This is the year to kick the pesky imposter syndrome to the curb and move forward on your journey towards reaching your full potential. We hope the stories and lessons below will help you overcome self-doubt.
Joel Lindberg
In my home country Sweden, the perspective on individual success is very different compared to American culture. There is a phenomenon in Scandinavia known as “the law of Jante”, which is a set of beliefs that basically boils down to this: “Don’t think you’re more special than anyone else”. Read More>>
Grace Ramirez
Overcoming imposter syndrome isn’t a single battle; it’s a constant dance with doubt, a tightrope walk between questioning your worth and owning your place. It sneaks up when you’re standing in rooms where you once dreamed of being, whispering, Do you really belong here? And in those moments, we have a choice—to listen to that chatter or to step out of our heads and into the space, anchor ourselves in trust, and let go. Read More>>
Brittany Piacenza
Imposter syndrome is SO SO real! As a “new” travel creator, I continue to overcome it by embracing my unique journey and recognizing that my voice has value. Growing up with emotional struggles, I often felt like I had to prove my worth, and even as a professional dancer performing on stage, I battled self-doubt despite my skill and passion. Read More>>
Tay Cromwell
The best way for me to overcome imposter syndrome was to remind myself that I’m not the only person who feels threatened by their insecurities. It’s an ongoing effort, really, but it’s necessary. I think that imposter syndrome gets to us, and we immediately think of other people as these “heavenly beings” who are so much better, more confident, and more prepared than we are. Read More>>
Zain Majeed
Personally, I view imposter syndrome as a lifelong battle. The very core of my being is to overthink at every step. Rather than suppressing thoughts of doubt and not belonging, I’ve taken time to work through where those feelings derive from. As a child, I was extremely artistic, constantly drawing and coloring to no end. But that artistry faded away in my adolescence as opinions from others made me believe that art wasn’t a practical path to pursue. Read More>>
Kelsey
I’m not sure that I have or will overcome imposter syndrome! But I have definitely become more confident and comfortable in my work. It helps to think that everyone starts as an amateur, no one becomes a master of their craft at their first attempt. Read More>>
Adam Giladi
Working in the media industry it is very easy to feel overwhelming imposter syndrome especially when seeking out a new venture. For me as a food blogger, there are a lot of competitors in this space a new people trying every day to live out that dream. Read More>>
Kristin Schaapveld
Imposter syndrome is a real thing in this small business owner world, especially when starting out, trying a new thing, reinventing aspects of your business, etc. The reality is change is imminent. Everything around us, in us, about us is changing at all times. I’m certain at this rate, that everyone’s been through imposter syndrome several times, and will continue to see it as they continue forward in any journey full of changes and growth. Read More>>
Rosilynn Morris
Overcoming imposter syndrome is an ongoing battle, one that shows up in different ways depending on the day. Some days, I feel confident in my skill set and go-getter mindset, while other days, my inner critic speaks louder than I’d like. When imposter syndrome hits as a therapist, I remind myself of the hard work and time I’ve dedicated to this profession—four years of clinical experience, plus three years of unpaid internships during grad school and undergrad. Read More>>
Gabriel Lawler
Imposter syndrome has been a recurring challenge throughout my career, especially when I transitioned into freelance work with Gabriel Lawler Creative Services. Early on, working at GMS Media and Advertising, I was surrounded by incredibly talented creatives. I often questioned whether I belonged, but I used that uncertainty as fuel to learn and grow. Read More>>
Janika Green
Imposter syndrome is a big one for me. I believe I overcame imposter syndrome with three steps: isolating, praying and listening. In both the fashion and photography industries, it can be challenging to make your big debut or step into spaces that are on a much larger scale than you’re used to. With that, doubt came creeping in telling me that I wouldn’t get selected for different modeling opportunities or to be on the media team for larger shows. Read More>>
Nellie Hutchinson
A common fear throughout my life has always been the fear of failure. If something didn’t come easy to me I would avoid it at all costs. So when I found that painting portraits was something I thrived at I dove in head first. I spent years ONLY painting portraits, telling myself that this was the only art form I was good at. Read More>>
Carrie Daly
As a short term rental photographer and content creator, overcoming imposter syndrome has been a journey of growth, reflection, and connection. When I first started, I often questioned whether my work was ‘good enough’ or if I truly belonged in the world of content creation. Read More>>
Nadine Greer
Overcoming imposter syndrome as a couples therapist and a private practice owner has been a deeply personal and transformative journey for me. Having experienced anxiety and perfectionism firsthand, I often questioned my ability to guide others through their struggles and build something that felt worthy. Read More>>
Katelyn Orth
The truth is, everyone feels like an imposter sometimes—and that’s okay!
