Is Your Way In Your Way?

Overcoming I.S. and Stepping into Your Purpose

Cassandra Crawley Mayo Season 2 Episode 103

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In this episode, Kristin Chadwick and Cassandra Crawley-Mayo discuss imposter syndrome, exploring its roots and how individuals can overcome self-doubt while stepping into their true purpose. They emphasize the importance of community, knowing your "why," and creating content as tools to help others navigate their paths and amplify their voices.

• Understanding imposter syndrome and its common manifestations 
• Importance of identifying your "why" in pursuing your goals 
• Role of community and mentorship in overcoming self-doubt 
• Tips on connecting with and engaging your audience through podcasting 
• Practical advice on starting a podcast and defining your listener demographic 
• Encouragement to confront imposter syndrome and act on your passions

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Cassandra:

Hello out there to all of my listeners and I'd like to welcome you to Is your Way In your Way podcast, and I'm your host, cassandra Crawley-Mayo and for those new listeners out there, let me share with you what this podcast is all about. It's for individuals who are stuck, and what I mean by that. You know how you know in your heart of heart there's something that you should be doing. It's like something is calling your soul and you can't figure it out. And then sometimes you kind of know what it is, but you just can't move.

Cassandra:

For example, you may want to write a book, you may want to start a business, you may want to change jobs, you may want to move, you may want to get out of a relationship it's a gamut of things, but you're really struggling and what happens is a lot of time our self-imposed barriers could be getting in our way. So, therefore, this podcast is for those individuals that are experiencing that, and so we talk about topics related to your personal personal development or your professional, and it's also going to enable you to do some self-reflection on yourself, and today we have a special guest. But first of all, let me tell you the title is Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Stepping Into your Purpose, and who better to talk to us about that is Kristin Chadwick. Good day, kristin. How are you today?

Kristin Fields Chadwick:

I'm doing wonderful. How are you doing?

Cassandra:

I am doing so well. I am so glad to have you on this podcast, particularly to talk about the things, the neat things that you're doing, and also this imposter syndrome, and perhaps many of my listeners are stuck because of it. So we're going to talk about that and before we do, I am going to share a little bit of your bio so my listeners could kind of get an understanding of what you are all about and what you've accomplished, although you have much more to accomplish. So Kristin Fields Chadwick is a seasoned podcast coach and industry expert with nearly a decade of experience guiding Christian influencers like the Dobson family and Kristen Boss top-charted launching podcasts. With a background in psychology and over a thousand podcast episodes to her name, she has specializing in help kingdom-minded entrepreneurs overcome self-doubt and confidently share their stories through podcasting. She's also a host of Holistic Hearts podcast and podcast coaching for kingdom entrepreneurs.

Cassandra:

Kristin's mission is to empower others to create an impactful, authentic content that aligns with their purpose and faith. Wow, that's a lot. And listen, guys, because she's a podcast coach. I'm certain that she's coaching me right now and she'll probably tell me about it later on, but I am so glad that she is here Now, kristin, what I'd like you to do now. It's interesting. Your psychology was your background, and then you kind of pivoted over to working with podcasts, and now you were talking a little about imposter syndrome and stepping into your purpose, and I just have a feeling that you have actually stepped into your purpose. So what we'd like to know is tell me about your backstory before you got into the podcast industry and every role since then I think since 2016,. What was going on with Kristin?

Kristin Fields Chadwick:

Yeah, so I am. I'm going to start with. I mean, everybody's story starts from the beginning, right? So I have always loved working with people. I love hearing their stories, I love encouraging them, and so whatever position, job wise I had was always about that, whether it was a five-year-old. I was a kindergarten teacher for one year and then I was a personal trainer for a long time and I was going to go back to school for counseling, since my college major was psychology.

Kristin Fields Chadwick:

And you know, I think I'm going to go back to school for counseling and right at the last minute I just felt I'm a woman of faith. So at that time I was like you know what I feel? A check in my spirit. It's a no. And so I called and unenrolled in the program, which was crazy. I'd already bought half of my books and I really could not explain it other than I just feel like this is a no. And then a couple of days later one of my dear friends and her husband called me and uh, that is the Dobson family and his, his son, dr Dobson's son, ryan, was leaving family talk to go do his own podcast where he could talk a little bit more freely of of things that parents our age at that time were really struggling with, that you couldn't quite talk about on broadcast air. They said Kristin, we've been praying for a podcast producer and you're it.

