Learning from one another is what BoldJourney is all about. Below, we’ve shared stories and insights from phenomenal artists, creatives and entrepreneurs who’ve successfully managed to overcome imposter syndrome.
Nora Roberts
Imposter syndrome is something I’ve been dealing with since day one. I started making jewelry under the name OklayNoralee almost 4 years ago and there are still days I have moments of self doubt. It took me years into this journey to even allow anyone (let alone myself) to reference me as an “artist.” It’s been an uphill battle for me to take myself seriously to any degree, and while I think self-doubt or imposter syndrome never truly go away, I do think I’ve traveled over the hill at least. Read More>>
Jojo Trumbly
“To be honest, I haven’t completely conquered imposter syndrome, and I’m not sure if I ever will. However, I’ve learned to appreciate those moments of self-doubt and use them as fuel for personal growth. Whenever I have doubts, I take a step back and remind myself of the accomplishments I’ve achieved so far. I believe that even without experience, I can learn and adapt as I go. By always doing my best and putting the needs of others first, I can continue to evolve, make a positive impact, and prove to myself that I’m capable of more than I realize. Read More>>
Jared Foster
I am in Woodworker at furniture designer out of Atlanta Georgia. I have been building for the past seven years. I really enjoy what it is that I do. a lot of the pieces that I have made have been custom pieces. One thing I am currently excited about the opportunity that I just had with the brand kilz primer. I had the opportunity to be the face of the new YouTube series Destination Restoration. A link to the series is in my Instagram bio @ JPaulTheCarpenter. I’m also really excited about all the brand partnerships. I have been a part of with brands like Home Depot, Behr paint, and TimberlandPro. Read More>>
Benson Shum
I wonder if imposter syndrome ever goes away. I’ve been working in the animation industry for over 20 years, and have published 9 children’s books. And I still have it. I’m constantly blown away by people around me. But I don’t think its necessarily a bad thing. I believe we can be confident in our work and also still have imposter syndrome. I see it more of a strength. The idea that there is always something to learn. Yes, we don’t want the imposter syndrome to over take and prevent us from moving forward, but having a little of it can be a driving tool for us. Read More>>
Michelle Barrera
Imposter syndrome is a common experience that many individuals face. Personally, several strategies have worked for me. These approaches have been instrumental in my personal journey of conquering imposter syndrome. However, it’s important to remember that each individual may find different strategies effective, and it’s worth exploring various techniques to find what resonates best with oneself. Read More>>
Michelle Fontaine-Jones
Imposter syndrome is a common phenomenon that are feelings of self-doubt, inadequacy, and the fear of being exposed as a fraud despite evidence of success and competence. It can affect anyone, not just entrepreneurs. It is always a challenge to try to overcome imposter syndrome. It takes time and effort, but with the right mindset and strategies, you can manage and ultimately conquer these feelings. I learned to recognize and acknowledge my accomplishments daily. You never want to discredit or minimize your achievements. Read More>>
Dr. Ashley Nazon
We all have moments when we experience imposter syndrome. The way I overcome imposter syndrome is referring to the facts of my success. I have found that when I reference the facts of my life and not rely on my emotional feelings and self-doubt that it helps me overcome the negative thoughts about my career as a therapist. Read More>>
Whitney Hurt
Overcoming imposter syndrome is a constant fight. I say that because it’s something that can lie dormant and it can creep up on you when you feel things aren’t going the way they should or when you are in a slow season as an entrepreneur. How I have overcome imposter syndrome is to shift my focus on what is working versus what isn’t. If you harp on the things that aren’t working or you feel you have missed some self given deadline in your timeline of life. Your focus becomes negative and you are more likely to remain stagnant. I choose to take the route of positive even when I don’t feel like it. Because my purpose requires that of me! Read More>>
Kristina Girod
By dropping my ego, recognizing the good others are doing and getting to work. My mindset is that if I see that it’s possible elsewhere, I know I have the ability to do it myself. And I have found that if you stay in the work long enough, you’ll usually find that success comes when opportunity meets preparation. So, I stay ready. Read More>>
h’Elena Pleasant Pleasant
I overcame imposter syndrome by recognizing and acknowledging my accomplishments, focusing on my strengths, and seeking support from my trusted circle. During the setbacks, I remember that everyone experiences self-doubt at times. Developing a positive mindset and self-compassion was also beneficial for me. Lastly, I set realistic goals and celebrated the milestones, even the small ones, along the way to build my confidence and to reduce my feelings of inadequacy. Read More>>
Matthew Alec
Imposter syndrome. Yeah, that’s been a thing that I’ve dealt with since I was just a kid starting in music. I wasn’t familiar with what it was in my 20s, but I suffered from its effects all the same. To be completely honest I’ve never truly overcome it. It’s continued to be an obstacle for me to this day. That said, I have learned to recognize it and I have learned to lessen its effects on me in recent years. Read More>>
Kayla Moultrie
The best way I was able to find overcome imposter syndrome was to “do it scared” and belief everything will work out later. Also, knowing that my experience and hard work was destined to work out in my favor. Read More>>
Arielle Schmidt
Overcoming imposter syndrome can be a complex and personal journey, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. However, I can provide you with a concept that doesn’t involve “fake it till you make it” and can help you address imposter syndrome in a more empowering way. Read More>>
Tanika Barber
In 2020, after several months of self doubt, I decided to take a leap of faith and quit my full time job as a Program Supervisor and start my own Mental Health Private Practice. But this also began my journey on struggling with imposter syndrome. Imposter Syndrome is common for individuals to doubt their achievements and fear being exposed as frauds, despite their experience and competence. Even with my advance graduate level education and experience in the field, I struggled with my confidence to become an entrepreneur. I knew my theories, interventions and clinical diagnosis, but this didn’t stop the self doubt. Read More>>
Oscar Lopez Jr.
