Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Chelsea Oliver. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Chelsea, 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 think there are two main contributing factors to overcoming my imposter syndrome. The first being my circle of friends and family. So much of my confidence comes from my husband and the hype-women I am so lucky to be surrounded by. They really make me feel deserving and proud of what I’ve accomplished. The second being a few specific projects and opportunities that had me thinking “wow, I really did that with my own bare hands.” Getting a few big projects like that under my belt really helped diminish my imposter syndrome.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I have been running my business for going on 4 years and each year has looked different for reasons outside of my control. 2020 was the pandemic. In 2021 I was in a car accident that left me unable to do any calligraphy for about four months. I spent most of 2022 in occupational therapy and physical therapy trying to regain normal function of my dominant hand and wrist. When 2023 rolled around, I was so excited to be on the other side of recovery and be able to write and create without worrying about surgeries, stopping to wear a brace, or doctors appointments. Consequently, I didn’t put much thought into which direction I wanted to take my business. I was just happy to be back at it uninterrupted.
I started my business with handlettering chalkboard signage for restaurants and events. This soon expanded into mirror signage for weddings. For the past few years, event and restaurant signage have been the bread and butter of Oliver Lettering Co. My focus for the future of my business is to continue to add other sustainable services for my clients. Weddings can produce a lot of waste. I love to be a part of these big moments in my clients’ lives but I want to do so in a way that doesn’t contribute to that waste. Last year, I started painting champagne bottles as keepsakes for couples. And this year my biggest focus is engraving. I am now offering engraved wine and liquor bottles, perfume bottles, glasses, etc. and I’m hoping to fill my books with these types of commissions for 2024 and beyond.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Learning that my time is valuable was so important. I love what I do so a lot of times it doesn’t feel like work. At the beginning of my journey, I was giving away my services for next to nothing. I am a mother and a wife who was stretching herself way too thin. I think learning to set boundaries and value my work and my time really changed the trajectory of my business and my mental health. For folks that are first starting out, this is such a common roadblock to get over. You may not be comfortable with it at the very beginning of your journey, but after you get some experience under your belt, I urge you to not undercharge and not be afraid to turn down jobs that don’t align with your business.
This leads me to my next point. If it doesn’t bring you joy, don’t do it. You always hear “life is too short”, but that’s because it really is. The great thing about starting your own business is that you get to choose what that entails. You get to mold it in a way that fulfills you the most and I think that is important to remember.
Believing in yourself and overcoming imposter syndrome is another big hurdle to get over. It may sound silly, but my mantra for at least a year was “fake it until you make it.” As mothers, I believe we forge a whole new identity once our kids are born – which is no easy feat. For me, forging that new identity and becoming an artist were both happening at the same time. Because of that, the imposter syndrome was very real for me. My advice to people just starting their journey is to ignore the imposter syndrome. If you’re experiencing imposter syndrome, take that as a sign that you’re on the right track.
We’ve all got limited resources, time, energy, focus etc – so if you had to choose between going all in on your strengths or working on areas where you aren’t as strong, what would you choose?
I am a lifelong learner. I would bet that most creatives are. I love to learn new techniques and skills. I think as long as it brings us joy, we should aim to be more well rounded. Variety has the potential to bring in more clients and art friends, which is obviously a huge plus. I have found that variety keeps me from becoming burnt out, also. Besides, if you only stick to what you know you could be missing out on opportunities. I believe if you have the time, resources, and drive to do so, why wouldn’t you invest in improving other areas? It doesn’t take anything away from your already established strengths to improve in other areas.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.oliverletteringco.com
- Instagram: @oliverletteringco
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/oliverletteringco
Image Credits
Bride to be champagne bottle photo – Sam McCloskey Photo Black acrylic bar sign – Kayla Lynn Photos Mirror welcome sign – Caitlin Thomas photo Seating chart mirror – Tyler Norman photography
