We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Caroline Hagerty a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Caroline, thank you so much for making time for us today. We can’t wait to dive into your story and the lessons you’ve learned along the way, but maybe we can start with something foundational to your success. How have you gone about developing your ability to communicate effectively?
A key ingredient for great communication is EMPATHY. Emotional intelligence is essential. As the great Maya Angelou once said “At the end of the day people won’t remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel.” I intentionally take time to notice the person I am speaking too. Are they eager to listen or looking for a quick interaction? Do they seem engaged, distracted, curious, agitated? By taking note of these emotional cues, I can choose the right words to best reach my audience. The best advice I can offer to anyone looking to improve their communication is take time to observe other people’s needs. Don’t focus so much on what you’re trying to say, sell, or prove.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
She’s a business owner, okay! My business partner and I founded Lini Victoria LLC in 2020. We are an 100% Latina Owned and Operated creative agency. We specialize in visual merchandising, packaging design, and branding. I love designing for print. Print is not dead!
My business exists at the intersection of where my values meet my ambitions. Some days I really feel like I am living my dream life. Other days I actively have to convince myself I’m capable of doing the most simple tasks- my passion fuels me on those tough days.
I’m a very sensitive person. I feel most alive when I can connect with other people. In my spare time, I love quilting, baking, making memories with my daughter, and disassociating while looking at astrology memes.
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?
Risk Tolerance. No risk, no reward. You can’t expect anyone to bet on you before you’re willing to bet on yourself. It’s a great big, beautiful world out there and you’ll miss a lot of it if you’re too scared to try new things. Start small. Go to dinner alone. Take a surfing class. Cross something off your bucket list. It gets easier with practice. Before you know it, you’ll be more comfortable taking bigger, more impactful risks.
Curiosity. This really matters, arguably more than talent. I read a lot. I ask a lot of questions. I invest in my continued education as a designer, business owner, mother, and partner. We live in an age of endless information available to all- aaaand yes, it’s certainly overwhelming. When I’m overstimulated, I take deep breaths and I walk away from the task at hand. Set manageable goals for yourself. Don’t compare yourself to others. Reading just one book can change your life. You don’t need to read the 100 most influential books of all time right this very minute! Follow your curiosity and it will take you far.
Kindness. All of us can stand to be a bit kinder. It’s important to be kind to ourselves first and foremost. Treat yourself as much and as often as you can. You deserve it. Fill your heart so can share those good vibes with others.
Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?
Look, I am all for self-improvement. However, I’m more so all for self-acceptance. I spent a very long time- like several decades long- believing my strengths weren’t very special. Being creative didn’t matter because I couldn’t easily monetize my creativity.
It’s still very important to educate ourselves especially in the things we don’t easily understand. I once took an online class on basic car maintenance so I could feel secure when going to the mechanic. I am happy with that! It was enough for me. I don’t need to feel clueless every time I get an oil chance anymore. I don’t need to become an expert in cars. I can accept it isn’t my thing and move on.
I’m choosing to go all in on my strengths. I follow my curiosity and creativity where they leads me. These days, I allow myself to feel joyful as much as possible. I don’t think anyone should continue to beat themselves up over their shortcomings. It’s okay to focus on polishing our own individual strengths to become the shiniest version of ourselves we can be!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.linivictoria.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/linivcreative/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lini-victoria-llc/
