We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Kira Goff a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Kira, 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.
I think all entrepreneurs, especially ones in creative industries, feel imposter syndrome at some point in their careers, if not often! The online world allows us to see everyone else’s journeys (or what they choose to share of them) on display and it’s made the comparison game increasingly more intense. I still have moments here and there where I doubt myself, but in general I don’t find myself feeling like an imposter anymore and I’d love to share why. Mostly it just comes with years of proven experience in business. I’ve been in business now (in some capacity) for over 12 years and that’s no joke! I’ve learned a ton about the roller coaster of busy and slow seasons + how to minimize that whiplash, as well as felt the proof of being able to earn a comfortable wage year over year in my bank account. Staying the course and ignoring a lot of what everyone else is doing has been a game changer for overcoming imposter syndrome! If you spend more time working your butt off to provide an excellent, unique experience for your clients, you simply have less time to worry about how much more business it looks like others are getting (which you never know how much of would even be ideal business for you anyway)!
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 am a brand and family photographer as well as the owner of a photo studio & small event space that I rent out to other photographers and people in the Colorado Springs community! I am one of a very small handful of photographers in the Springs that specializes in personal brand photography and, as such, get to work with a ton of various entrepreneurs and small businesses to grow their brands and online presences through unique imagery!
I work with my brand clients to create libraries of images they can pull from throughout the year to connect with their audiences on a deeper level, promote their products and services, and grow their businesses.
My studio and event space is located just two blocks north of the main downtown strip so it’s conveniently located and has been such a life-giving experience to run! We offer different styled sets throughout the year (Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and Mother’s Day every year + other fun options sprinkled in) as well as maintaining great lifestyle and minimal backdrop options for all types of photo and video shoots. We can host about 30 people for events and have all the tables, chairs, and AV options to make each one a success.
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?
Three qualities that have been incredibly impactful for me on my journey of business growth are: 1) A learners heart. While I have a degree in Communications and Business as well as a Photography Certificate from the Kansas City Art Institute, I am mostly self-taught (thanks to the Internet) when it comes to what I do on a day to day basis. Staying open to new ideas, spending the time to dig in and learn and then actually practice, and always knowing there is room for improvement have been key.
2) Dedication. There are so many ups and downs that come with being an entrepreneur. Not giving up or hiding under a rock when things get hard, but pivoting and trying something new when something doesn’t work is the only way to make it through.
3) Passion! If I didn’t absolutely love what I do so much, none of the incredible challenges would feel worth it. But every day I’m thinking about new ideas and things I want to try and do and how excited I am for upcoming shoots and seeing the things others are creating at my studio.
I would tell someone closer the beginning of their journey to not give up! Stay the course. Keep learning and growing and being open to change. Don’t be afraid to fail – because it will happen no matter what. Just view it as an opportunity to grow!
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
Whenever I feel overwhelmed, it’s most often during the busy seasons when I just feel like I have so much on my plate my head is spinning. My strategy for getting through it is to start with a “brain dump.” I like to just write out everything I have to do – even the tiniest things – anything that is adding stress to my life. Then I take some time (usually just a few minutes) to prioritize them based on what is necessary to get done and what I just FEEL like I need to get done. Then I take a few more minutes to actually plan out WHEN I’m going to accomplish each task. Having a plan for how I’m going to get everything done usually takes a big weight off my shoulders and allows me to relax more in the moments I don’t have planned for work (usually spent with my toddler and husband).
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kirawhitney.com and www.kindlecos.com
- Instagram: @kirawhitneyphotography and @kindlecos
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/kirawhitneyphotography and www.facebook.com/kindlecos/
Image Credits
Kira Whitney Photography