Kristin Fields Chadwick:

And I was like what is a podcast producer? I really I had honestly no clue. The only training that they really gave me, cause Ryan was like it's in your blood to be this and he was like you can come watch how my dad does it in his studio with their producer, but you're you're going to figure it out in the podcasting space. And so we did. We grew that show uh pretty quickly up to the top 25 kids and family and I had a blast.

Kristin Fields Chadwick:

Uh, I really loved in my own comfortable spot being behind the scenes and really creating a lot of connections for authors and and them to, to create these amazing episodes, back when podcasting was just starting off and, um, I loved that. And then, gradually, as we continued forward there, they really encouraged me to share my own heart or my own thoughts. So they would say, hey, producer K, what do you think? And I'd be like, why are you calling me to speak? You guys are the, you guys are the dobsons. You're good. And um, you know, I think, with having Ryan and Laura, ryan specifically, he's like a brother to me and him saying like no people really want to hear what you have to say. And then Laura continued to. She was walking through some cancer treatments at that time, and so I would record these little faith-based meditations for her and she would listen to them and she would be like Kristin, you've got to put this on a podcast and you have to record this. People want to hear this.

Kristin Fields Chadwick:

And so 2020 was when I started my own podcast and shared more of my faith journey and those little meditations, and that's kind of how it started, but definitely went from not feeling like I had anything to bring to the table to understanding that God had called me to something a lot bigger than what I was picturing in my own story.

Cassandra:

Okay, now repeat again for my listeners, before this opportunity came about, about what were you actually doing?

Kristin Fields Chadwick:

What was I doing? I was training. I was a mom of four. I had four littles at that time and so my training business was pretty much in my backyard and in our garage. So I would have other women come over and we would train each other through boot camp classes. And yeah, that was that was it and lots of just mom time.

Cassandra:

And also, although it didn't start out like that, but if you think about it, the training and you working with individuals and your group you had it in you. So obviously, ryan saw something where you had to get out of your comfort zone and you also indicated that you felt God was calling you to something and what you were doing wasn't really it.

Kristin Fields Chadwick:

It was, maybe not. It is not the right word. It was just more of like a beckoning for more. So there was a deep hunger to live into something bigger than what I could imagine at that moment.

Cassandra:

Okay, it's kind of like your soul, something was calling you, like I indicate in the beginning, like I just don't know what it was. But then the door started opening, yeah, yeah. So let me ask you this why are you doing what you're doing? What's your why? What's driving this? What's your why?

Kristin Fields Chadwick:

Yeah, driving this. What's your why, yeah, my why really comes from that story of there are women, specifically all over that are gold mines that are hidden, that they just need to be brought out into the light and share their story. Because I really feel that we are called to bring hope into this world and you have the, this nugget that could shift somebody's whole perspective, their life, their mindset, and and that that is my mission is to cheerlead the people that are feeling that it could be a very quiet whisper of like oh, one day I want to write a book, one day I want to do a podcast, but oh, that's a little scary.

Kristin Fields Chadwick:

And my why is to be like yes, yes, let's fan that flame.

Cassandra:

Okay, Now with some of that imposter syndrome. How did imposter syndrome get in this thing? Yeah, First of all, what is imposter syndrome?

Kristin Fields Chadwick:

thing? Yeah. So, first of all, what is imposter syndrome? Yeah, it's. It's the common question of who am I to blank, and I've seen this play out with lots of my clients and in podcasts. I've seen it play out with friends in various, you know, like job positions or projects or motherhood even, and so that question of who am I to blank has been personal in my own life. So even just starting a podcast in 2020 felt very real of who, who am I? I am a regular mom living my best life, my hard life, and so I know that it's a very common question for, I would say, most people, and so God really took me on this journey in my own experience, and so the overcoming imposter syndrome really started with this conversation in my own faith journey. And 2020, you know, everybody, the world shuts down. I'm very comfortably an introvert. I would much rather stay home. So I kind of was like, okay, I'll stay home.

