Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nancy Sargent. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Nancy, 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 burst out laughing when my mentor told me she wanted me to teach an online class on spring tying! Seriously, what made her think I could teach an advanced upholstery skill to others. I mean there are so many others with more talent and experience than I, I’d be the laughing stock of the upholstery world!
I was horrified at the thought of putting myself out there to world like I was some expert upholstery instructor. And I kept pushing my mentor’s repeated suggestions aside. Finally she invited me to participate in a summit that she was putting together. If you don’t know what a summit is, it’s multiple-day online program where different people are interviewed or teach something. I immediately jumped at the opportunity. As scary as it was, I knew I needed to take the risk, and put myself out there.
There was a lot to learn. I was not only teaching upholstery, I also had to film and edit it as well as feel half way comfortable being on camera. My class came out well, I was pleased with it.
After it aired, I got so much positive feedback. Repeatedly, people told me I was so approachable, that I made people feel comfortable. I explained things so well. I was taken by surprise at the feedback but it made me realize that other people have a very different impression of you, than you do of yourself. I came to realize that I’m am a good teacher. And part of my skill is that I do put people at ease so they are comfortable. They can relax and learn and be curious and ask questions.
I enjoy teaching so much and to know I’m good at it makes me happy. Happy that I can share my passion for upholstery with others. Students are finding me, traveling to take classes with me. So much so that I’ve pivoted my business to almost exclusively teaching.
It’s taken me a while to be able to say I’m good at what I do and I’m proud of my work.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
I’m an upholstery artisan and teacher. I love to create one of a kind upholstered chairs and ottomans using unique textiles sourced from around the world. It’s important to me that my chairs all sit soft. What does that mean? I believe everyone should have their favorite comfortable chair to relax in. Whether it’s where you have your morning coffee, your evening wine, read bedtime stories to your kids, or curl up in on a rainy day and read a book. Of course you need an ottoman because when you prop your feet up, you naturally sink back deeper into the chair and relax. Hence the tagline for my, business, ‘The Art of Sitting Soft’. As for being an upholstery teacher, it was a core objective for my business from the very beginning. It’s difficult to find good upholstery instruction. There are a lot of YouTube videos but many students crave hands on classes. I enjoy so much working with students and learn so much from them as well. It’s amazing to watch students create a beautiful piece of furniture with their new learned skills. I particularly love it when they come back for additional classes or reach out to me with questions, because I know they have been bitten by the bug and are continuing their upholstery journey.
This year I’m excited to continue working with students. I’ll be launching online learning and resources as well. I’m looking to expand workshops with some fun one and two day workshops that will teach different skills while allowing the participants to leave with finished projects they’ll be proud of. Additionally I have several workshops I’ll be traveling to teach and that’s really fun as well for both me and the participants.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Always keeping learning! First of all, in upholstery there’s always something to learn. And learning new skills churns my creativity. Additionally as a solopreneur I’ve had to learn so many new skills, from how to build and maintain a website, social media marketing, prepare and make presentations, photography and video editing, as well as numerous marketing and business applications. I love to learn new things even the tech and business side!
Get a mentor and/or build a community. I have both and I’m forever grateful for my mentor for her advice, guidance and for pushing me out of my comfort zone.
I have a large network of upholstery and blogger friends that I can reach out to for advice and support but I have a two smaller circles of upholstery besties that are my ride and die sisters. I owe so much of my journey to my mentor and upholstery sisters. I absolutely wouldn’t be where I am today without them!
Learn to take risks. If you don’t, you’ll never get anywhere. Early on, one risk I took yielded me one of my best (and favorite) clients. I once did a chair in an orange buffalo check. The chair turned out fabulous and got so much social media love, but for all the love, it wasn’t a chair most people could use in their home. Finally one day a woman purchased it! It was perfect for her! She subsequently hired me to do furniture for two different homes! Don’t be afraid of risk! Do the orange chair! It will lead to things you can’t imagine.
So my best advice is to always keep learning, find and mentor, build your community, we’re always better together and finally dream big and take the risks!
Okay, so before we go, is there anyone you’d like to shoutout for the role they’ve played in helping you develop the essential skills or overcome challenges along the way?
I am so thankful for my mentor, Wendy Conklin of Chair Whimsy. She has an incredibly successful whimsical chair business and she is one smart business person. Her chairs are brightly colored gems of joy! And incidentally it’s Wendy’s mission to help people lead creative and joyful lives.
For me, she has made me get out of my own way so I can be the successful teacher and chair designer that I dream of being! No small feat I must say as I’m my own worst enemy! I would definitely not be facing my dreams head on without her.
I also have to mention my wonderful creative circle of friends. I can’t begin to tell you how much we talk, strategize, problem solve, bounce ideas off each other, rant, cry, learn, teach and cheerlead. We are all solopreneurs and upholsterers. We are on our own journeys but we’re also right there next to each other. They make everything about this journey so much better than trying to do this alone.
So yes, I credit both Wendy and my community for so much of my success. Without them, I might be a pretty decent upholsterer, but I would never have had the nerve to take the hopes for this business and bring them to fruition.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cobanibleu.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cobanibleu
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cobanibleu
Image Credits
All images are my own work.
