We recently connected with Tatiyana Canady and have shared our conversation below.
Tatiyana, 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.
This can be such a tough mindset to overcome, but it is exactly that: a mindset. Choosing to work in a highly saturated industry can be very intimidating. One of the best pieces of advice I got when I was a new esthetician working in my first spa job was to “exude the confidence until it actually comes.” This was a nicer way to say “fake it til you make it” but it made perfect sense. I had the knowledge and credentials, but I needed my potential clients to know that.
I think by continuing to invest in my education, attending all of the trainings I could, attending trade shows, making connections with fellow estheticians all helped me to feel better about my personal journey. Also, being transparent about the areas I didn’t feel as confident in, helped my mentors to reassure me and give me the push I needed to thrive. Being vulnerable about the areas I needed assistance never failed me, instead I was able to get the support I needed, and ultimately able to feel stronger as a professional.
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 began my journey in the beauty industry almost a decade ago, doing makeup until I stumbled into the wonderful world of esthetics.
Fast forward to the present day, and I am living my absolute dream running a skin clinic focusing on some of the most complex skin conditions, such as acne, age management, pigmentation and scar revision.
At my skin clinic, AURUM, we specialize in educating our clients and empowering them in their journey towards the healthiest skin of their lives. I count it truly a privilege to make a difference in our clients lives in this way. We service a very diverse clientele so there are plenty of skin anomalies we have been able to successfully treat. There is no better feeling than being able to impact a person’s confidence for the better!
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 Willingness to learn
2 Integrity
3 Humility
I believe the 3 qualities I listed have all intertwined during my career. By having the willingness to learn, it has helped me to continue to grow in an ever-changing industry. Finding what I like and believe in has helped me to operate from a place of integrity, not compromising my values in order to achieve a certain result. My clients can rest assured knowing I will always operate with their best interest at heart. Finally, without humility I would have never been able to learn from the mistakes I’ve made. My dad always tells me “failure is feedback”,so I have always had the attitude that making a mistake is always an opportunity to improve in the future!
Advice that I have for someone early on in their journey: Know yourself, and know your values. I think it’s so important to be known for doing the right thing. No one is perfect, but in this industry, trust is a huge factor in building a clientele and ultimately, relationships. Be the person that people can trust to do what’s right, and always allow your core values to be your North Star.
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?
One of the best books I have read is “The Big Leap” by Gay Wardle. It focuses on small mindset changes you can make which will ultimately help you reach your fullest potential and help you get out of your own way. This ties back into dealing with imposter syndrome and helping you to feel comfortable moving to the next level of success.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.helloaurum.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/skinbytatiyana
Image Credits
Photo credit: Jess Lombardi Photography, Jendayi Asha Photography
