultivate a strong network within my field, surrounding myself with knowledgeable peers who I can turn to for guidance and support. These strategies help me combat imposter syndrome and navigate challenges with confidence.
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?
I specialize in crafting intuitive and memorable websites. My forte lies in organizing information and presenting it to your audience with style and just the right among of zing.
I enjoy collaborating with clients to define their website. While some businesses and organizations have a clear vision of both their business and their new website, many do not, and my background as a writer and an educator come into play as I guide clients through defining their uniqueness, their specific audience, their most profitable and most popular services, and the overall goals of their websites.
With a collegial approach and a well-defined process, I help my clients move their business forward as they discover and define their business’s values, strengths, and future goals. This collaborative process not only ensures that their online presence authentically reflects their brand or organization but also resonates with potential customers, driving growth and expanding their customer base.
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?
The most important aspects of my journey have been my wide and diverse network of friends, acquaintances, and co-workers; technical expertise in my field and the priority I place on continual expansion of my knowledge; and my critical thinking ability honed by learning and practicing the skill of concise and content-rich writing.
I value the diversity of connections in my life whether from the gym, church, schools, business, sports, local community, and more. A variety of perspectives and connections is invaluable. Because of them, I understand the world a little better, and have resources to reach out to when I’m seeking information. Often networking looks like socializing, and therefore feels like it should be relegated to spare time rather than work time. But socializing within the work world leads to knowing, liking, and trusting each other, which can lead to successful collaboration. Finding clients and completing successful projects depends on clear communication and good relationships. I prioritize building and nurturing relationships and meaningful connections and navigating interpersonal difficulties as well as possible, nurturing them, and navigating interpersonal difficulties as well as possible.
My field is constantly changing, and being willing to build on my technical expertise is essential, as is my network of people within my field doing the same thing. Being able to reach out to share information I’ve learned, and learn from people who are specializing in an aspect of my work that I have not yet learned is priceless. And confidence, which should always be nurtured, is not sufficient for success – knowledge and skills are also essential.
The third skill which I have found indispensable is having learned how to write well. I have watched children go from “what do I write about, I’ve already said it all” to realizing that there are dozens more questions that can be asked and answered on any given topic. The ability to generate those questions, to put them in a logical order, to answer them with substance and value, and to create a linear approach to a topic that is non-linear (and most topics are non-linear) is an expansion of critical and creative thinking which is useful in all aspects of success.
For folks who are early in their journeys I recommend creating an inventory of successes of any kind to ruminate over when things are hard. As you move forward into new things, fold in your prior experience and recognize that you are never starting from zero – you’ve learned from lived experience and can figure out how to incorporate your past into your new venture. Even if the journey takes a complete 180, you’ll have strengths that you can call on – perhaps the ability to persevere, to learn hard things, to get along with different types of people. Or perhaps it’s actual technical expertise – knowing how to sell, how to write, how to teach, etc. Building your library of strengths, and recognizing them will help to cultivate resilience and confidence, which are integral factors to being and feeling successful.
Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?
A book that I read when my husband and I got our first puppy over 20 years ago had a huge effect on my relationships. Not surprisingly, “Don’t Shoot the Dog” by Karen Pryor, changed how I trained our dog, but it also influenced how I parented our three sons. The book opens with contrasting stories about two older women, one who complains incessantly and demands attention and respect that she does not get, and the other who greets all guests with a smile and a cup of tea regardless of how many aches and pains she may have that day. The book details the use of positive reinforcement techniques to shape human and canine behavior. In the case of the two women, both of whom enjoy visits from friends and family, the one who is able to light up in welcome and engage in reciprocal conversation not surprisingly has more visitors than the one who complains that no one visits her and drones on about her maladies. Learning to be the woman that people enjoy, and who also gets more of what she wants is definitely a win/win situation!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ronn.tech/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ronnwebtech/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Alison.RonnTech/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alison-barrows-ronn/
Image Credits
Photo and image credit: Alison Barrows Ronn
