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.
Amanda Marie Barr
Wow, I’m really still learning this, as it’s an everyday battle! It’s something I bring up in therapy all the time. But I usually just try and think of things that I have accomplished, and tell myself that I am the one who did it. I still feel those strong feelings of imposter syndrome from time to time, but it’s a litter easier to manage once I force myself to take a step back. Read more>>
Brandon Collins
Imposter syndrome hit me in a big way when I first started my career in acting. I started drama when I was in Middle school at a performing arts charter school. It was a great program and I fell in love with acting/ storytelling because of that experience. This love, however, was deferred for 11 years following my move from a small agricultural town in Northern California to a surf town in south Orange County. The worlds were very different from each other and in the culture shock I was processing I did not feel my passion for acting. Read more>>
Jenna Cipolloni
The short answer is: I didn’t. Rather, to me it doesn’t feel as though imposter syndrome is a physical beast to slay, but a state of mind that I can drift in and out of depending on my current mentality. It seems like it’s entirely up to myself. I’ve had nothing but constant support from mentors, friends, and coworkers, but it’s my own voice in my head that consistently tells me I’m doing a bad job. I think part of this is that I’m still young and relatively new to the art that I’m making, or maybe because I’m not necessarily where I’d like to be in my career. Read more>>
Jocelyn Newman
Overcoming imposter syndrome is an ongoing journey for me. Feelings still creep in that I’m not qualified to run my business, or that my business isn’t legitimate. And to some extent, there’s a nugget of truth in these feelings: I am indeed building my qualifications and growing my company’s legitimacy! But at the same time, I aim to combat these feelings by writing them down and then re-writing them as opportunities. It’s not that I’m unqualified; it’s that I’m piloting a new strategy. It’s not that I lack industry expertise; it’s that I’m continuously learning and applying a fresh perspective. Read more>>
Giovanna Ferri
It can feel almost impossible not to compare yourself to others in the online beauty space. Whether its comparing makeup skills, views on videos, or number of followers, I know it’s bad for my mental health, but I still do it from time to time. I find myself saying, “Why me? Why do I deserve as many views or followers as this “more successful” creator? Maybe I don’t because I’m not good enough.” Read more>>
Meredith Kasper
Overcoming imposter syndrome as a non-native Spanish speaker, particularly when teaching the language, is no easy feat. At times, it’s tempting to feel like an imposter, doubting my qualifications to be in the role of an educator when I didn’t grow up speaking Spanish. My journey towards overcoming these feelings was marked by my exploration of my own experience in learning Spanish. I truly understand that learning another language is a humbling, embarrassing, frustrating and rewarding experience. Read more>>
Lisa Charles
Imposter Syndrome: Overcoming Self-Doubt with Prosecutor Techniques Imposter syndrome is a pervasive phenomenon that affects countless individuals across various walks of life. It is an insideous emotion that can crush dreams and derail the pursuit of purpose, and is characterized by an overwhelming feeling of inadequacy and the persistent belief that one’s success is a result of luck or external factors, rather than their own abilities and accomplishments. Read more>>
Johnny Otto
Good question. I guess being at it for such a long time and grueling along through so much turmoil has lead me to believe that I do deserve whatever success I achieve. I recently curated a group show and one of the other artists who is much more successful than I am said that he had imposter syndrome when he realized that he was showing along side all of these other great artists. I’ve never felt that. I see us all as peers because I know the hardworking that each and every artist has put into their craft. Read more>>
Stephanie Schagen
I had to accept that imposter syndrome is a normal part of the creative process and possibly an affliction that isn’t cured but managed. When it does creep in I remind myself that creating something that wasn’t there before is such a positive experience and it brings me so much happiness. I don’t want to be an imposter to my own happiness. Read more>>
Christopher Sebastian
I think imposter syndrome is something every young professional deals with at one time or another. From the start, you have to see that it does come from caring about the quality of your work, and that in itself is freeing! Because you care about how you present yourself to others, as well as doing the best job you can, that in itself will push your work to continue to improve and set you apart from the crowd. Read more>>
Stephanie Lamb
I don’t know that I am convinced I will ever overcome imposter syndrome (says my imposter syndrome). I think it is something that will always sort of wax and wane. The best I can do is try to shut it down when it gets out of control. I think imposter syndrome can actually be utilized in a healthy manner in the sense that it can challenge growth. When that “mean girl” voice rears its ugly head, I have a choice to either succumb to it, or defeat it. Read more>>
