We recently connected with Juliana Nahas and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Juliana, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.
Imposter syndrome is such a common experience, especially among women and creatives. I certainly struggled with it early on in my business, and even up until the last year. My entire life I thrived on recognition, awards, and external validation to prove that I was worthy. And once you’re established in your career, and especially when you work for yourself, that type of positive reinforcement doesn’t happen very often.
One particularly imposter syndrome-fueled day, I was emphatically asking my business coach on a video conference to tell me I was good at my job. Suddenly, seeing myself on the screen acting like a child begging for approval, I had an epiphany. I realized that in my late 30s, it was time to draw a line in the sand. Enough was enough.
But you can’t just wave a wand and make it go away. I did some research and reading to understand where imposter syndrome comes from so I could get at the root cause of it. Somewhat surprisingly, imposter syndrome stems from perfectionism and is more common among high-achievers. I hadn’t considered myself a perfectionist before, but when it came to what I created and put out into the world, I certainly was. I was so hard on myself and typically focused on the flaws, and what could be done better, and would hold my breath when delivering work to a client half expecting them to reply that they hated it. (When in reality, that rarely happens.)
To combat the perfectionist in me, I’ve embraced “good enough” and am practicing giving myself the approval I seek instead of relying on others. Nothing will ever be perfect, and that’s okay. Moving into a space of “good enough” has been liberating. I still deliver the best work I can, but instead of focusing on the end product and what I could have done differently, I celebrate the effort, the little moments of inspiration, and the process of creating. And don’t get me wrong – my ego still loves external validation, but my soul is more at ease with the continuous approval I give myself.
Imposter syndrome isn’t something that disappears overnight, it’s a continuous process but well worth the effort and self-reflection to overcome.
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?
As a commercial stylist and photographer, my job is to make products look their best through photography. I specialize in working with aesthetically driven brands and creating a setting that tells a story about the product, engaging the viewer and making the items more appealing. By combining the right lighting, angles, and composition, I bring out the unique qualities of each product. My work helps brands convey their message visually, making their products stand out in a competitive market.
In addition to my work as a photographer, I’m currently in the process of launching a new platform – The Stock Shop – which will be a curated, community-driven marketplace where creatives can submit and vote on the best digital assets to be sold on the site. The Stock Shop will be the go-to resource for creators to generate passive income and find high-quality design assets to bring their ideas to life.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
I know you’re asking for three, but I honestly think there are just two!
I believe success hinges on cultivating your mindset and practical knowledge. First, your mindset is the cornerstone and driving force dictating what will become your reality. It’s about nurturing a blend of resilience, adaptability, confidence, and in some cases delusion (in the best way possible) of what you will achieve. Having a solid mental foundation allows you to navigate challenges or setbacks and reframe them as opportunities for growth.
Second, acquiring practical knowledge is crucial. You cannot put your head in the sand when it comes to the less glamorous aspects of running a business. This includes understanding how to manage finances, paying taxes, and setting up your business structure. I wish I had understood the operational side of things from the get-go and spent the time setting up my business correctly instead of going back and untangling things later.
In both of these areas, the best thing you can do is be aware of your deficiencies so you can seek out others who can help; whether that’s a business coach to help with your mindset, or a tax expert to help set up your business structure. There’s a lot you can do and learn on your own, but hiring a vetted professional can be the best investment you can make.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I am currently building out a new platform, The Stock Shop, and am searching for global talent to contribute to the site. I’m looking for designers, artists, and creators who are exceptional in their field and looking to create passive income by selling digital assets (such as stock photos, fonts, templates, graphics, vector files, digital mockups, and more!) online. The best way to get in touch is by emailing [email protected]
Contact Info:
- Website: julianamary.com
- Instagram: @julianamary
- Other: thestockshop.com (coming Spring 2024!) thestyledstockshop.com (a stock photo and mockup membership focused on serving the stationery community)
