We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Candace Duplessis a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Candace, 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.
When I saw this question, I instantly felt the need to speak on it because this is something that was so persistent in the building of my career. For me, overcoming this was more than hard work. I needed to continue to show up for myself, even in days when I didn’t feel like it. I had a dream of what I wanted to do with my plat form and business, and once I have something set on my heart, I want to accomplish it.. badly. Doing the research, growing in your knowledge, sourcing materials and equipment, that is the easy part. No one told me that all of that can be defeated in an instant when you fall into imposter syndrome. For the longest time, I didn’t know what imposter syndrome was, I just knew that I kept comparing myself and it was awful. With my content platforms like Instagram, Youtube and my own blog website, I would start out excited about my future. I would see 100 views and at the time I thought that was a huge accomplishment for me, especially because my skills were still developing and I had no idea how to navigate technology. But as soon as I felt like I developed one skill, the algorithm changed. I didn’t know how to keep up with everyone else who seemed like social media was built for them. Other content creators made it seem easy to move as the algorithm moved, and still remained aesthetic yet authentic to their audiences.
So for the longest time, I would compare and try to figure out the reasons as to why I wasn’t where I wanted to be. At first, I thought it was my camera equipment. So I would buy cameras and accessories that other people were using, thinking that would help me get to my goal. It didn’t. Then I told myself it was because I wasn’t making content about “trending” things. So I began to make content that I really didn’t relate to, or want to make in the first place, because I thought that would work. It didn’t. Then I told myself it was because my house and the areas I was shooting my content weren’t “aesthetic” enough. So I would rent out studios to take photos or make videos, or I would try and rearrange my house to try and make them look like a Pinterest board, thinking that would also work. Once again, that did not. I would get frustrated because the ideas in my head weren’t coming out the way I wanted them too. I would make videos and take pictures, and never post anything because I told myself it wasn’t as good as the next content creator.
I was down for a very long time, and I went from consistently making content, to not posting at all. I took my blog website down, stopped making Youtube videos. I stopping running my Etsy business. I completely gave up, all because I was constantly comparing myself to everyone else, and according to their work, I was nothing. But then getting to the very bottom is what pushed me to pull myself back up, and out of my depression. I got tired of not creating and expressing myself, because I realized that I wasn’t making content for other’s approval, or the world’s. I was doing it as my outlet. To give myself the opportunity to grow, learn more about me and watch the change in me. I don’t have to have tons of followers or views to validate who I am and what I love to do. I needed to tell myself that my content wasn’t going to look like someone else’s because I am not them. It wasn’t my job to try and recreate their vision, because it was for them to fulfill, not me. God placed something on my heart, which is why the passion for it never went away, even when I was down and felt like it wasn’t for me. That’s what made me realize that I am meant to keep going. I may not ever get the follower count I thought I wanted, or get the views I think I should have, but I know that I love creating videos, making art, and expressing myself through it, and that is something I won’t let go of, just because it doesn’t look the way I thought it would.
I needed to remember that everyone starts somewhere, and the very people I would compare myself to, started at 1. Everything and everyone has a time, and I fell in love with the process, knowing that when it’s mine, I will shine.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I am a theater and video production major, who loves all things film. I love to create stories and analyze them. I connect to the story plot and characters, figuring out who they are and why they are the way they are. I have had my content platforms for a little over 6 years now, and have had the amazing opportunity to work some of the best brands. I get to connect with other people who have the same interests, and show other’s that being their authentic selves is the best “brand” you can commit to, support and show out for.
I am in the process of reinventing my clothing brand, Third Generation Apparel, that I created in honor of my late Grandmother and my amazing mother, who have molded me into the woman that I am. I want to strive to show other’s that through God, you find yourself. My brand is all about being real and showing my authentic self, while also being uplifting .
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?
– Being ok with not knowing everything – Being humble in knowing that I will learn, grow and get better
– Trusting in God
These three have really impacted the way I look at the journey. I used to only see the goal, and not ever see how to get there. Then when reality hit, I would push it away because it was hard or wasn’t coming to me fast enough. I wanted quick gratification because I felt like that would validate the ideas I had in my head, like it would tell me “ok, this is what you’re supposed to be doing”. When I didn’t get the results I wanted, I was ready to give up, but that’s because I wasn’t embracing the journey to where I want to be. I won’t know everything right away, which is why you have to be humble, and know that it comes with time. With time, comes growth and enhancing your craft. And in times when it seems hard to trust that the process will pay off, then I trust that God gave me those dreams for a reason. And if he gave me the dream, he’ll give me the resources and journey to fulfill it.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
When I am passionate about something, I begin to envision it and what I would look like once I’m there. And I get so stuck in that vision that I don’t process how I am going to get there, or what it takes to get there. I start my research and learning, and I want to take it all in at once, thinking that will make the process move along faster, but in reality, all that does is delay me because I become overwhelmed. In times like that, I take a second. I take a break from the logistics and I surround myself around my why. Why are you pursuing this? Why is this your passion? Why do you want this so bad? One I get back to that, I feel excited again, I feel motivated again. I am able to continue knowing that it won’t be easy, it will get overwhelming, but it will all be worth it.
My advice would be to rediscover your why’s. Get back into the field, read inspiring stories that are relevant to your journey. Go to events that remind you of your dreams and passions. Surround yourself with like-minded people who want the same things, or are interested in the same things. Or even be around people who are passionate about following after their dreams, because a dream won’t chase you. Find your why, fall in love with your why’s and go execute with grace!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @justcandaceblogs
- Youtube: JustCandace
Image Credits
@kassandrajasmine.photo on Instagram!
