S4EP07: Imposter Syndrome and the Entrepreneur's Journey with Shannon Mattern

Becoming Trauma-Informed

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Who says entrepreneurs must always have it figured out?

This enlightening conversation with Shannon Mattern, the founder of the Web Designer Academy, chronicles the roller coaster journey of entrepreneurship where success is accompanied by failures, and self-doubt often overshadows achievements.

Shannon doesn't sugarcoat the business experience; she dives into the messy aspects of running a venture, encouraging self-reflection and self-compassion, and highlighting the role of vulnerability in leadership.

This episode peels back the layers of Shannon's transition from a frustrating corporate job to a thriving freelance web design business and how she grappled with imposter syndrome and feelings of being unqualified. She shares her experiences of with internalized violence, and creating a culture of psychological safety within her team. Her approach to overcoming these hurdles reveals the power of realistic advice and of taking actionable steps.

Drawing on her lessons, Shannon emphasizes the importance of authenticity in leadership. She reflects on the hard decisions she's had to make and her struggles with people-pleasing. Despite the challenges, Shannon's optimism is contagious as she talks about her gratitude for the lessons learned and offers encouragement to those experiencing tough times.

Tune in for a conversation that's brimming with relatable experiences and valuable advice for anyone running a business.

Guest Bio:

Shannon Mattern is the founder of the Web Designer Academy where she helps web designers work less and make more money.

She’s also the host of the Profitable Web Designer Podcast and the Simply Profitable Designer Summit where she shares strategies and advice to help web designers create freedom, flexibility and financial independence.

Learn more and connect with Shannon at https://webdesigneracademy.com and https://webdesigneracademy.com/profitable-web-designer-podcast/

Learn more about Safe to Be Seen here: https://institutefortrauma.com/stbs

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Chapters

1. S4EP07: Imposter Syndrome and the Entrepreneur's Journey with Shannon Mattern (00:00:00)

2. Navigating Challenges in Business and Leadership (00:00:06)

3. Resistance to Feedback and Seeking Validation (00:13:50)

4. Breaking Self-Abuse, Self-Reflection (00:18:01)

5. Charging for Services and Leadership Growth (00:33:22)

6. Embracing Growth, Self-Leadership, and Authenticity (00:45:45)

7. Lessons in Leadership and Self-Reflection (00:51:20)

8. Podcast Episode Closing Remarks (01:01:37)