Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Megan Stewart. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Megan, 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.
Imposter syndrome is something many people face when just starting out, and I was one of them. When I first launched Design the Conversation, I knew I had a certain set of skills that would serve me well in the digital marketing space, but I didn’t know what it would actually look like, what I wanted to do, and who I wanted to serve. Even while I was working with a top notch business coach to help me formulate my business and offerings, there was a part of me that would always pop up and ask, “Can I really do this? Am I good enough?” I never knew where my leads were going to come from, I wasn’t familiar or comfortable with networking, and was an extreme introvert.
But after getting a few clients under my belt, getting rave reviews from them about their websites or social media, I slowly started to realize that, yes, I can do this. But the “good enough” was still something that got to me. I would finish their websites, love what I did, but would go back to them a week or a month later and see all the things I wished I did better, that I wished I could change. It was difficult. My skills were growing quickly, I was refining my process, and I was getting more familiar with platforms and algorithms and design esthetics, which made looking back so difficult.
I eventually spoke with someone who gave me som seriously good advice that stopped to make me think. They said something along the lines of, “The clients you have when you’re just starting out will love what you do because they’re meant to work with you at that time. The clients you have when you’re established will love what you do because they see how far you’ve come and understand the time, work, and effort you put in to improving your offerings. Own where you at, and, as long as you’re giving your clients the best you have at that time, each and every client will always get your best work.”
From that moment on, I took that advice to heart. I now have clients that I’ve been working with for years, who have grown and developed WITH me, and it’s an experience that has changed the game for me. Now, after having been in business for myself for seven years, I believe I am truly past imposter syndrome. I have proven to myself that I can do what I set out to do, that I can create stunning work for my clients, and they’ll keep coming back.
I still get moments of insecurity, especially when I’m launching a new service or offering, but I always remember that I’m human. We all grow and evolve as life goes on, and that’s the same for business. We need to give ourselves grace in all aspects of life, and business is definitely one one of them.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
At Design the Conversation, we specialize in web design and branding. We create websites that bring out the full personality of a brand or business to entice and engage their target audience, helping to develop a strong connection right off the bat. When we’re working on a client website, it’s important for us to not only know WHO that client is, but also who they serve, why they serve their target client, and what they have to offer. After all, we buy from brands we know and trust, not those that are just pretty and in your face. We look at the entire customer point of view to create a foundational website that stands out from the run-of-the-mill DIY or template websites that have become so popular. At the end of the day, if you’re going to be paying for a website, you might as well get one that is unique to you and your business, has been strategically designed for conversions, and is professional.
We’re proud of the fact that we’ve been able to grow our business to where it is, and niche down to help those in the health and wellness space. One of the key aspects of working with us, whether it’s for developing a brand or a website (or both), is the value we place on transparency and communication. We take the time, ask all the questions, and invest in our clients to make sure they’re getting exactly what they need, even if that means we recommend a lower package. If it doesn’t serve our clients, it doesn’t serve us. It’s that simple. We’re not afraid to tell clients that what they want isn’t necessarily what they need. If there’s a more cost-effective solution that better meets their wants and needs, we tell them. It all goes back to integrity and building that trust for long-lasting relationships. We believe that doing right by a client, even if it’s not necessarily doing right to our bank account, because it will come back in the form of repeat business, a strong referral, or something else.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Every business necessitates certain qualities, skills, and knowledge needed to succeed, and digital marketing is no different. You need to know how to manage your time, to have an eye for design, and the skills to connect and engage with potential clients, both in person and online. When I look back on these last seven years of business, the three aspects that have been the most impactful on this business are developing a thick skin, being able to pivot on a dime, and taking the time to further develop my skills.
Being a business owner isn’t easy. From inconsistent income to negative feedback to growing pains, there are a number of situations that require you to have a thick skin. That doesn’t mean to get rid of your sense of empathy and compassion, but to be able to know when you need to stand up for yourself, enforce contracts, and heed constructive feedback. Not everything you do is going to be amazing, you will make mistakes, and you will deal with red flag clients that slip through the cracks. How you handle these situations will speak volumes, and it’s definitely something to learn and master.
Added to that, not all of your ideas for the direction of your business will work out. That new offering may be a bad fit, the programs you’re using may become defunct, your focus may shift from one thing to another. Knowing when and how to pivot in business is so important, and I can’t stress that enough. No business stays exactly the same as when they started. Change is a part of life and business, and stagnation will lead to obsolescence, which nobody wants. Expect the pivots, have new ideas, use a trusted person or persons as a sounding board for those new ideas. Don’t be afraid to fail. Success will come when you figure out why something didn’t work and you can improve upon it.
The final piece of the puzzle is simple continuing education. It doesn’t matter what business you run, there is always something more to learn. For what I do, that’s new design trends, platforms, brand strategy, automations, and streamlining. I love to take a new course ever six months or so to hone a new skill, improve upon the ones I have, or dive deeper into the more nuanced side of business ownership. But more than that, I fold these new skills and the new knowledge into my current design aesthetic, offerings, and how I run my business. The more I’m able to learn, the better experience and finished products will be delivered to my clients.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
When I feel overwhelmed, I try to take a step back and ground myself. That could mean going to the beach for a walk at sunset or enjoy the sand in my toes, listening to the waves break on the shore. It can mean taking my pup on longer walks to get my body moving. That could be taking a night drive with the top down in my car and feeling the wind all around me. But it can also mean taking the time to rest.
When I’m overwhelmed, it’s more important than ever to listen to what my body is telling me. Did I overextend myself? Is this current project or client aligned with my business and personal values? Is there something going on in my personal life that’s flowing over into my professional one? I’m learning to slow down and ask myself what’s the root cause of the overwhelm so I can best handle it. And there’s a different solution for each reason, but that’s something each person will need to figure out for themselves.
I have the tendency to overextend myself personally and professionally, micromanaging my time to extremes, so one of the things I’ve currently been working on is creating white space in my calendar each day and use that time to fill my cup, whether that’s being in nature, flexing my creative muscles with writing, painting, or drawing, or calming my mind with reading or resting.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.designtheconvo.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designtheconvo
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/designtheconversation
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meganastewart
Image Credits
Tori Stauffer, Tori Stauffer Photography (www.toristauffer.com)
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