We recently connected with Fabiana Aparicio and have shared our conversation below.
Fabiana, so great to be with you and I think a lot of folks are going to benefit from hearing your story and lessons and wisdom. Imposter Syndrome is something that we know how words to describe, but it’s something that has held people back forever and so we’re really interested to hear about your story and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
I feel like everyone at some point experiment impostor syndrome. Part of that comes from us wanting to be perfect at what we are doing, and it also comes from the fear of failure, of not filling someone’s expectations, or even our own. Maybe even from comparing ourselves to others in the same field.
To me, the best way to overcome that feeling is by slowing down, pausing and analyzing why I am doing what is causing me to feel that way. I ask myself why I started pursuing that dream, that project and I use that to my favor. I think of all the exciting things that pushed me to start my journey, and I think of the best scenario rather than how or when I am going to fail. Our brain kind of navigates anxiety and excitement the same way, so I try to trick it by channeling all those insecurities into what my dreamed moment would look like.
Something that also helps me when I find myself comparing myself to others is really thinking on how little I know about what really goes on behind their scenes. And reminding myself everyone’s journey and times are different and that I am where I am supposed to be.
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?
I am a mother of two and wife, born and raised in Mexico. I moved to the US almost nine years ago and I can say that was one of the most difficult decisions I have ever made in my life. Leaving my entire family and friends behind to start a family with my husband was the biggest change I have ever been through and it was absolutely a bittersweet experience. After having my son, I knew I did not want to go back to work and I wanted to be able to stay home with him, raising him and enjoying those first moments of his life, but I also wanted to be able to contribute financially while doing something I enjoyed, so after a long time of trying to find what exactly to do, I decided to start an online shop selling digital invitations. I really enjoyed creating them for my son’s parties and personal events and I found out people were making a profit on the internet out of it,so I decided to give it a try. Little did I know they were actually going to sell. I then decided to start a social media account to promote my products and I started connecting with other creators. That is when I came across this creative woman who had a laser-powered business and I became really interested in all the things she was able to create with it. Laser machines can be a huge investment, so it was a really intimidating thing to even consider. After having a conversation with my family about it, they saw how excited I was about the possibility of staring a business and they decided to help me fund my project. I remember crying of how scared I was of failing, thinking of all the worst case scenarios and the money that I was jeopardizing. Even with all that, I took a leap of faith and bought the laser. I thank my family every day for believing in me. For giving me that push I really needed and for helping me believe in myself too. Ever since then, I have been running my business, creating personalized gifts for every occasion, from Christmas ornaments, to Montessori toys for kids, business signs and branded items, wedding and other event decorations, accessories and so much more. I also recently started sharing on my social networks everything I have learned along the way to help other entrepreneurs who are willing to start a laser-powered business, hoping to make their journey a bit easier than what it was for me. My goal is to get to as many people as I can and also help those who have been willing to take the risk but they are scared to do so. I want to share my story and help them see that you do not need to have everything figured out. You just have to go for it.
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?
Ever since I was little, I have loved crafting and drawing. Anything that involves creating with my hands. I can say that continuous learning and self improvement have been key in my journey. I love learning new things and skills and I always do a lot of research on things I am interested in and I try them to find out if they are for me or not. Everything that I know, has been self-taught. I remember spending hours (I still do) watching videos and taking as many notes as posible. Reading blogs and listening to podcast from other creators to implement their advise and get better at what I do. Never stop trying new things. Being a person who has gone through so many impactful changes, I consider myself to be resilient and very adaptable. I always try to see the bright side on every situation that is presented in my way and I work with what I have. I really believe that you do not need to have everything figured out or have all the tools to start something. You just have to be willing to do it. Failure is part of the journey, and it is what teaches you how to get better. Another quality that think has been extremely helpful for me is the ability to create solutions in unexpected ways. If one thing does not work, sometimes you have to think outside of the box. There is always another way.
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 believe that knowing your strengths and developing them is extremely important. But focusing only on your strengths and not working on your weaknesses can hold you back from achieving so much more. In my personal experience, I have always been intimidated by the idea of taking on big projects, or projects where I am asked to do something I have never done before, fearing I might not be capable of fulfilling them or meeting the expectations. I decided to work on conquering those fears and giving myself the opportunity to try, and that is when I have realized I am more capable than what I could have imagined. Working on your weaknesses can open up new, exciting opportunities. And doing so, will also enhance your strengths. For me, developing new skills and conquering my weaknesses has given me so much confidence, helping me grow professionally and easing the the journey to achieving my goals.
Contact Info:
- Website: ww.w.fabidesignstudio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fabidesignstudio
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/VgAowfTA345ZJYoS/?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fabiana-aparicio-gonzalez-5162a066?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@fabidesignstudio?si=NthmfKXSgafg1akO
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