Meet Lindsay Valentine

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lindsay Valentine. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lindsay below.

Hi Lindsay, 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 love this question because I think so many entrepreneurs find themselves face-to-face with thoughts along this line. Whether its feeling like an imposter or some of the cousins to imposter syndrome like finding the bravery to price your services higher or how to tactfully stand up to a customer who wants more than you agreed to. I’ve found two things work best to cure imposter syndrome:

1. Taking small leaps of faith.
2. Responding to fear as an alter ego.

Taking small leaps of faith means pushing yourself to do the scary thing as frequently as you can. For instance, if you’re scared to charge more for your services, challenge yourself to bump prices up by 5% and then see what happens. Often times the thing that seemed terrifying really isn’t all that bad.

Responding to fear as an alter ego. The first step here is to imagine a character that would just crush business in all senses. This can be someone you imagine entirely, or a fictional character from a story or movie. The point is to have a sense of how that person would handle themselves under pressure. Then, when you find yourself in a moment of pressure, you imagine that you’re the character being confronted by adversity instead of yourself. Do this often enough and eventually you will build the skills to emulate your alter ego and the gap between you were and who you desire to be, closes.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m in the business of building businesses. I’m a fourth-generation entrepreneur and I know exactly what it takes to build something of your own. I have seen first-hand the triumphs and trials of running a business. From unexpected challenges, to balancing an impossible amount of tasks, to overcoming months if not years of perseverance to get an idea off the ground. It takes a lot of guts to grow a business and asks someone to challenge themselves in ways they never could expect and that’s why I’m passionate about helping those who have the guts to go out on their own.

BlackBolt Collective is more than a web design company, we build websites that have the most critical infrastructure to growing your business and converting your customers. A lot of our competitors cut corners because, frankly, most business owners wouldn’t know the difference. We refuse to short change our clients because we know they’re putting their most priceless resources into building their business – their time and legacy. [https://blackboltcollective.com]

Not only do I help with one of the most essential steps in starting a business (web design and marketing), but I am also developing programs and co-ops to grow businesses in my local community.

I have just launched the Arizona New Business Insider, a program that collaborates with other business owners in the valley to provide high quality business services from trusted providers. I also provide workshops, resources, and free consultations to help them develop plans for their specific businesses. [https://aznbi.com]

Beyond that, I also run the Best in Phoenix Award, a 501(c) non-profit focused on highlighting the businesses in Arizona that are really making a local difference. [https://bestinphoenix.net]

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

There are three things that have helped me the most on my journey:

1. An unrelenting endurance – I believe success is an inevitability, the question isn’t if I’ll make it, it’s when.
2. An unyielding commitment to excellence – I view everything I invest my time in as a piece of my legacy and I refuse to put something into the world that I’m not proud of.
3. The pursuit of mastery – I am constantly learning and developing my expertise.

Above all, the one thing that will get you through every trial is your mind. Listen closely when I tell you, there is nothing you will face that you can’t overcome. Believe that from the top of your head to the soles of your feet and you will find yourself conquering challenges you never imagined you could endure.

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?

My biggest motivation is my kids. Whenever my back is against the wall giving up is never an option because I know I have these two little girls looking to me to find a way.

My biggest dream for me is to provide a life for them that I never had, and my biggest wish for them is to grow in them the skills to build dreams of their own.

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