We were lucky to catch up with Farraje Dionne recently and have shared our conversation below.
Farraje Dionne, 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.
Well… You ask how did I overcome imposter syndrome? I don’t think I really have overcome it. Answering this question I will have to answer another question along with it. How did I find my purpose? For years I have struggled with finding my identity. Who is Farraje Dionne Allen? From high school into my adult life I have tried to find out who I was through looking, studying and picking pieces of people I admired to make me. I cried and prayed many of nights asking why am I the way I am? It took for me to reach my forties for me to be comfortable in my own skin. But it didn’t come easily. I have endured an extreme amount of heartache and betrayal from the people closest to me. And that left me alone. No one to talk to freely. No one to feel safe with. Everyone around me at the time turned their backs on me one way or the other. It took the Most High to rip those that I loved family and friends away from me to show me that everything I was looking for in them I would find in Him.
It was when I got to my lowest mentally and spiritually I was able to build my spirit. And in building my spirit, through prayer, watching self care videos, podcasts, reading books and speaking with a few close people who have been through the same things I was going through, my spirit began to gain strength. I became a certified life coach through Tony Gaskins Jr. Academy and started taking classes on Silk pressing, hair cutting and hair color classes.
When starting my entrepreneurial business, it was hard not being a people pleaser. Because I had been out of the hair industry for so long my self esteem wasn’t the best. Don’t get me wrong, my core talent was still there but times have changed, styles have evolved and I wasn’t as in tune ld with the styles as some of my other colleagues were in the game so I was feeling a bit behind somewhat. I would under charge my work thinking that if I didn’t they wouldn’t return and now that I wasn’t working my 9-5 Walmart job anymore, I wouldn’t get or keep clients. But the more I cheated myself the more I felt low. Every time I did it, my value of myself went down. I found a beauty coach named Tiyana Robinson and with her help building my funnel and coaching sessions I found out that I was operating in imposter syndrome. She taught me that if you wanted a certain client, you have to set yourself apart. Set your standards and work with integrity. If I didn’t do the work early on and learn that I am who My Father says I am, raise my prices to what I was worth and walk in integrity I wouldn’t be who I am becoming today.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I have been a licensed hairstylist for 19 years but I’ve been in the beauty industry full time for two years. I specialize in healthy chic hairstyles that range from silk presses, pixie cuts and relaxer styles. I have recently started stepping into the teaching and training role in the beauty industry by teaching other stylists the tips and tricks on how to get that bone straight silk press that has their clients sprinting back into their chairs. I am also a certified life coach. I am extremely passionate about helping women find their purpose in life. I wish I had a person that could’ve helped me dig deep through the rough areas of my life. I know it all happened for a reason and I wouldn’t be who I am without the good, bad and ugly but it would’ve been nice to have someone to guide me through those times when I wasn’t so sure about a lot of decisions I’ve made. Most of them were made in the blind. And because of that I spent a lot of years praying for a way out of the messes that I created.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Three qualities that were and are most impactful on my journey is to always stay teachable/coachable, be disciplined and always be humble. The advice I would give is to seek to understand and not to be right. Always strive to communicative effectively because hearing and not listening will only give you ineffective information and that could ruin your business.
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
When I feel overwhelmed, I remember that there is someone who always has their eye on me. Someone who will never leave or forsake me. I remember that the plans that this person had for me are for my good and not my evil. That the LORD is my Shepard and I shall not want. That means that I am being led and provided for through my journey. That HE has already paved the way I just have to be obedient and follow my path as it it written.
Contact Info:
- Website: Farrajedionne.com
- Instagram: Farraje Dionne
- Facebook: Farraje Dionne
Image Credits
Casey Cassel Photography
