We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ari Laing a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Ari, 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.
Overcoming imposter syndrome starts with recognizing that self-doubt is often a natural part of growth and that many others feel the same way. To combat this, I’ve always tried to focus on my achievements, skills, and the hard work I’ve put in to reach where I am at every stage of my career.
Building confidence begins with believing in yourself and your abilities, even when it feels challenging. I did this by setting small, realistic goals for myself and my business, and celebrating each success and win. Over time, I’ve learned to expand my goals and dream big. It’s also imperative that I surround myself with supportive people who encourage my growth, and remember that everyone has room to learn and improve. I’m a work in progress, but I’m so proud of where I am today.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Transitioning from a restaurant chef to the creator of a thriving food blog has filled me with more excitement and gratitude than I ever thought possible. This dream job, which I’ve built from the ground up, enables me to continue working in the food and wine industry, which I’ve done since 2010, but with full creative freedom. Every day is unique, and I love that.
At it’s core, I share elevated, restaurant-worthy dishes that can be made with minimal effort at home. I have loved cooking for as long as I can remember, so to have days at a time where I’m developing recipes and testing concepts, while also feeding my family and friends, is the greatest gift ever. In addition to sharing recipes, over the years I’ve had the extreme pleasure to collaborate with some of my all-time favorite brands. This could be through recipe development, sharing with my audience on social media, or (perhaps my favorite part of the job), through travel.
To be able to support myself and my family while pursuing a career that I not only excel at, but look forward to each and every day has taught me a new level of gratitude. What more could I ask for in a job?
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?
Being self-motivated, extremely detail oriented, and creative have each helped me tremendously as a business owner. If you need help setting up systems to keep you on track, I’d urge you to invest the time and money necessary, because organization is key. Don’t be afraid to spend money in order to make money.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
Owning your own business and loving what you do is a quick way to become a workaholic. Unfortunately, I often find myself working far too many hours because there’s always more to be done. This can lead to a general sense of feeling overwhelmed, and when that happens I *force* myself to take time off. In fact, I usually try to take at least half a day each week to recharge my batteries. This self-care comes in the form of manis and pedis, lunch with friends, or simply reading in a coffee shop. If I don’t carve out the time to let myself breathe and step away from work, I end up being less productive. It’s the same with exercise. I used to complain that I didn’t have time, but somehow when I squeeze a long walk in during the day, it clears my head and I come back to work even more engaged and productive. A total win-win!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.wellseasonedstudio.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wellseasonedstudio/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wellseasonedstudio
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ari-laing/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@wellseasonedstudio
Image Credits
2 images credited to Mindy Briar (Ari standing with charcuterie board and sitting at computer desk). 1 image credited to Amanda Kamppinen (Ari in blue dress with sunglasses on). The rest are personal photos.
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