The short answer: I haven’t. I’m a music producer / DJ and both of those art forms require an abundance of knowledge in their respective subjects to be proficient. That is especially the case with music production. Read More>>
Koco Collab (Aiko Szymczak & Corinne Trujillo)
We are a creative small business ran by Aiko Szymczak & Corinne Trujillo. We paint murals, paintings, upcycle and hand embroider clothing, binds books from scratch and more. We love being able to focus on many forms of creativity and we especially love painting BIG. By starting Koco Collab, we were able to make a platform that allows us to explore various mediums, messages and methods. As painters, we both separately like to paint feminine portraiture and explore complex emotions. Read More>>
Kate Dardine
Haha, I don’t really think anyone actually “overcomes” imposter syndrome. I think you just learn to recognize when the feelings of not really being who you are “pretending” to be come up. And when they do, you have to self talk yourself and remind yourself of what you have accomplished. And that whether art making comes easily to you or if you struggle (and on different pieces, I vacillate between the two) your vision and ability to manifest that vision in a way that resonates with others is what makes you an artist. Read More>>
CeErica Allen
To overcome imposter syndrome, I acknowledge my achievements and cut out negative self-talk. I also seek support from trusted individuals, embrace continuous learning, and celebrate progress over perfection. It’s important I surround myself with positive influences, keep a record of positive feedback, and take on new challenges to build confidence. I remind my self, it’s a process that takes time and practice, so I’m patient and celebrate my progress when I can. Read More>>
Wendy Michelle Davis
Imposter Syndrome is a very real thing that many people deal with in different fields and in different ways. Honestly, I have dealt with it, not just as an artist, but as a teacher, a tennis player, a Christian, and in other areas of my life. We can feel like a foney, a fake, like we are just pretending at what we’re doing and before long, someone will find out and reveal to the world that we are not who we claim to be. I can’t say that I have fully mastered a way to not fall into this mindset at times, but I have learned that it truly is a lie. Read More>>
Quite Unusual
Glad you asked, actually not only do we not have imposter syndrome but we believe we have the opposite. We like to call it “Poster Syndrome.” One of our biggest fears is being body snatched, so we make sure neither of us are imposters at all time. You have to be careful of the underground Body Snatching Syndicate, something most people aren’t aware of. You have to take the extra steps to arm yourself against the Body Snatchers. Are you armed? You should be. Read More>>
jasmine tilman
Thank you for asking such an insightful question. Throughout my journey, I have encountered moments of frustration, stemming from my diligent efforts and subsequent setbacks. Often, we find ourselves relentlessly pursuing predetermined paths, neglecting the true essence of embracing and cherishing our destinies. I, too, have fallen victim to this mindset, engaging in over 20 simultaneous activities, desperately hoping that one would lead to success. It was only after picking myself up for the umpteenth time that I recognized the importance of prioritization and honing my focus on a single objective. I came to understand that I am deserving of achieving the goals I have set for myself, and I have since endeavored to conquer them with unwavering determination. Read More>>
Kataya
I’m Kataya, a multifaceted individual engaged in the realms of music, entrepreneurship, and content creation. As a singer and songwriter, I have continuously channeled my passion for writing into the art of songwriting, which fills me with immense pride. Moreover, I have also ventured into the fields of user-generated content creation and digital marketing, honing my expertise in these domains. Excitingly, I am on the verge of launching my very own makeup line, further expanding my entrepreneurial pursuits. Read More>>
Nathan Nokes
Imposter syndrome affects us all. No matter if you are a voice actor, producer, artist, or what have you, we deal with it at least once in our career. For me to over come imposter syndrome, I had to understand what it was. There would be days where I just couldn’t feel comfortable with a read and even saying out loud, “wow that was awful!” After a while it was getting into my head where I started to believe it and it was affecting my reads. At times I thought that because my audition was getting “rejected” by a client I thought I just wasn’t good enough. As I grew in my career as a voice actor I learned that I was better than I lead myself to believe and that happens to many of us creatives. I came to understand that when you change your vocabulary and your mindset, this when imposter syndrome goes out the window. Read More>>
Bailey Chavez
I’m not sure I’ll ever overcome imposter syndrome fully, to be perfectly honest. When I am having moments of doubt, I have found it helps to look back at my first few pieces to see how far I have come since I first started. I always try to remember that I would not be where I am if I didn’t start when I did. Imposter syndrome is real and can feel so mean but your ART is real and valid and if you love what you make then that’s ultimately what matters most! Read More>>
Chasmine Iyonna
Changing our mindset is key. Rather than telling myself “I got lucky this time,” I started shifting my focus on how hard I worked and incremented minute moves that I learned from my mentor Ilka Murray. She is phenomenal make sure you download her course Own Your Shift it changed my entire life. Read More>>
