We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Meghan Sullivan a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Meghan, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
I experienced some things in my childhood that no child should ever have to endure. As a result, I live with PTSD—a part of me that even some of my closest friends and loved ones don’t know about. It’s not that I’m keeping it a secret; it’s just that I’ve never let my trauma define me. I’ve always managed to overcome life’s obstacles, even during tough times when I ask myself, “Will I be able to get through this?” Then I remember my 8-year-old self who got through it all, entirely on her own. So, my resilience comes from her.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I work a corporate job full-time in Professional Development for a reputable law firm based in New York City. In addition to my 9-5, I have been blessed with opportunities to showcase my passions through social media. I partner with brands as a content creator to bring their creative visions to light. It’s always rewarding to me to have a role in the early stages of building something that I believe in. I’ve worked with many apps and concepts in their early beta testing stages that are now incredibly successful. Through my social media, I was scouted by an agent who I now work with to pursue acting gigs. I’m really excited about this new journey and to see where I can grow from here. Ultimately, I hope to use my platform to someday help and inspire others. I have so much that I’m eager to accomplish – this is just the beginning.
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. Say yes to every opportunity. I tend to overpack my schedule, but this mindset has consistently opened doors for me. Anytime I’m invited to an event in the city, even if I don’t know a single person attending, I still go. Networking leads to introductions, and introductions lead to even more opportunities. Be genuine. Make a lasting impression. Show up as your best self and give it your all. Those who recognize your value will always remember you when opportunities arise.
2. Play the part. This is where fake confidence becomes your greatest tool. Imposter syndrome is something many of us experience, but it doesn’t define your worth or abilities. Think of it like swimming: if you’re in the pool learning while others are effortlessly gliding through the water, you’re still a swimmer because you had the courage to jump in and try. If you want to create content, start with outreach. Apply to partnership programs. Introduce yourself as a content creator. Some of the top creators started with brands approaching them while others put themselves in front of the brands. It doesn’t matter HOW you get there, but you can get there.
3. Trust the process. I never force anything. I position myself where opportunities align and trust the rest to fall into place. I’m open-minded to road blocks and detours and things not always going the way I planned because I know that they’re going the way they’re meant to.
I think my best advice to achieving this mindset is to channel your inner child. When you ask a little kid, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” watch how they respond with confidence: “A singer,” “a basketball player,” “President of the United States,” etc. The child might even go on to tell you what their life will look like when they take on that role someday. As we age, fear and doubt force us to question logistics, attainability, financial gain/loss, etc. If we only get one life, why not pursue the dream your inner child envisioned? I know that I will never please everyone, but my goal is to never let my younger self down.
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 mom. I get my kindness, work ethic, and strength from her. She was a working mother while my sister and I were growing up, which I know wasn’t always easy for her. My aunt was a stay-at-home mom, so I spent a lot of time at her house with my cousins, which was a blast. But I know my mom feels guilty for not being around as much as she would have liked when we were growing up. I think a lot of working parents feel that same discord. Now, as a working adult, I really understand my mom’s experience, and I don’t want her to feel any regret. She taught me incredible work ethic, and I owe so much of that to her.
It’s funny—when I was a kid, I used to annoy her like crazy while she was working, constantly calling, “Mom… mom… mom.” I’d watch her retype an email fifteen times to get the wording just right. I remember thinking it was wild to spend so much time on one email. I still think it’s a bit crazy, but now, when I find myself rewording an email until it feels perfect, I can’t help but think of my mom and her perfectionist work ethic.
She has always pushed me to be better and believed in me. My mom believes that I can accomplish anything I set my mind to. Any crazy imaginative ideas I have for my future, no matter how delusional they may be, my mom is always right there with me dreaming and adding in some extra delusional details. I love that she still lets me dream.
Many of my healthy mindset practices started from my mom’s teachings at a young age. I recall some days before dance class saying “I hate dance class, I don’t want to go”. I truly loved dance class, but the whole process of putting on tights and a leotard and having to be there as a responsibility was occasionally dreadful. My mom told me that if I kept telling myself “I hate dance class” that I would eventually start to believe it. She was absolutely right. The more times you tell yourself something, your brain will eventually recognize it as a habitual pattern and that will shape your reality. This is why it’s so important to practice positive self-talk and be open-minded to new perspectives.
We have not always seen eye-to-eye, our relationship has been to hell and back and we’ve learned SO much from each other, but at the end of the day my mom has always been (and will always be) my best friend. She’s incredibly strong, brave, and fiercely independent, yet she still has the biggest, most compassionate heart.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meghansullivan98/profilecard/?igsh=bHVqd3FnOWlwZjVs
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meghan-sullivan-5581aa150?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@meghansullivan984?_t=8riwAvnU3hu&_r=1
Image Credits
Natalie Briana Photography (for my profile photo and first photo in the group)
Dumb Hot Show – credit to Nigel Roxbury
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