Kelly Swanson
The truth is, I still stuffer from it. That’s right. I’m an award-winning storyteller, inducted into the NSA Speakers Hall of Fame, with one theater show playing all over the country, and another one launching in October, and I still feel like an imposter in my own life. The difference is that now I am aware of it. I recognize the difference in truth and feelings. And I have a quicker process for getting past it. Read more>>
Karen Kliethermes
Honestly?…I’m not sure I have fully overcome imposter syndrome, ha! I think it’s an ongoing process for those that struggle with it. It reminds me of the difference between courage and fearlessness, where courage is about having a fear, and doing that scary thing anyway. Instead of wishing to be a version of yourself, take actions to -be- that version of yourself. Every step in becoming an entrepreneur was like that for me. It personally takes substantial energy to do so though, which then requires patience and many small steps. Read more>>
Holly Feldt
From the beginning of my career, I grappled with the pervasive shadow of imposter syndrome, a feeling that was there even before I knew there was a name for it. The questions ‘Am I truly an expert?’ and ‘Should clients trust me with such important aspects of their lives?’ often echoed in my mind, casting doubt on my abilities. This was particularly pronounced in areas outside my primary expertise, like marketing for example. Read more>>
Niko Javan
Imposter Syndrome. This is a funny topic for me! It is a frightening thought when you ask yourself “Why am I even doing this? Is it because I’m too stubborn to try anything else? Do I even know how to do anything else? Is this working, and if it’s not can I ever admit to myself that it’s time to move on? Or will I always force myself to do this because starting over means losing my identity?” Read more>>
Jeri Gregory
I prayed and meditated on how to overcome. Then I had to identify that I, Jeri, had imposter syndrome. I recognize the patterns and cycles in my life that wasn’t pleasing to me. One, People Pleasing, this one was the hardest to break. I felt I had to please people in order to be like or love or even accepted. I removed those people who felt I needed to that and I gave what I could to people without feeling guilty. Read more>>
Micaela Cae” Thomas”
This was definitely more of a challenge than what I initially thought it would be. When you’re in a space, or attempting to step into a space where you are servicing or entertaining a multitude of people, it becomes difficult to stay true to your ‘why’. Your thoughts begin to become clouded with the needs and wants of others instead of WHY you started your journey in the first place. Read more>>
Cali Golden
I remind myself that we are all the same. Whether we started from the bottom or had a little help. We are all one in the same and have the same amount of potential as the other. Every dream starts from somewhere. There have been massively successful companies built from nothing. They were and are the same human being as me. We all have a right to this life and all the ideas that pass through us. Read more>>
Anastasiya Makhonka
Impostor Syndrome is a very common phenomenon experienced by many talented and creative individuals. I am no exception. While it’s impossible to completely rid oneself of it, there are certain methods that can help. I make it a point to record all my achievements and successes, and I collect feedback from my clients. This practice aids me in visualizing my success. Read more>>
Brendan Jeannetti
I’ve interviewed over 100 artists for the Music You’re Missing Podcast. These artists range from just starting out to GRAMMY and Emmy award winners. Regardless of the artist’s success level, the topic of imposter syndrome almost always comes up. I’ve found that this phenomenon is particularly prevalent in the music industry, an industry that is highly glamorized and rapidly changing its best practices. There’s a false sense of what it means to be successful in the industry. Read more>>
Kim Sims
Imposter syndrome is one of those things that will be a constant struggle in anyone’s career. One of the best things for my career is hearing how other bakers that were ahead of where I was at the time, still get it. From hearing podcasts and from seeing posts in different baking groups, I found out that even the best of the best in the industry, have imposter syndrome. Read more>>
Soma Snakeoil
I can not claim to have overcome imposter syndrome. It’s an insidious experience that creeps up on me, especially when the stakes are high or I feel like I really need to deliver. I can claim to have learned to live with imposter syndrome. When I feel it coming on I speak to myself in a similar way to how I would speak to my child. I say, “You got this. Stand your ground. Say all the words out loud that you want to keep in your head.” Read more>>
Don Wettrick
For 21 years, being a teacher was my world. I thrived on student discussions, community based projects and the lightbulb moments of my students. Then I launched a unique class- “Innovation and Open Source Learning”- and the class (better yet the student outcomes) caught a lot of media attention. Suddenly I found myself leaving the passion-filled challenge of being an educator to the uncharted territory of founding an education non-profit. Read more>>
Yana Polshina
