As I figure out how I am going to approach this 365 Days Of Blog Posts resolution, the topics will probably be really random. Which, I guess gives whoever reads these an accurate representation of how my brain works. One thing I am certain of is that I want to celebrate the successes I’ve had throughout the years. It feels weird even typing that.
According to Healthline, imposter syndrome involves unfounded feelings of self-doubt and incompetence. They also say that you can reduce the feelings by talking to friends, family, or other supportive peers. That’s where You all come in to support me with this. The weird thing about the feelings (and voice in my head) that I associate with imposter syndrome is completely unpredictable when it comes to when and why it kicks in. It can be the simplest things and things that I have years of experience with.
I’ve been writing about sneakers and working in the footwear industry for over 15 years. The number of companies I’ve worked for as a consultant is easily 2-3 times that number and the number of places I’ve written for is even greater. If it’s an experience I have yet to have and has to do with sneakers, it’s hard for me to say no. Even all these years later, I just want to do and learn more. Yet, somehow I can talk myself out of being the capable person I know I am.
So in an effort to share more of the things that I’ve accomplished over the years, one of the regular topics I plan to share is the work I’ve done in the sneaker game.
I’ve been obsessed with magazines for as long as I can remember. As a young pre/teen I would spend hours flipping through the magazines at Tower Records (the GOAT!), Barnes & Noble, and Media Play. Although most of what I was reading at the time was music or art-related, the car and sneaker magazines from Japan stood out from all the rest with heavier paper and higher-quality images. Fast forward to my early twenties and I found myself contributing to Sole Collector magazine, which was inspired by those same magazines I had been reading in my teens. Ever since I’ve looked to write for print magazines as much as I can.
Eight years ago today, I came home to a special delivery from Sneaker News. Back in 2014, they launched a short-lived premium collectible print magazine. For Sneaker News The Magazine, I contributed a story on the history of the Reebok Pump for the inaugural issue “Volume One.” Unfortunately, I don’t think the Sneaker News magazine lasted more than a few issues.
Nowadays it may seem backward that a news blog would go into print, but I know I am not the only one that still loves print to this day. There is just something incredible about flipping through the pages and when you get to see the names of your friends on the bylines, or even better your own, it just makes me happy. In fact, I’ve got a number of “if the opportunity ever arises” magazines that I would love to bring back from the dead for special occasions but that’s a story for another day.