We recently connected with Corrie Williams and have shared our conversation below.
Corrie, 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.
I haven’t. It’s a constant voice in the back of my head that is quieter on some days, louder on others. But I find comfort in the fact that almost EVERYONE has it. The women I look up to in the world, the ones breaking down barriers, fighting for a more just and whole world feel it too. And that realization has often stopped me in my tracks. While imposter syndrome is likely an output or side-effect (or, perhaps, intent) behind the patriarchy and traditional capitalism, it has allowed me to feel much more compassion towards others carving their own path. Because doing something non-traditional, entrepreneurial, or simply speaking up IS hard and the imposter voices can be loud. But knowing that others are just trying to figure out their own authentic path forward too helps me feel less alone in all of it. I think that is what helps me quiet that imposter voice and lean into what feels true and authentic for me.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Since 2015, I have run my own consulting business supporting many local non-profits who focus on connecting children and youth to the outdoors. I would have never considered myself an entrepreneur prior to this endeavor, but starting my own consulting business forced me to understand the ins-and-outs of small business ownership, bookkeeping, project management, and collaboration. This is where I first discovered the dronings of imposter syndrome and had to learn quickly how to manage it. I trusted my own internal compass and leaned heavily on building strong collaborative teams with others who understood the vision and mission of any given project.
Fast forward to 2019 when I started to envision how Modern Folklore might be realized outside of the confines of my own imagination. I’ve always had a love and appreciation for artisan goods and supporting local business, so that side of my business model felt much more natural and intuitive. Retail, on the other hand, was a whole new adventure. But once I accepted and came to peace with the hard truth that I might fail, I decided I wanted to go for it. And in August of 2022, I took the leap to be a part of the change I wanted to see in my community.
Modern Folklore is a weaving together of much of my life’s work and journey. As a geographer who studied the human-nature connection and influence of place on culture, I deeply appreciate the stories behind the hands that make. The traditional artisanry of a certain place and culture helps connect us across borders and ties us directly to the lived experience of another. My environmental design and resource management training frames my view on conscious consumption and the role we each play in what and how we consume. And my experience as a research-storyteller for nature-based non-profits has empowered me to uplift the stories and to understand deeply that stories matter. They are the ties that bind and help remind us that we really do belong to each other.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
experience with project management, being detail oriented, and having a collaborative spirit have been helpful. Also being flexible and adaptive to what reality will inevitably throw your way. I did create a business plan/model that has helped reflect my vision back to me. And I still revisit it to this day to remind me of how far I’ve come, what’s shifted, what needs to change, or what is different from my original vision. This helps me decide if and how I want to evolve and helps bring me back to my core values.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
The biggest challenge, for me, in small-scale retail is financial planning month-to-month. There is really only so much you as a business owner and curator can control. The rest is up to the community you serve to engage with your store and use their purchasing power to support your business.
For me, this aspect has proven incredibly challenging, especially when there are known fixed costs (e.g., rent, utilities, etc.) and “flexible” costs (e.g., payroll, cost of goods, etc.). I am struggling with keeping my employee’s hours stable and how to reduce overhead costs. It’s a difficult dynamic that I’m still trying to wrap my head around. If you have any tips or suggestions, send them my way!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.modfolklore.com/
- Instagram: modfolklore
Image Credits
first 3 photos by shea kluender; photo of baskets by corrie williams (me)
