We were lucky to catch up with Katie Minion recently and have shared our conversation below.
Katie, 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.
Honestly it wasn’t easy, and I still struggle with it sometimes. For me, continued success is the only thing that keeps imposter syndrome at bay. If I lose a client and worry I won’t be able to find one to replace them, I try to tell myself that I’ve been doing my work successfully for over 6 years now. I have a great track record, and my work is valued. I know deep down that I’m good at my job, but I still need that external validation every so often.
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?
I’m a self employed girlie! I have two main jobs: I’m a freelance writer for the accounting industry, and I have an art business called DoodleStation.
I was a CPA all through my 20s before I decided that I wanted to do something more creative. With help from a former coworker, I found out that I wasn’t half bad at writing. She encouraged me to start freelancing, and she got me connected with a few CPA firms who were looking for someone who could draft technical content for them. I quit my CPA job cold turkey and began freelance writing full time. It was a difficult transition, but I’m so glad I took the leap of faith. It’s one of the bravest things I’ve ever done.
Because I didn’t have a lot of clients at the start of my writing career, I spent my down time drawing. My friends encouraged me to sell my art on Etsy. I slowly started adding more designs and trying new products, and over time my shop has morphed into a sticker shop. You can find my stickers (100% hand drawn by me!) on Etsy and in a handful of stores in Kansas and Missouri. Currently, I’m working on creating a set of stickers that can be customized for gyms and fitness studios to sell to their members. I love the idea of helping facilitate a sense of belonging in smaller communities like that. It’s so rewarding!
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?
1. Persistence. Don’t give up when it gets hard. You have to put yourself in uncomfortable situations if you want to grow.
2. Confidence. Even if you don’t have confidence, fake it! I went to an industry conference to find new clients only a month after I started freelancing. I had a total of one client at the time, but I talked confidently about my skills. I got a few writing jobs out of that conference and still work with some of those clients to this day.
3. Be yourself. One of the greatest things about working for myself is that I can comport myself however I please. Even though I work with CPA firms who are traditionally more conservative, I am my casual self on video calls, cracking jokes and laughing a lot. My clients seem to appreciate that levity and I feel happier because I’m winning work while being 100% myself.
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
Over time, I’ve built a fantastic group of friends who support me in my endeavors. Many of my friends are also entrepreneurs (or are entrepreneurial), so they aren’t afraid of change or challenges. I’ve come to learn that I’m a person who thrives on challenges, so having friends and a supportive husband who encourage me to try new things has been essential in pushing me forward.
I also think that my parents’ no-nonsense views about work have played a part. They never complained about putting in the work to keep our household running, and they never made excuses.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/DoodleStation
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katie_minion/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/doodlestationshop/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katieminioncpa/
Image Credits
Julia Nagy
