Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Aysia Lane. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Aysia, 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.
I haven’t and I won’t ever. The real secret is: not a single person knows what they’re doing. Not entirely. No one knows exactly what’s next for them and their life. No one has all the answers for why they’ve gone through what they’ve gone through. What people do is sit at whatever table has an open seat- maybe even pull up their own chair- and pretend they are supposed to be there. The philosophy I’ve learned to adopt is simple: If you got into the room, if you found your way onto the ‘guest list’.. you deserve to be there. The most famous and talented person in your field is still human. That fact alone should make you charge at any door you think is closed to you and aim to break it down.
I’ve struggled with imposter syndrome at nearly every stage of my life. Some days, during my college experience, I felt as if I was parading around in a clown suit at a circus. One big joke. And then someone would tell me that I helped them, inspired them, or made them realize they could do something and I would think: how many people that I look up to feel the same way I do?
Some of these conclusions require time, maturity and distance from your current position to fully understand and apply- but just know: a painter that never sells their work is still a painter.
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’m hesitant to admit that I’m nosey. I like having answers to all my questions and I enjoy the journey to find information. In fact, I prefer the term ‘curious’. My desire to understand people and learn more about myself in relation to them is the undercurrent of most of my behaviors. I enjoy being held up in a corner chatting for hours or sharing stories over drinks. The process of collecting more information from the world around me is something I don’t think I’ll ever grow out of.
When I was younger, and not quite sure what my talents were- beyond yapping and writing – this process of drawing from the world around me and immersing myself in personal interactions felt even more therapeutic and I used that process to begin to create. I crafted poetry, short stories, plays, and anything I could come up with. As a chronic overthinker, this was a refreshing outlet for me to take my thoughts and use them as fuel to develop a creative outlet.
One day someone asked me “What do you want to be when you grow up?”. Most would say that’s a simple question but it sent me into a spiral. What did I want to do? And how would I do it? Better yet, what could I do now to help myself get to the point of even knowing what I wanted to be when I grow up – again, I’m an overthinker so I’ll spare you the rest.
I eventually decided to lean into my knack for creating and my unquenchable desire to be nosey. With time, this path led me to pursue a degree in film and in journalism. I couldn’t think of a better duo.
Because of my deep love for my close-knit family and the city of Dallas, I was determined to stay here. I received an offer to head to the East Coast with an amazing organization but something didn’t feel quite right. I didn’t know what exactly was next but I went in with the mindset that I would know it when I see it. And even when I received another amazing offer from a Dallas-based organization, something kept me from saying yes. It wasn’t it.
With my next step still not quite defined, I threw myself into freelancing and left my mentors, friends and loved-ones confused and following me around every corner of hesitation I had as I continued freelance work. I was applying to full-time roles and keeping my options open. No one seemed to understand what my plan was and the crazy thing was-neither did I. I just knew that when it was time, I would find the right fit.
Fast-forward through a whole lotta prayer, facetime calls with my long distance best friends, and scriptures…
I’m still freelancing.
I’m content with the work I’m doing, but I also understand that it’s transitional and shaping me for my next step.
No matter where I am, I’m telling stories that are important, educational and inspiring.
Freelance video work for me, is field producing. I handle everything logistical on set. You have questions? Ask me:
What time is lunch?
Do we hold onto our receipts for reimbursement?
Did you get them to sign the appearance release?
Can you convince him to get on camera? I think he’d be great!
Can you add that to the call sheet for tomorrow?
11:45, yes-take a picture though, yes, on it, I already did.
I’m basically the mom of the set, which is very on brand if you know me personally.
I love being a part of the process. I love helping. I love curating and managing. I love creating…..a vision, a story, an experience, a memory. To create is to fuel life and I absolutely love it. I love producing.
If you told me I would be doing this in college, I would have thought you were lying. Everything about producing scared me. It was an insane amount of pressure to be accurate, timely, fearless, autonomous, and quick-witted. I’ve come to realize that pressure serves me well. I thrive in the chaos of a deadline and the pressure to succeed. Is that healthy? Probably not. But learning this has become my super power. Since leaning into freelance I’ve had a wonderful opportunity to diversify my resume. Content production, experimental projects and observational documentaries have now been added to my menu. There are a few new things that are currently brewing, but I only share things once they have been completed. Keep your eyes peeled!
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1. Maintaining gratitude for the smallest of things. You can’t overlook the blessing of waking up everyday. You cannot grow so comfortable with the people that support you and the life you lead that you become complacent. You shouldn’t strive to do anything but be better than you were yesterday. Looking outwardly and comparing will only leave you feeling unsettled in your own progress as a person. Save your perception of others and the world around you for inspiration only.
2. Connect, don’t network. People are more than just business opportunities. I’ve had meetings with people simply to ask them questions- to learn. You should work to remain a student for as long as possible and well after leaving the classroom. Don’t write people off because you’re selfishly only concerned with how they can help you. To be interesting, you must first be interested.
3. There is no “wrong” choice or path. Everything is a testimony. You can use anything to get you where you feel you’re supposed to end up. If you are meant to have it, be it or live it- it will be yours. Trust the process. If you tend to be a late bloomer in most things you pursue, like me- just know the best stories tend to be the slow burners. The stories that feel earned by the time you get to the last page.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
I love to work with someone who knows the core of the story they want to tell. They may not know how to execute it- that’s my job anyway- but they know what they want to say. You can’t fake passion and connection to a story you want to tell. The love a person has for their vision is one of the purist I’ve observed because it doesn’t exist yet and the admiration is purely based on anticipation of its arrival. A story that feels lived in before it’s created has the most potential. Whether that arrives to me as a documentary piece, a narrative project or something that’s simply for the art of it all- I’m game.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.aysialane.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miss.aysia.lane/?hl=en
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aysialane/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/aysialane?lang=en
Image Credits
Melanie Jackson Ash Thye Samantha Dorisca