For a long time, I attributed my success in art to external factors—my privileged upbringing, the creative genes I inherited, or just plain luck. But when I take a step back and truly reflect on how I got to where I am, I realize I haven’t given myself enough credit for my own ambition, tenacity, and discipline. Read More>>
Michael Box
I am a screenwriter, producer, and musician with ADHD. Overcoming imposter syndrome is a challenge for many people with ADHD, and for creatives, it can feel even more daunting. ADHD often amplifies self-doubt, as we’re naturally prone to overanalyzing and comparing ourselves to others. Read More>>
Haley Young
Putting myself out there—especially when scared—and remembering that the world is full of successful people who once doubted themselves. (Many still DO doubt themselves.)
Early in my commitment to write a book—a lifelong dream that’s always felt out of reach—my partner took me to Barnes & Noble. As we meandered through the shelves, he occasionally flipped through a title and said “you could write at least as well as this.” Read More>>
Christine Cowern
Imposter syndrome in the real estate industry is incredibly common. After all, based on what people post on social media, it seems like everyone is super successful and selling dozens of homes. In my experience, most of it is smoke and mirrors and marketing, not reality, but if you don’t know any better, it’s very easy to fall into the imposter syndrome trap. Read More>>
Alyssa-ray Bouman
Imposter Syndrome is something I feel has always been an ongoing issue that I’ve had to overcome time and time again. I have found that it is about deciding each day that I am more than enough and that what I have accomplished is something to be proud of. Read More>>
Anna Brinckmann
I think overcoming imposter syndrome heavily relies on empathy. When you take a step back and notice the people around you, you start to realize that everyone is human and everyone has their own set of internal battles you’ll never see. Stepping outside of yourself is a good way to become comfortable with being your fullest self. Read More>>
Erica Summers
Imposter syndrome is a powerful thing and can be so crippling to creativity. I consider myself an artist in many mediums. Since I was young, I wrote short stories and movie scripts, I drew, I painted, I started making short and feature films, I did a lot of photography and event videography… Read More>>
Mike Lardi
When I first felt the stirring in my soul to start a leadership platform for persons diagnosed manic depressive (bipolar disordered), I was FULL of fear and questions! I didn’t have any formal education in the subject. I wasn’t a medical professional. I had no counseling degree or anything that would qualify me as competent and trustworthy. Read More>>
Ryan Heck
Imposter Syndrome has always been around me, sometimes more powerful than others. It’s kept me from really pursuing my passion of photography, because I always felt lesser than others’ works that I had seen. So I kept it as a hobby. But in the end of 2023, I had made a decision to push past it and turn my photography hobby into a business. Read More>>
Elizabeth, Alisha Bruinsma, Davidson
Elizabeth and I embarked on our journey to make a clean label chili crisp with no prior experience in the food industry. I came from the world of environmental risk management, while Elizabeth’s background was in financial services. Our shared passion for exceptional food and a vision for a truly remarkable product were our only compass points. Read More>>
Mal Taylor
I wouldn’t say I’ve overcome it at all! But when insecurities start creeping in or I find myself questioning everything, the beauty of Lu Land is that I can always return to the simple truth—I genuinely love vintage and fashion. Even if not a single person resonates with what I put out into the world, it still resonates with me. And I think that’s true of all art—if it matters to you, it matters. Read More>>
Brooke Kitzhaber
I believe that imposter syndrome is something we all experience. The next time you’re at a family dinner, consider asking your software developer uncle or cousin who is a principal how they’ve tackled imposter syndrome. I also feel that this feeling doesn’t completely disappear, as life is constantly evolving and we are always growing. Read More>>
Noah Dach
I think the most important part about trying to overcome imposter syndrome is realizing that not only does everyone feel this way at some point in their life, but it is in doing whatever you will do that will help you overcome imposter syndrome. It’s one of those great teaching moments. The only way to overcome it is by accepting and leaning into it. Read More>>
Aaron & Dalila Copeland
We’d say it doesn’t completely disappear, but over time, it becomes a tiny voice you can easily brush aside. For us, the first step was recognizing that fear only holds you back, so we chose to move forward, even when feeling insecure. The magic of this mindset? Before you know it, you’re doing the very things that once made you feel like an imposter. And when you do them enough, you realize—you are it. Read More>>
Monica Strohschein
Wow…what a question…I didn’t realize until that question that I don’t feel that as much anymore. I remember my first official job in the advertising world (my dream career I had been pursuing out of college). I took the position knowing I was filling a role that required 2 years of experience when I had a quarter of that time under my belt. Read More>>
Brigitte
When I started learning audio engineering, I experienced intense imposter syndrome. My audio journey began with working in my university’s recording studios, and I was the only woman working there. I didn’t know anyone in the program and because of my classical violin background, I had no idea what any of the audio jargon meant: I didn’t recognize the mic names, equipment, or miking techniques. Read More>>
Kierra Fiske
In my experience, imposter syndrome isn’t something you necessarily overcome — it can come back at any point, and it often does for me! In a world of social media especially, it’s so easy to compare myself to my peers. On top of that, I find myself in competition with myself – where I was last year, or to where I feel I ‘should’ be. Read More>>
