Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Taylor McKinney. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Taylor, 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 mean, have I fully overcome this yet? I’m not sure I can confidently say “yes”, but I can say that this is something I am constantly aware of and something I continue to work on daily.
To give a little background, I did not grow up under ideal circumstances in terms of finances or career opportunity — So when it came time for me to break away and follow my dreams, it was very intimidating! And I think the fact that I got to where I am now, the successful owner of a beauty agency, all on my own – it can be really challenging for me to grasp that this is reality, you know? The fact that I did not have any connections in this industry, nor did I know anyone who I could rely on for guidance at the time really meant that I had to go at it on my own; and while I did, and ultimately succeeded at it, I still often doubt myself and experience fear (some may say irrationally) around the idea that this could all be taken away someday. And I think even if it’s not often spoken about, a lot of entrepreneurs and small business owners experience these feelings of fear and anxiety on a very real, persistent level.
So what have I done to work through this? First, I actually have to audibly talk myself out of these negative thoughts that arise. I tell myself “stop” or “you should be so proud of yourself” or ” you can’t predict the future, and you have no evidence to support what you’re making up in your head right now”. And then I force myself to take a look at my accomplishments and all the things I need to be grateful for, and shift my focus to that. Sometimes that includes writing down a list, or sometimes having a conversation with myself or someone else so that I can actually HEAR the positives!
I also try very hard not to fall into the trap of the social media comparison game — and let me tell you, that is SO hard! I’m sure this can be said for other industries, but I think especially in the beauty industry, it is so easy to compare your work/content to others and become super critical of yourself or start feeling that you are not good enough. And that simply isn’t healthy. If I ever find myself feeling that way, I literally put myself on a “time out” from my social media apps and won’t allow myself to open the apps again until I am in a better headspace.
It’s really important to just focus on yourself. I have found I am able to produce my best work and bring my best self to work, and home, when I am only focused on how I am doing as a business owner and how I can become the best version of me, rather than trying to be like someone else.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am the owner of a professional hair & makeup agency in the Twin Cities, where we heavily specialize in bridal hair and makeup. We have worked with hundreds of brides over the years, and I can honestly say I love it more than anything! We also provide services for other special occasions, such as engagements, bridal/baby showers, boudoir, professional headshots, and more!
My team is very talented and diverse, and that is something I have really tried to emphasize and build upon over the years — That we are able to work with ANYONE! No matter your age, gender, skin color, hair texture, etc — We always want everyone to feel welcome, comfortable, and confident in our abilities; and I can honestly say that my team and I are always working to grow professionally and artistically in order to provide the best experience possible for our clients!
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?
First and foremost, you have to have passion! You can be taught skills and techniques, but no one can teach you to love what you do or care about your clients – that has to come from the heart. And if you have that, I truly believe you can go so far!
The next most important thing would be to have formal training and education. While I recognize that there are some very talented, self-taught hair and makeup artists out there, I strongly believe that formal training can vastly expand your knowledge and skill set, while also providing you with some great connections. Along with this, having some form of business education is imperative if you are going to run your own business. Being able to properly manage daily tasks, create contracts, and stay organized is vital to having a successful business, and will make things much easier on you and your clients.
Next, don’t be afraid to ask for help and never stop learning! It’s so important to know and feel that you are not on your own – and you can do this by making connections with other entrepreneurs. We all need colleagues whom we can go to for advice or assistance, or even just bounce ideas off of. Trust me, it makes a huge difference in terms of confidence and capability as a business owner!
Finally, don’t ever stop growing and learning. Attend continuing education classes, join online seminars, go to local networking events, or even take one-on-one training with other artists/entrepreneurs! It will help you grow professionally and personally, and you will never regret doing it!
What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
Balance! And while this is not yet something I excel in, I can honestly say I have made some significant improvements this past year! I have achieved this by scheduling more time off for myself, delegating more tasks, and scheduling more time to “unplug”.
First, as silly as this may seem, I honestly never really considered blocking time off in my calendar until this year. I used to just say “yes” to everything, so as you can imagine, the burnout these past few years was REAL. Don’t get me wrong, I still feel overwhelmed and stressed sometimes, but I can honestly say that by blocking more time off, I feel so much more relaxed and happy than ever before. I had realized how much I was missing out on socially, too – and that really started to bother me. Now I have more time with friends & family, my husband, and to do whatever I feel like doing!
Second, I hired someone to assist me with administrative work and – oh my gosh – what a relief that has been! I was hesitant about this for the longest time, because (honestly) I am a control freak, but now that I have someone helping me, I cannot even express how wonderful it is. I legitimately cried the first time I realized how much having this help lightened my load in terms of time spent in front of my computer. Along with this, I have been working really hard to just let go of control in general and let my team run things more than they may have in the past. They are all extremely talented and completely capable, so it’s been great to be able to put my trust in them and watch the team flourish!
Finally, when I say “unplug” – I mean that in the last year I have made some small, but very effective changes. First, I turned off notifications on my phone for social media and emails. I was experiencing some severe anxiety around these notifications and while talking with someone about it, she said “shut them off”. Wow – so obvious, yet I never even considered it! But let me tell you, it has made such a difference! I am still very timely and efficient in terms of answering emails, but I’m not constantly watching my phone light up or checking my phone so often that I’m missing out on real life, right in front of me.
On another note, I also started taking yoga classes, which has been great for both my physical and mental health. It is my one time during the day where I can, for one hour, completely shut myself off from the world — and I always leave feeling so renewed and so at peace. I highly recommend finding something that gives you that same feeling, ’cause it’s a game changer!!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.taylormariebeauty.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taylormariebeautyllc/
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/taylormariebeautyllc
Image Credits
-Rachel Graff Photography -Katherine Bowes -Twin Birch Studios -Gretchen Hunt Photo