Cassandra:

So I kind of was like okay, I'll stay home.

Kristin Fields Chadwick:

And then, as 2021 and the world started opening up a little bit more and more, I felt like I needed to get out into our local community and network and so I joined a networking group and the moment I walked in the doors of this women's networking group, there were probably a hundred 130 women in this room and this very nice banquet type place, and I immediately was just stricken with anxiety and like, oh my gosh, I just want to turn around and go home because I do not belong here.

Kristin Fields Chadwick:

And so every time I would go to these meetings it was once a month I would get that same feeling and I would have to try to talk myself into. Okay, if you could just stay for 30 minutes, then you can go outside, take a deep breath and just stay focused on other people and you know, doing all the self-talk of like I'm trying to stay here. But that anxiety and that question of who am I, of sitting in the throne room and the Father reaches down and says, Kristen, if you belong in the throne room, you belong in any room room, and it really just hit me so intensely and really broke off a lot of fear in that moment of that is my identity, I know who I am, I know that I belong in here.

Kristin Fields Chadwick:

And so, little by little, as I began to play that phrase over and over in my mind, as I walked into whatever situation, whether it was the networking group or speaking or pressing record, I belong in the room, I belong in this room. You've opened this door for me to walk in and be present, and so that, for me, was so shifting that it's become such a tool and a framework for when I help podcasters start their podcast and they're starting to doubt of who am I to start a podcast, then that you belong in the room is core and yes, who are you? So who did God make you to be and what is the purpose and the mission that you're on through that?

Cassandra:

Right. So it sounds like you've had an encounter, what I call an encounter with God, and you know, but prior to that or I always say, for me to have that I have to have a relationship. You know, for me to get it. And when you talked about that encounter, something similar happened to me at an airport and I actually have that chapter in my book and I had an out of body experience and and something went, went on with me and it was something that I did that I would have never done, you know, just control of a chaotic scene in an airport and just took charge.

Cassandra:

And when I did that and after I did that, I sat down like, oh my gosh, what did I do? This is not my business. And this voice said to me if you would get out of your way, you would see more things that I will do in your life. And that, right there, really, really helped me. I'm like, okay, all right, I'm going to get out of my way. So I like that part about you had that encounter and I'm certain you've had more encounters with God, as I have. Now you chose to work with women. Is there a reason why that is and and and entrepreneurs? Is that correct, correct?

Kristin Fields Chadwick:

Yeah, I. I really think you know God is funny in that way of I grew up with three older brothers. And so my my story was was I loved being the quiet one and listening to them. They were funny, they were outspoken, they were very entertaining, and so I was very quiet as the fourth kid and also the only girl. But through that I really came to admire femininity and the power that's. It's just ingrained in me because I feel like that was so much part of my story.

Cassandra:

Yeah, that that makes sense because, you know, I think about when we're little children. We have brothers and and the girls and the brothers are the boys I think are more outgoing, they're more competitive, you know. Boys, I think are more outgoing, they're more competitive, you know, you know. And for the girls, just be quiet, you know, you sit right here. You know, because I'm too am an introvert and so I think too, that's kind of why we have had challenges speaking up, because our childhood was like no, you just sit, be like a little girl, don't say anything. Yes, ma'am, you know that kind of thing.

Cassandra:

Yeah, because for me, women, to me, I think, are hidden gems and I'm like you is that's my ministry, you know, to empower them to start living their best life on their terms, because we all have a purpose, you know, we all are here for something and um, so, because of your gifting and your ministry, how do you, um? How do you find your clients?

Kristin Fields Chadwick:

Hmm, so a lot of it is referrals, um, and that has been since day one of Ryan reaching out, and then while I worked for them, there were a couple of little things here and there that I would do on the side. And then once I started my own podcast and eventually left Ryan and Laura and let them kind of do their thing, and then I had another referral, and another referral, and another referral, and so my business really has grown by word of mouth and showing up and serving, I hope, fully well, and I have an amazing team that helps me along that process too, so it certainly is not by myself.

