We were lucky to catch up with Jess Huynh recently and have shared our conversation below.
Jess, 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 wouldn’t say I’ve completely overcome imposter syndrome, but I believe I’m almost there! Two main things have helped me and those things are: my partner and evidence. My partner is incredibly supportive of what I do and constantly reminds me to believe in myself, talk kindly to myself, and look at the evidence. I just recently celebrated my one year anniversary of my small business and he recommended listing out ALL the accomplishments I’ve achieved so far. If I get back into a scared mindset, I can lean on those hard facts and know that if I’ve done that, then I can continue to do more! The story we tell ourselves is so important and enough people in the world want to put us down already. So I acknowledge how far I’ve come, celebrate my wins, and continue to keep going!
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’m a Chinese American artist originally from Ramaytush Ohlone land (San Francisco, CA) and now living on Coast Salish and Duwamish land (Seattle, WA)! I started my small art business, Sik Fan Studio, in June 2024. I envision Sik Fan Studio as a space for exploring and embracing the intersection of food, mental health, and Cantonese culture through artwork infused with humor and warmth. I hope that through Sik Fan Studio, people can feel seen, relate to each piece of art in a different way, and hold room for joy!
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?
One impactful skill has been self-compassion. Art is subjective and it took me a little bit to really let it sink in that not everyone will like my art and that’s okay. I used to feel terribly down about people looking at my art at an event and then just walking away. But I’ve learned to wrap myself in support, security, and kindness. For those who walk away not interested, there are those who are excited and connect with my art, and that lights up my world!
Another impactful skill has been letting go of perfection. The crooked line? The feeling of wanting the drawing process to be mistake free? Time to let it all go. I’ve learned that perfection hinders creativity, clutters the mind, and overall isn’t productive. It’s easier said than done, but we’re doing it one day at a time.
A final thing has been positive pressure. Because I’m a recovering people pleaser, I tend to give my all when someone else needs something done compared to when I need something done for myself. There have been moments in my small business journey where I’ve felt like I’ve just been coasting. So leaning into some positive pressure has helped me get out of ruts and approach my small business with renewed gusto, fervor, and action!
Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?
When I feel overwhelmed, I stop. Or maybe more like I pause? I stop/pause, take a deep breath, and write out everything I’m feeling and everything I need to do. I know writing and journaling isn’t for everyone, but pulling the thoughts from my head to paper helps relieve that brain space and allows me to feel like I can think again.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sikfanstudio.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sikfanstudio
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sik-fan-studio/
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