Let's talk about imposter syndrome, shall we? Because I see it all the time in new groomers, and I definitely put myself in that category.
So, a short reminder of my story. I climbed the greasy pole of "success" in HR and, 11 years later, found myself pretty well paid, with good benefits, but entirely unfulfilled and, on many occasions, miserable. I made the decision to leave in September 2025 and start a dog grooming course at South Coast Dog Grooming Academy.
The course itself was brilliant. I'd already studied for a Level 3 Diploma in Kennel and Cattery Management in 2024, which gave me a good understanding of animal behaviour and all the health and safety bits. Being able to then go straight in and get a solid, practical understanding of how to groom dogs was a godsend. It's exactly the way I learn best and, even though I had to travel to Worthing three times a week to do it, I knew it was the best option for me.
But, as anyone will tell you about any training, the real learning starts when you leave the salon and you're on your own. You find yourself in tricky situations and you just have to find your way out of them. I'm lucky that we have a really lovely group of new groomers on WhatsApp who chat regularly about how they're doing. We share our successes, our woes, and reach out for advice. But other than that, it's just me on my onesie.
Have I made mistakes? absolutely.
I've had situations where the end result wasn't what the owner wanted at all, and I've had to put my hands up and apologise profusely. A simple matter of not understanding the coat well enough - very embarrassing, and I felt like a total plonker.
I'm also a lot slower than a groomer who's been doing this for years. I'm getting quicker over time, and it's improving, but I don't always do as much tidying as I'd like because I've run out of time.
My daily nemesis is social media! The algorithm has picked up on my love of dog content, and my reels are essentially a mash-up of dog grooming skits and "how-to" videos. It's a wonderful resource for a lonely dog groomer, but blimey, if there's anything that'll make you feel inadequate, it's Instagram.
Then, of course, we add grooming cats into the mix, and suddenly we have even more insecurities to throw onto the table. What a lovely mash-up of emotions, eh?!
I am so grateful to everyone who's brought their pup or cat to the cabin so far. It's brought me so much joy, and I genuinely love spending time with your fur babies. I've also loved getting to know you and hearing your stories. I hope you'll stick with me ❤️
I actually believe that imposter syndrome is a good thing. It holds us accountable, stops us from getting too comfortable, and reminds us that we can all improve, grow, and try new things.
So, whilst it can be heavy at times, I'll continue to be my own worst critic so that I can strive to be the best groomer I can be for your animals. That's my commitment to you.