I once thought it was crucial for me to personally experience being a high school senior getting photos taken, a bride on her wedding day, and a mother at her baby shower to offer the best makeup services. I believed that having these experiences would inform my choice of beauty appointments and products for clients in these situations. However, after grappling with occasional bouts of imposter syndrome, I gained clarity.
Just as playing a sport is not the same as coaching and studying is not equivalent to teaching, I realized that having firsthand experience as a client isn’t the sole criterion for becoming a successful service provider, despite its validation within professional cultures. By sidestepping the role of a client in these scenarios, I was able to focus on developing communication and service skills in ways that wouldn’t have been possible if I had spent too much time on the other side.