We recently connected with Melissa Santell and have shared our conversation below.
Melissa, 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.
I don’t think imposter syndrome is something that ever fully goes away… for anyone. It’s something you learn how to manage through experience and over time.
When I first started my company, FoodxFeels, almost seven years ago, I remember thinking to myself, “Am I really going through with this? Who’s going to believe in me enough to give me money in exchange for marketing?” And recalling those thought patterns, that are so easy to slip back into no matter where you are in your life journey, makes me realize how far I’ve come.
I think it’s important to acknowledge that anxiety and imposter syndrome are literally just in your head. They’re mental monsters of our own making. Just as organically as those thoughts can sneak into your headspace, you can just as easily let them go. Overcoming the urge to let negative self-talk rack your brain is an act of becoming aware it’s happening and firmly choosing to stop it. The words you say to yourself are yours and yours alone. Once you realize you can take your power back at any time, your perspective shifts pretty quickly.
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 Melissa Santell, a native New Yorker with a taste for bringing ideas to life – in the kitchen and at the office. When I was six years old, someone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up. Naturally, my reply was: a marine biologist (because what kid doesn’t love dolphins?) or a food writer for Bon Appetit Magazine.
Well, I didn’t venture down either one of those paths because my obsession with the culinary industry had other plans for me. And I’m forever grateful for that.
As the founder of FoodxFeels, a boutique photography and branding studio based in Tampa, Florida, I create my own reality, working side-by-side with chefs and helping food brands get the recognition they deserve.
With an eclectic background built on restaurants, luxury hospitality marketing and agency life, my favorite part about what I do is visual storytelling. I love helping brands express their personalities by unearthing what makes them unique and translating it into relatable, strategic messaging and imagery.
From consulting for corporate brands like The EDITION Hotel to photographing menus at Michelin Star restaurants, I love the ability to offer creative and strategic solutions that equate to no day ever being the same. It’s a breath of fresh professional air I never knew I needed until I took “the leap,” as they say.
When I’m not on a walk-and-talk call or interviewing food experts on my podcast, Sunday Sauce, you can surely find me day dreaming about my next trip to Italy. I spent a month there over the past year, and it’s truly my favorite place to go for inspiration and of course, to eat endless plates of pasta.
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 helped shape me and where I am today:
1. Learning how to be present.
It can be incredibly hard to be in the moment when we’re constantly overstimulated by social media, what’s going on in the world and our growing to-do lists. It doesn’t help that we’re attached to our phones and fully committed to attending every meeting and social encounter splattered across our Google calendars. Most days, the hours turn to minutes and no one really knows where the time went (*cough* watching too many Instagram reels). Am I right?!! However, instead of trudging through our days at lightning speed, we can choose to slow down and consciously enjoy the moment… and wow, what a difference it makes. Learning how to be more present has changed the way I have conversations, my ability to listen, and how I show up for the people in my life. It’s the little things that make an impact, like keeping my phone in my purse when I’m with a friend and meditating for 15 minutes when I wake up every morning. Leaning into all of the small, seemingly insignificant moments instead of rushing through them is a reminder that the present moment is a gift. When you find appreciation in where you are, you’ll realize it’s exactly where you’re meant to be. That mindset trickles into everything you touch – personally, professionally and otherwise.
2. Embracing failure / rejection
Listen, the feeling of failure and rejection suck, BUT they suck a little less when you reframe them and what they mean to you. When I first started my business, I used to get really upset after sending a client proposal and getting ghosted shortly after. To me, the rejection felt personal. It felt like being denied an opportunity I was the right fit for… until I started thinking about rejection as a redirection to something that was better suited for me. And I truly believe that. There’s a special kind of lesson that comes with every failure you experience, and each one makes you stronger, more insightful and less attached to the outcome. It’s an inevitable part of everyone’s journey. Knowing that you’re not alone also helps.
3. Saying “no”
As a recovering people pleaser, saying “no” was something I never felt comfortable doing. I never wanted to let anyone down or be the person who didn’t make an appearance at the friend of a friend’s birthday dinner. There was a time where I was stretched so thin that a whisper could have taken me out. Then I realized that while I know I’m capable of anything, I’m certainly not capable of doing everything. Saying “no” to things that don’t light me up inside, whether it’s a client project or a social activity or even answering a phone call, has allowed me to spend my time and energy in places I actually want to be in. Setting boundaries is tough, but when you get into the habit of setting them for yourself and others, it feels SO good.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
Any book by Jen Sincero is gold. She’s a #1 New York Times Best Seller, and has a series called “You Are a Badass.” Each one has a different theme and her writing is wildly inspirational and fun to read. Check out:
You Are a Badass®: How to Stop Doubting Your Greatness and Start Living an Awesome Life, You Are a Badass® at Making Money: Master the Mindset of Wealth,You Are a Badass® Every Day, and Badass Habits.
She says, “In order to kick ass, you must first lift up your foot” and I think that’s a perfect taste of what she has to say.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.foodxfeels.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/melsantell
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-santell-2506333b/
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/1ET2K7yZPeTdbh4h6FjhiD?si=c950a405deba4356
Image Credits
Melissa Santell, FoodxFeels Dewitt for Love
