We recently connected with Andrew Glass and have shared our conversation below.
Andrew , 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.
I’m not sure that I’ve fully overcome imposter syndrome yet, even after nearly 7 years of owning my brand! There are definitely moments where I think “wow, I am a part of this crazy community,” but I think its easy for insecurities to pop back up when you see other brands doing things you want to do, growing faster, etc. For me it’s important to continue reminding myself that I’ve built a brand that I’m proud of and I’ve never sacrificed my vision for things like money.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
As a founder of an indie brand I wear a million different hats on a daily basis. I handle everything from formulation to packaging design to photoshoots and social media. It’s extremely hard work but also incredibly rewarding when you see the finished product. I absolutely love being able to use my creativity to build something that I love, and see how much others love it as well. In everything I create I try to not only respect our planet through sustainable practices and eco-friendly materials, but utilize its natural powers through natural botanicals. The result is a very modern, forward-thinking brand that is grounded in nature.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
For me it was important to build something on my own without compromising my vision.That meant designing / formulating my own products, bringing my vision to life through photography and not needing outside funding. It forced me to teach myself the necessary skills needed to make that happen, and I am so grateful I chose this route versus relying on others to bring my vision to life. While my background is in beauty, I had no idea how to use programs like Illustrator and Photoshop, and now they are one of my greatest strengths. I would urge every person who is thinking about starting a business to figure out what they can accomplish themselves before bringing in outside help. It can save them a lot of time and money.
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
Finding my voice and being more of an assertive person has been something I’ve had to work hard on over the last several years. Naturally I’m a people pleaser and will avoid confrontation at all costs, but I’ve figured out that I can have a voice that people respect while still being respectful to others.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.nongenderspecific.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nongenderspecificofficial/?hl=en
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrewlglass
Image Credits
Non gender specific
