Meet Sasha Martens

We were lucky to catch up with Sasha Martens recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Sasha, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?

Growing up with dyslexia always made school seem much more challenging for me than for
most people. It was a tremendous effort just to get to being 'okay,’ especially when I had to
complete writing assignments. But the result is that I eventually developed work habits and a
work ethic that I ultimately applied to those things I was good at. Being able to see myself
succeed at some things helped me to build the confidence, over time, I needed to apply to all
those other areas of my life where I was not so sure of myself. And that taught how to be
resourceful, how to ask for help and, most importantly, not be afraid of failure. And the more
talents I found I had, the more I was able to apply the level of effort needed to make a difference.
And that taught me the value of hard work, discipline, dedication.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I have worked as a recruiter of talent in the advertising, marketing and communications
industries for nearly 25 years. What I love about my job is that I was able to build a business that
fit my personality, my passions and my curiosity. And the flexible nature of my business allowed
me to begin working remotely in 2007 from Latin America. It has been both fun and a boon to
my business to have a presence in different cultures. As someone who grew up in Chicago, South
Dakota and the Soviet Union, I relish the opportunity to experience new cultures. Although I
have decided that the ice and snow is for penguins, and they can keep it!

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?

I think it makes sense to lean into your specific strengths because, in most walks of life, it’s those
one or two talents that separate you and make you stand out from the competition. We all know
people who seem to have been born into their careers—great writers and visual artists who
showed those talents as children, men and women who are natural salespeople, athletes, lawyers,
doctors and caregivers. But our lives are long and we are complex creatures. Nurturing those talents and passions outside of your day job is essential. I know many people who left advertising and other professional careers to open restaurants, create their own products, become teachers
or take up farming. And we all admire those people who are well-rounded and have learned multiple skills and have pursued multiple passions.

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?

Remain flexible, because the world is constantly changing, and something we scoff or ignore at
today might be how the world works tomorrow. Live and let live is a good reminder. Give
yourself, and those around you, some grace. It’s easier said than done, but sometimes, the worst
boss you will ever have is yourself. And always remember to be thankful to others. There is no
better feeling when people give you unsolicited kindness. Sometimes we are unaware of how
much we help and influence others.

Contact Info:

• Other: www.sashathemensch.com  
   https://www.instagram.com/sashathemensch/