Meet Taylor Svetlichny

We were lucky to catch up with Taylor Svetlichny recently and have shared our conversation below.

Taylor, 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 struggled with imposter syndrome for many years, and my greatest growth came from learning to fully embrace myself. I realized that feeling like an imposter stemmed from trying to fit in and be who I thought others needed me to be, rather than embracing my uniqueness. Once I allowed myself to be authentically me, I gained confidence and recognized my own skills and abilities. This shift helped me overcome those feelings and trust in my own value.

In embracing my skills and abilities, I realized that I bring a lot to the table. My unique perspective and differences are valuable, and acknowledging that has made me more confident, no matter the realm or area of my life. This shift has helped me feel less like an imposter and more like my true self.

Self-compassion and self-acceptance have been crucial in this journey. When we try to fit into others’ expectations, we feel more like imposters because we’re not being authentic. Embracing who I am, with all my unique qualities, has been key to overcoming imposter syndrome and truly finding confidence.

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

My business, Aligned SEO, is focused on helping service providers like photographers, creatives, small businesses, designers, and wedding vendors with their search engine optimization in a hands-off way. I take care of the SEO so they can focus on what they love without having to wear all the hats.

This mission is close to my heart because I’ve been a business owner for nearly eight years, and I remember feeling overwhelmed by the need to learn business systems and marketing. SEO changed everything for me. It allowed me to go full-time in my photography business and serve more clients. Now, I’m passionate about helping others achieve the same.

What’s most exciting to me is seeing talented and unique business owners, especially female founders, grow their businesses and reach their dream clients online without feeling overwhelmed. I handle the SEO so they don’t have to. It’s incredibly rewarding to know that I’m helping them focus on what they love.

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?

Three qualities or skills that have been most impactful in my journey are:

Thinking Like a CEO: When I started treating my business as more than just a small hobby, I shifted my mindset to think bigger. This meant making decisions like a CEO, taking calculated risks, and investing in myself and my business. This mindset shift was crucial in making impactful decisions and not playing small.

Taking Action Over Perfection: I learned that taking action, even if things aren’t perfect, is far better than waiting for perfection. Each step and each decision, even if it meant pivoting later, contributed to my growth and success.

Mastering Business Systems: Across all my business ventures, in my mental health practice, food blog, photography business and Aligned SEO, I found that having solid business systems was key to growth (and my sanity). Good systems create a great client experience, better organization, and more time!

For those early in their journey, my advice is to take the jump and stop playing small. Treat yourself like a CEO, focus on building strong systems, and don’t wait for perfection. Growth happens when you step outside your comfort zone.

Looking back over the past 12 months or so, what do you think has been your biggest area of improvement or growth?

The biggest area of growth and improvement for me in the last 12 months has been stepping into my role as an industry leader and educator in SEO. Speaking in group settings has always been outside my comfort zone, but recently, I’ve gained confidence and actively sought opportunities to share my expertise. I’ve spoken in coaching and mentorship programs and have been interviewed on podcasts, and through these experiences, I’ve realized just how much value I have to offer—especially in the world of SEO. Embracing my role as a leader has been incredibly rewarding, and I’m excited to continue empowering others with the knowledge that has transformed my own business.

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Resilience
Ignoring the Naysayers

Almost everything that’s changed the world in a positive way has been an unreasonable idea.

Mental Health
Thriving Through Adversity & Overcoming Mental Health Challenges

“After every storm, there is a rainbow. If you have eyes, you will find it.

Resilience
Where do you get your resilience from?

Resilience is often the x-factor that differentiates between mild and wild success. The stories of