We were lucky to catch up with Noelle Saladin recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Noelle, 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 would say that my battle with imposter syndrome is a work in progress. While I typically feel pretty capable in a number of aspects of my work, I also find myself questioning and doubting my abilities at times. In a field with so many “experts” and always more to learn, it is easy to feel as though my own knowledge is just a drop in the bucket. I’ve noticed that there are specific things that seem to trigger these feelings, one of them being social media. While it is necessary for marketing in business, I find that it can also be a breeding ground for comparisons and negativity. Existing feelings of self-doubt become exacerbated in this online environment, and while necessary, it can also be toxic. I am getting better at recognizing when the self-doubt starts to creep in and I actively work to fend off those negative thoughts. Reducing time spent on social media, focusing on the things I am working to accomplish versus what others are doing, and generating positive self-talk based on my success, have all been helpful approaches in combatting the challenge of imposter syndrome. Lastly, I make an effort to reflect on the times when I am at my best, because in those moments I don’t always realize just how good I am at what I do, but its worthy of acknowledgement.
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 would describe myself as dog trainer, dog mom, and dog enthusiast. While I have built a career in the dog training industry, I consider it more of a lifestyle. I share my life with a rescue dog that found herself in my care due to her fear reactivity towards people and other dogs. She has shaped my life journey and my life’s work and is the reason I find myself where I am today. Because of her, my business, Supernova Dogs, aims to provide more than just training classes; We invite our clients to join our community of dog owners and experience friendship, support, and rewarding experiences alongside their canine companions.
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?
Versatility, tenacity, and flexibility have been valuable qualities in getting me to where I am today. I spent a number of years working in a variety of roles in different businesses which helped me to develop a wide range of skills including sales, marketing, design, bookkeeping, and customer service. When it came time to start and then expand my own business, I didn’t have the resources to hire staff for all of the tasks I needed to accomplish, so this versatility played an important role in my early success. Tenacity has been another important quality when it comes to facing failure, persisting against negativity, and holding back burnout. Running a small business is difficult and stressful, with no guarantees that you will succeed; It requires determination to keep pushing towards your goals, even when they may feel unachievable. Flexibility is something that is also necessary but has not been as easy for me to learn. Running a business often requires you to think on your feet, solving problems as they arise, you have to be flexible and willing to change course when needed. Since some qualities come naturally while others may be more difficult to manifest, taking time to self-reflect can be helpful in identifying which qualities we already possess and those which we need to further develop. Our own self-awareness is the first step in making progress towards our goals for improvement.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
I have often felt overwhelmed this past year with the expansion of my business, but I like to think I’ve learned some better strategies for coping with those feelings. I have always used lists to help me stay organized and I like that checking off tasks provides me with a sense of accomplishment. However, the sheer number of things on my to do list just became a visual representation of my stress level. I started breaking my tasks up onto multiple lists based on priority. This allowed me to tackle tasks that needed immediate attention without seeing all the things that I wanted to get done but didn’t need to do right away. This shorter list is less overwhelming while helping me stay focused on the most important or time sensitive tasks. I have also learned to set some boundaries for myself and ask for help when I need it; Both of these things are difficult for me, but taking on too much or trying to do it all myself just creates more stress. Recognizing when I am at my limit and making sure to practice self-care, or take time off, has made a big impact on my stress levels.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.supernovadogs.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/supernovadogs/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SUPERNOVADOGS
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@supernovadogs
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/supernova-dogs-tonawanda?osq=supernova+dogs
Image Credits
Unleashed in the Studio