Kristin Fields Chadwick:

I have three other women that work with me and, um, that is, the majority of uh of things is referrals, and then also podcasting. Podcasting has been a huge uh marketing tool to show up and and people to hear maybe my style versus another person's style and how to podcast and I know it's unique in its flavor.

Kristin Fields Chadwick:

I'm I'm not a very, uh, gregarious, striving person, and so I think we stand out in that way of just we're genuinely for people and so, with our team and the way that they serve well, it just happens that way. Referral wise.

Cassandra:

Yeah, well, that's great when you talk about the overcoming imposter syndrome and for you, you know it was an encounter that you had with God and I have listeners that don't have that relationship. What advice or what would you tell them or how could they overcome? Because to me, imposter syndrome is the phenomena. Everybody's talking about imposter syndrome. You know, I forgot. It came out several years ago, it's relatively new actually. Yeah, so how would you explain to individuals that aren't faith-based, I would say, to overcome imposter syndrome.

Kristin Fields Chadwick:

Yeah, so I think we all question and we all have that imposter syndrome, and one tool is to really answer the question of yes, who are you? And really sitting down and thinking about what do you bring to the table? And we all bring something to the table. So, whether it's asking a spouse or a friend or a colleague hey, what, what do you see in me that maybe I'm not seeing?

Kristin Fields Chadwick:

and really sit with that and own it of. Okay, this is who I am, and then from there is really looking back at what have you accomplished?

Kristin Fields Chadwick:

What what are those things that you can be grateful for, that you have walked through and that you can carry forward as well, and I think that really does help. I've done a lot of interviews where I have talked about imposter syndrome, and I remember one guy in particular. He said every time that I'm in a spiral of imposter syndrome, I sit down and I have to remember and write down everything that I've already accomplished.

Kristin Fields Chadwick:

And and he was like. It just grounds me and I think that's so true is just to remember, uh, what you have already done, even if you're in that space of who am I, or self-doubt, or you know, doubting what's happening in the future or unfolding before you.

Cassandra:

Mm-hmm. So for the individuals on my listeners and even in my book you know I talked about is your way, in your way, and imposter syndrome is actually one way that one could be in their way and I've also experienced imposter syndrome and it's a process and at times I still do so.

Cassandra:

I always say so, okay, I'm not there, I don't think I'll ever be there, but I will grow, you know, and learn from that and then, after I grow and learn, that's the opportunity for me to save, save, to share, to serve as well with other women. You talked about how important it is for women to use their voice, for women to use their voice, and I had initially talked about as a child. You know being a child, how you know. When we were younger children, we were like, well, just be quiet. Are there other reasons you think why we as women struggle to use our voices?

Kristin Fields Chadwick:

Oh, man, that's. I feel like that's a loaded question. Um, I do feel like that was part of the culture. I think we've gotten a lot better, but I do think that, culturally, we have been told to be quiet. And whether it's directly or indirectly, and so I think that we're all starting to use this muscle. So it's fun to watch how women are starting to use their voices, and there's a there's a big movement right now, like the Esther movement.

Kristin Fields Chadwick:

I don't know if you know about the 1 million women march that just happened in Washington DC, but that to me just shows, like this rising up of like hey, wait a minute, we have something to say here, and yeah, and I think it just comes back to we, both men and women, have incredible value.

Kristin Fields Chadwick:

We are all valuable, and I think women right now are really understanding the worth that we get to bring to the table, and so I just think it's a wonderful position to be in in this day and age to hear women rise up and they're part of the story.

Cassandra:

Right, and that's why my logo is a Phoenix. You know it's it's it's time to rise up. You know, as you indicate, just what's going on in the world the me too movement, the, you know, not having the right to our own body. It's just a lot of things. And I believe, too, when you talk about the Esther movement, I'm not familiar with that movement, but I'm familiar with Esther story and what happened with that story and how. That is a great way or a great metaphor to say that's a movement, that one woman look what she did yeah, yeah, so so, but I've not heard of that, but I think that's interesting. Take on the Esther movement, wow, do you?

