Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to MJ. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
MJ, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
Impostor syndrome is so real. I read somewhere there were five types of impostor syndrome and I think I have felt them all! The one I have felt the most is The Perfectionist: “believing that, unless you were absolutely perfect, you could have done better. You feel like an imposter because your perfectionistic traits make you believe that you’re not as good as others might think you are.”
Whenever I design a garment,
create a sketch, or flat in Illustrator, I have been blessed that the fabric decision, color choice, precise lines etc. come from “nowhere.” That “nowhere” for me, is directly from God. I can see the final result clearly, everything just comes together beautifully. This is when that crazy “phenomenon” rears it’s ugly head.
Suddenly I’m looking at every detail over and over to the point my amazing out of “nowhere” design suddenly has flaws. Flaws I just don’t think can be fixed. I ask for a second opinion or a third and am met with the ooos and ahhs we all want to hear. Nothing however, removes the dark cloak that I can do better. This feeling can be debilitating and devastating to the creative process.
“No one is perfect,” the huge cliché I kept telling myself over and over. That didn’t work. Then one day I realized while staring at a beautifully draped look on my dress form I was beginning to pick apart that actually, everyone IS perfect. I put my best foot forward and worked to my fullest capabilities, and the results ARE perfect.
I started to create with the mindset that anything I created was perfect as long as I did my best to innovate, inspire and took no shortcuts. I began hitting send on final looks and walking away with a smile and shrug saying out loud “I did my best and it’s perfect.” It was tough at first and I’m not always met with thunderous applause from the audience. There are edits and sometimes starting from scratch but I believe everything I create start to finish is perfect because I say so and there is nothing better than that. I overcame imposter syndrome by beating the monster at it’s own game.
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 was born in L.A. and raised in Atlanta. I have always loved clothes. My mother was always very fashionable and appreciated the importance of finding a “good” shoe or dress. We didn’t have much so she taught me the value of luxe materials and strong construction. In elementary and high school, I started designing looks from everyday clothes and my mother’s vintage wears, this began developing my love of clothes. I attended magnet schools for high achieving academics, math, science and technology and I grew to love the sciences very much. This led me to pursue my Bachelors of Science, heading towards a career in Veterinary Medicine, or so I thought. It took me a while to figure out what I wanted to do but my artistic side always shined through. Fast forward through rough designs, self taught sewing, fashion weeks, to a Master of Fine Arts degree in Fashion Design and Fashion Merchandising from The Academy of Art.
My business coralONE is where I shine with my full creativity. My blog Check the Runway is my voice, prendre-tout atelier my soft life and The EmJha Collection my rebellious side. I will be launching my joint SS24 collection for prendre-tout atelier and The EmJha Collectiom in May 2024. I am very excited about these collections, they are different from anything I have created.
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?
Perseverance, confidence and faith were most impactful in my journey. Early in your career these qualities are mandatory. There are so many bumps that are built to throw you off course and being able to push through confidently without knowing what’s around the next turn is key. All three of these are internal, no one can teach you or help you develop these. You have to dig deep.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
I feel we are built to take on a lot at once but there is a limit. I have reached the point of burnout with a total rejection of my creative work in the past and I never want to get to that point again. I now have a cycle of self-care so I won’t get overwhelmed. There are little things I do everyday to treat myself, an hour workout, watch a funny show, read a book or magazine. On the weekends I do something for myself for half a day and I take it to the extreme. Hair, nails, massage, facial, yoga, Pilates class, yes, but amped up. I add a lunch, window shopping and a complete disconnect from my work. When I take this time away I get a mental reset especially when there is a lot going on. When return from these breaks I have fresh eyes and a desire to complete whatever task is in front of me.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.coralONE.us
