We were lucky to catch up with Sophia Claire recently and have shared our conversation below.
Sophia , 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 wholly endorse a ‘fake it till you make it’ mentality. I’m not sure imposter syndrome ever goes away completely, and to be honest a certain amount of discomfort is a good thing. Discomfort keeps you on your toes; it combats complacency. When you feel like you have to prove yourself, you’re more likely to be innovative, try new things, and maintain a sense of humility that is incredibly important for success. Appreciate the lessons you learn along the way, own up to your mistakes, and, perhaps most importantly, realize that peoples’ opinions are not a reflection of your worth.
I think people (understandably) get too caught up in how they think other people see them. In a way, this is completely natural as we only learn who we are through our interactions with others. Oh, I’m smart? I’m pretty? I’m talented? These are images of ourselves that we absorb from outside perspectives. One thing you might ask yourself is: whose perspective deserves my attention? It probably shouldn’t be the people who are set up to profit off of your self-doubt. And so, while you might not ever overcome imposter syndrome, you can mitigate it by remembering that you are allowed to exist outside of other people’s expectations (both good and bad). And sometimes, acting like you are confident and self-assured is more than half the battle.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
I’m a beauty content creator. I’m also a philosophy professor. It’s an interesting contrast. Some days I teach my students about immutable truths, morality, skepticism, and the significance of wonder, and other days I’m in my studio filming 20 lip swatches in a row. I genuinely like both types of work, as they provide very different creative practices.
Working in the social media beauty landscape was certainly unexpected, and not something I ever envisioned for myself. Influencers simply didn’t exist as a category when I was growing up, and even now I find myself confused about exactly what it is I do. It’s a hodgepodge of marketing, photography, modeling, social media strategy, and public relations. I wear a lot of hats as a content creator, and most of them are things I have no prior experience with. That being said, I have learned so many important skills, and I am proud of what I’ve accomplished!
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?
1. How to communicate. This includes drafting professional emails, and even chatting with followers. It’s equally important to know what you should keep to yourself. Just because you think something, does not mean you need to say it. Good communication will make you look competent, approachable, and reliable.
2. How to negotiate. Know your worth! It is so easy for brands to undermine the value of your time and labor, especially when you are first starting out. Never work for free. Learn how to ask for more, because you deserve it.
3. Humility. Beware the lure of popularity. It’s so easy to get an inflated sense of self, especially in social media spaces where you perform an idealized version of yourself. Recognizing your own limitations, your flaws and imperfections, keeps you grounded. It also gives you more opportunity to grow as a person.
Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?
The Phantom Tollbooth. Children’s literature is exceptional, and absolutely has something to offer to adults as well. Everyone can benefit from a story about adventure, challenging inherited ideas, looking at everyday things in new ways, and generally having a playful and curious attitude towards life.
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