Cassandra:

Let me ask you a little bit about podcasting, because I have spoken with a few people not a few, but a lot of people that are hanging on to this podcasting thing. Like you know, I've had people say I really want to do that. You know I've been thinking about it but I just haven't done it because it's tough. And you know, even when I started, I was like what am I going to say? What am I going to do? You know, and, like yourself, you have been a producer, so you know the whole thing myself. I'm all of it. You know I do, and it is a lot of work, but because of the love that I have for it, it's okay and I'm certainly eventually I'm going to have other people work with me as well A work I don't say for me, but we're going to work together. So talk to my listeners about how do you create podcast content that will engage your audiences.

Kristin Fields Chadwick:

Yeah Well, I think right there you said it well if you love what you do and I think it's following. What is your heart for, what are those things that people know you love to talk about? Or they come to you and they ask you questions about what is it that you're constantly learning about? is where you can find that sweet spot of your message. And closely tied to that, I think, on the other side of that coin, is your who, and so if you have your, your message and your who together, um, you can really sit down and speak into the heart of your listener. So if you, if you have that, then you can clearly create content from there. So, um, it really is sitting down with that person. That's like you know.

Kristin Fields Chadwick:

I would like to start a podcast and I would ask what is your why? Okay, what's the purpose? And uh, and then from there, we, we talk about that message in your hue, Um, and then, from from that point, it's more like the technical side of things and really understanding the depth that it might, or time and energy that it might entail for you, depending on which way you want to go with it. Is it a hobby. Is it a part of your business? Um so, yeah, okay.

Cassandra:

Um, how could listeners and you asked me this in the beginning figure out who their audience is? And this is a part two. Another part two question and how can they? Not only how do they know who their audience is, but how can they increase their listeners?

Kristin Fields Chadwick:

Yeah, so those are two great questions. The first part of how do you figure out who your listeners are is typically it is. If you haven't started a podcast yet, you have this beautiful moment to decide who that is. If you already have your business as an entrepreneur and it's part of your business, then you have your answer right there it's those potential new clients or service consumers or whatever, and so you can build it off of that. If you already have a podcast and you just started because you felt like you needed to start your podcast and you just started because you felt like you needed to start your podcast then what's really fun is one client that I've been working with. She did that route where now we're really focusing in on her specific listener.

Kristin Fields Chadwick:

And the way that I literally just got off a call with her and the analogy that I gave was it's almost like you're a farmer and you've been spreading wildflowers and pumpkins and vegetables and potatoes and corn, and now we're like, okay, now that I've started, now I really know I want to grow potatoes.

Kristin Fields Chadwick:

So, I'm going to go over to this plot of content and I'm going to focus just on the potatoes and I'm just going to let the other things go for right now, because I know the potatoes are really thriving in this environment. And so as a podcaster not that your listeners are potatoes, but you know what I mean so you're like for you you're women entrepreneurs, you know their age range, but so now it's like okay, let's dig in. What are those pain points that they're walking through?

Cassandra:

And so.

Kristin Fields Chadwick:

I, I love to ask the 52 questions of what are those 52 questions that your listener is asking and you just brain dump it out. So it could be um, you know, how do I balance motherhood business and my relationships? How do I start a business? How do I grow my business? And you just go, go, go go, and that is your content, basically.

Cassandra:

Okay.

Kristin Fields Chadwick:

Questions. Um, so that's one way, uh, uh, as far as really defining your listener. Another way is, if you already have a podcast, is to ask and say, hey, I'm gonna throw a zoom for my listeners. I would love to see who shows up and just ask you a few questions. Um, really, just talk to your people and then you'll get to know them a little bit more. Now the second part of your question of how do I grow my podcast? Um well, this is like a whole thing in itself.

Kristin Fields Chadwick:

Uh and there are basically. I just did an episode this past week on um, basically how I would check over anybody's podcast to see where can we organically grow and where can we effortlessly grow like intentionally grow.

Kristin Fields Chadwick:

And so what I mean by that is organically like what's your podcast art tile? What is your title? Does your title have keywords in it? Does your podcast description have keywords in it? How are people finding you? What ways can they find you better? And then you go over to effort-based marketing and that's more of like social media, newsletters, connecting with your people, real life, and just more of that effort based as the name says, effort based. So those are kind of two areas where you can really dive deeply, and the result of diving deeply in both of those areas is going to give you growth, organically and through intentionality.

