Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Emmy Denton. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Emmy, 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.
Thank you and absolutely, Imposter syndrome is a topic I hear talked about a lot with people who are pursuing and exploring the unknown. It’s this “in-between” where people are passionate enough to go after something, but uncertain enough to second guess it.
It’s definitely something I’ve had to face head-on while growing my business. When I was doing it part-time I felt excited about figuring it all out. Then, when I went full time, there was this shift, I was now a business owner, building an agency, and I felt the pressure to be known, qualified, experienced, perfect (the breeding ground for imposter syndrome). I couldn’t take my eyes off of what others were doing and how unqualified I looked in comparison.. and it paralyzed me! Until I started remembering my “why.” It wasn’t about how “qualified” I was, it was about my heart for people and how passionate I was about helping bring their vision to life! I remembered why Emmy started: to work with visionaries, be their cheerleader, and support their big dreams and creative ideas. I knew I was the woman for that job; there was no doubt about it! So, with all of the courage and boldness I had inside of me, I started there. But I still couldn’t shake this thought: “who do you think you are?” That’s when I realized that imposter syndrome will always demand answers, and it will get louder and louder until its questions are answered! I only had one cure for that voice: truth. It’s still what I use to fight it.
The truth is, ability won’t always be enough, which is why bringing other experts into client projects has always been important to me. If what I’m working on requires a higher level of intellect, there are books, resources, and people out there to help me rise to the occasion and see it through. If my skills are in question, I can always put in work to sharpen them. If I doubt myself, I know the truth of who I am and why I started. The key to overcoming imposter syndrome is truth. The truth is, there will be people reading this with an idea, dream, passion.. and they have it for a reason. My mission for Willful Pursuit is that we’re ready with the tools people need, when they realize their dreams are possible! They have to know. Imposter syndrome stopped having my attention the moment I saw that people’s dreaming hearts are coming back to life! There are concepts, businesses, impossible-looking ideas that some people will be bold enough to go after. And when they do, I’ll be here. That’s what has silenced imposter syndrome and it’s how I’ll teach others to fight and overcome it too!
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?
For sure! So, I live in Tampa with my husband RJ. He was actually the person who pushed me to start pursuing photography. The first year we were dating he got a few family members to buy a camera for me and that’s where I technically started my business journey. I started taking photos and writing, then started a blog and purchased the domain for Willful Pursuit (now my agency). I knew I wanted to do things that were fun and creative but I didn’t know what yet, so I started there. I identified most with being creative, but I knew that I wanted to keep building off of what I was learning, so I started offering photography packages for $50! It took me hours to learn lightroom and edit but I loved it, so I kept trying out different types of photography and offering my services wherever it made sense. Eventually I started feeling a little entrepreneurial. I liked it! So much so, that I actually chose to go to college and get a business degree to understand that world better. I chose a Management and Organizational Leadership BAS Degree with a sub-plan of Project Management. It was the most creative degree I could find connected to business, and the more I got into it, the more I fell in love.
Combining the world of business with creativity was new territory for me. I had always thought it was one or the other. I was happy to find that those two worlds did indeed overlap. The more I served different types of clients, the more I started to find that startups are definitely my ideal clients. I use a combination of business strategy, project management, and creative direction to help entrepreneurs launch, grow and scale their business! I officially moved into this niche at the end of 2022 and serve those clients through Willful Pursuit Creative Agency, offering launch support and growth strategy. For each project, I assess what the client’s needs are and pull from my bank of preferred contractors to create the perfect team to meet the scope of work and execute from start to finish! This gives me the opportunity to work alongside so many talented people I’ve met and built relationships with over the years. The beautiful thing about this structure is, I get to support them in the same way that my clients have invested and trusted me! It’s truly an honor. It’s crazy to think that a camera given to me in 2016, mixed with YEARS of me throwing myself into anything creative, helped me make those connections and has also brought me here. It really is true when they say “it doesn’t happen overnight.” It’s the daily decisions.
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?
I think bravery was a big one. It’s intertwined into almost every experience I’ve had leading up to now and will likely always be that way! I had to be brave in order to set out and pursue what I was passionate about. I didn’t know if I’d be any good or if it would lead me anywhere, I just had to be brave, go for it, and let the chips fall. The second is boldness. I had to be bold and had to face every reason I had for not doing it, head-on. Each decision I made or step of faith I took, built my confidence. Which led me to develop my skills and pursue new ones. I think my curiosity and desire to learn are tied for that final spot. Those two qualities brought me to decisions like getting a business degree. That was never in my plan but when you’ve got a hankering to learn and some curiosity to fuel it, you’ll find yourself in some pretty foreign places. My advice to anyone who’s early in their journey is just that: let your passions surface and then pursue them, one day at a time. You’d be surprised where it takes you! Then, find ways to build on that, learn and develop your skills. My biggest learning tool was the good ‘ol YouTube university, and still is in some cases! Don’t complicate it, just take it day by day. Don’t count yourself out, be brave, be bold, and stay teachable.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
You Are The Girl For The Job by Jess Connolly & Unapologetically Ambitious by Shellye Archambeau | These books changed my life. I read You Are The Girl For The Job when I was just starting to explore different hobbies and creative outlets. It sparked something in me in a time where I was so uncertain. Then, a few years into my freelance journey I heard Shellye Archambeau speak. I was in awe. She had just written her book Unapologetically Ambitious and I remember my heart welling up inside with every word she wrote. Timely, inspiring, and impactful!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: wp.creativeagency
- Linkedin: Emmy Denton
- Other: insta: new launch @wp.creativestudio
Image Credits
Christina Jones – www.christinajonesphoto.com
