234: How to Stop Imposter Syndrome for Good with Miriam Schulman

Making a Living as an Artpreneur

“I completely believe in finding mentors, investing in yourself, finding coaches, people who can help you with whatever it is you need to do.” —Miriam Schulman

After witnessing 9/11 from her office on Wall Street, Miriam Schulman decided to quit her job and make a full-time living as a creative. She now teaches other artists around the world to develop their skills and create more time and freedom to do what they love.

In this episode of “Authors Who Lead,” I talk with Miriam Schulman about her journey making a living as an artist, as well as her book, Artpreneur: The Step-by-Step Guide to Making a Sustainable Living from Your Creativity, coming out January 31, 2023.

Imposter Syndrome

One of the first activities I do with my authors is to write on a sticky note “I am an Author.” With this mindset, when resistance or imposter syndrome comes up as we write, we can feel confident that it is all part of being an author. The fear that comes with imposter syndrome should fuel an author to keep pushing forward.

Miriam also felt this imposter syndrome as she wrote her book, even though she intellectually knew the concept of a “shitty first draft.” What one of her podcast guests reminded her is that we have to be “willing to write a shitty first book.” Miriam talks to me in this podcast episode about what she calls the “Sleeping Beauty syndrome.”

Just like in the Disney version of the fairy tale, as artists, we’re afraid to bring out our own creation until it is “perfect.” We will never get to perfection because we can always be better. So many artists never succeed because they didn’t give themselves a fair chance. We need to push past that fear and put ourselves out there to receive feedback in order to improve.

Living as an Artpreneur

Since she was little, Miriam always believed that she was an artist, but it took a very long time before she came to believe that she could make a living from her creativity. She went to work on Wall Street where she made good money. When she realized this wasn’t the life she wanted to live, she left it to make a living on her creativity.

This is a big step for anyone wanting to leave their job for something else because the fear can be crippling. Miriam tells us that “breaking free of the golden handcuffs is really recognizing the risks that you have of staying the same and staying put and not making changes in your life.” We have to face those fears, push through the discomfort, and find a way to make a living on our own terms.

In this podcast, Miriam also shares with us:

  • What holds talented people back from being successful
  • How to choose how much of your story to put in your nonfiction book
  • The many ways writing a book can benefit you
  • How writing a book can clarify your entrepreneurial message
  • What “mortality motivation” is
  • How perfectionism is just procrastination

What was your biggest takeaway from this episode? Are you thinking about writing a book? Are you doubting yourself and feeling like an imposter? Share in the comments below!

That’s all for this week. If you have a message inside of you that needs to be written, today is the day to start. Don’t delay—take action.

Episode Resource: 

Connect with Miriam here:
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
YouTube

Get a copy of Miriam’s book here:
Artpreneur: The Step-by-Step Guide to Making a Sustainable Living From Your Creativity

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234: How to Stop Imposter Syndrome for Good with Miriam Schulman234: How to Stop Imposter Syndrome for Good with Miriam Schulman

Azul talks with Miriam Schulman about her journey making a living as an artist, as well as her book, Artpreneur, coming out January 31, 2023.

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