Cassandra:

Okay, okay Great, that's good to know. Now, as we wrap up, tell my listeners, particularly those who are interested in podcasting and I also see that you've talked about you do you have two podcasting shows? Yeah, wow, holistic, and what's the other one?

Kristin Fields Chadwick:

So Holistic Hearts podcast is more of the faith-based one, where the tagline is from the head to the heart, so we're really just getting deep into our faith. And then the second one is podcast coaching for kingdom entrepreneurs. And that is all about podcasting. So if you want to know how to start a podcast head over there, If you want to learn how to grow a podcast head over there, I even have a 10-part series on how to start a podcast. That's literally anybody could go through it and start a podcast.

Kristin Fields Chadwick:

after listening to that and then, yeah, the growth, like I said, this past episode, this last week is a great tool. It's 153, episode 153 on growth.

Cassandra:

Yeah, you've done a quite a few. Yes, no, yeah, you've done a quite a few. Yes, you know, as I tell my listeners, you can't do things by yourself. You know, yeah, and, and that's the that's one reason why I have my podcast, so people could listen to what other people are doing. You know, maybe it can be part of their community, their tribe, or maybe, as I indicated earlier, that it will enable somebody to self-reflect and and have a pivotal moment and say, wow, okay, I did want to do a podcast. You know, the first the thing that I remember is people always want to have a talk show.

Kristin Fields Chadwick:

I want to have a talk show.

Cassandra:

Yes, thanks, oprah. Everybody wanted to have a talk show, so now I think the thing is I want to have a podcast. I love the questions of 52 questions that you ask to hone in to see whether that is really something that you want to do. You know, is it a hobby or you know, for me, I don't just do things just to be doing. It has to be a reason behind it. You know so that's kind of how I function. There has to be a reason behind it, you know so that's kind of how I function. So any advice for my listeners who, like I said before, is their soul is calling them for something, but they can't figure it out, what can you share with my listeners to help them figure that out? And we already know, once they figure it out, they got to take action. Right, yeah, that's the key there. But how can they help them with, like, something's calling them? How can they figure that out from your perspective?

Kristin Fields Chadwick:

perspective working with somebody like a life coach or business coach, depending on what area you're kind of feeling that tickle in your spirit, and I think really listening to your own voice it starts with that. I think you know, so often we go to other people to hear like so often we go to other people to hear like, oh, you think I should do this. But see, coming back to women, is this we have an intuition, we all have an inner voice and sometimes it just takes sitting down and being quiet and journaling, or even just sitting on your front porch and thinking about what, what is your heart longing to do? What rises up within you? Maybe it's an, it's almost like an anger that you see in this world that frustrates you, or or you feel the passion. Start to rise up and really start to get real curious on that and curious with yourself, and start to listen to those voices that are speaking to you.

Cassandra:

Right, that's good. I think curiosity is another form of wisdom. You know real curious about things. I think that's very helpful, and I'm also a very curious person. I want to know what's happening about that. Well, why is that like that? You know all these questions. They're like well, you shut up, but Kristen, this was great. I um um, you talked about your podcast. How can they get in touch with you?

Kristin Fields Chadwick:

Well, I would love to just chat with you one-on-one. If you're feeling the nudge to start a podcast, or I mean you want to talk about anything that we talked about on the show today, you can email me at Kristen at KristenFieldsChadwickcom. That would be the number one way to get in touch with me. And, of course, I'm on social media, at Instagram and Facebook at Kristen Fields Chadwick. So, and of course, my podcast.

Cassandra:

Right. So, as you indicated, let's start overcoming our imposter syndrome and start stepping into your purpose. Again, kristin, thank you so much. She's very much appreciative and listeners. If you've heard something that's resonating with you, I would definitely take Kristin's advice and contact her, particularly if you're looking forward or wanting to start a podcast. Please give her a call and, for my listeners again, share this podcast with individuals that have an interest in starting a podcast as well, or even want to know a little bit about imposter syndrome and how to overcome it. So again, thank you, kristin, to my listeners. Bye for now and remember, subscribe to. It Is your Way, In your Way, so you can start hearing more exciting podcasts on this channel. Thanks so much and bye for now, and God bless you.