I try to embrace every feeling I experience and simplify them through self-talk and analysis. Imposter syndrome is indeed a common experience that many high-achieving individuals face, and I also experience it occasionally. I understand that self-doubt is a normal part of being human. To counter negative thoughts and self-criticism, I reframe them with positive and realistic affirmations. Read more>>
TANNER SIEGFORT
Based off of many sessions of therapy, I guess I’d say I haven’t overcame imposter syndrome, but it has certainly improved. I’m not sure I’ll ever overcome it completely, but to a certain extent imposter syndrome keeps me humble, and wanting to continue working hard to prove myself. Read more>>
Shannen Shipley
Truthfully I feel like there are levels to imposter syndrome as you progress through your career and journey. Before starting Amar By Design, I had all the education needed to become a true graphic designer yet when I said it aloud or when someone would ask me I would clam up. So I started to get into affirmations or speaking words of encouragement to myself. Read more>>
Steven James Matthews
The more I became experienced and confident in myself as an artist and what I have to offer the world, the more my imposter syndrome went away. The more I stay true to what I love and what makes me feel fulfilled, the less of an imposter I feel. The more I commit to who I am and stick to my goals, while make decisions that benefit my long term happiness—the more I develop a love and respect for myself that allows me to walk into a room with confidence in what I bring to the table. Read more>>
Krista Lee Locklin
Imposter syndrome seems to be a common experience in the photography world. For me, it usually makes its presence known when I take on new projects or projects that are out of my comfort zone. When I start to feel imposter syndrome, I walk through everything in my head that I am worried about and find solutions. This gives me a sense of security and preparedness. Another thing that really helps me move past imposter syndrome is doing whatever activity is making me feel this way. I always try to remind myself that although I feel anxiety before doing something new, I always feel great after. Read more>>
Holly Scholten
Imposter Syndrome is not something I think I have fully overcome, or ever will. I will always be in awe that I get to share what I love with people and call it my job. As a bridal and event specialized makeup artist, it is a lot of pressure knowing that people are trusting me with their most important life moments. Read more>>
Simone Vaillancourt
Overcoming my imposter syndrome has been a journey that has required lots of diligence and practice. As a designer, I think it can be hard to be confident in my abilities because creativity has no real measure. What speaks to one person may not speak to another, and that can lead to self doubt when it comes to creative decisions and strategy. Read more>>
Constanze Arenz-Kulkarni
How did I overcome imposter syndrome? Well, first of all, it’s not a “one and done” kind of thing, but an ongoing process. Sometimes I do better, and sometimes I struggle more. One of the strategies that really help me when I feel like an imposter is to set a measurable benchmark for myself. Read more>>
Shilpa Iyer
As with any new venture, the learning curve is always large. I had always been a photography-enthusiast. From travel photos during film photography days to street photos, I had experience with a camera but when I decided to plunge into the world of food photography, I felt my skills I had obtained as a hobbyist weren’t nearly enough to be worthy of being paid. Read more>>
Malik McCrea
I would have to say that the best way that I can overcome the very constant and corporeal state of imposter syndrome is by working in spite of it, and moving with direction. Like wading through a waste deep bog, I plant my intention and move towards that destination, doing my best to disregard the trepidations that weigh on each of my steps. Read more>>
Jackie Kelly
This is something I’m still working on every day! In the early years of my acting career, I almost never felt qualified to be bringing someone else’s characters to life. But with every film set I step foot onto comes a little more confidence. I’m a pretty firm believer in doing things that frighten me. I’ve found that the more anxiety-inducing responsibilities I take on, the more proficient I feel in my craft. Experience is everything. Do the things that scare you. Read more>>
Aly Sanders
I feel like imposter syndrome is never something that I can ever really overcome. It’s a constant flow of up and downs! There are times when I don’t feel it at all, and there are times when it’s nearly debilitating. When I’m at a low point and am experiencing a lot of imposter syndrome, I try to take a huge step back. It’s really helpful for me to gain perspective. Read more>>
Samantha Wilkerson
The more time I spend in my field, the more I learn but also the more people I interact with, the more confident I am in my work. At the end of the day I am well prepared for my role and I prove that to myself every time I have needed to step up and take control. If I didn’t trust my decisions, I wouldn’t be able to confidently take that control and be the boss that I am. Read more>>
Vanessa Sachs
I have many friends who are so well qualified and feel like imposters in their own industries, but the truth is that we are all figuring it out as we go. Experience makes a big difference in improving imposter syndrome, but until you gain it, the best thing you can do is be open to learning. Starting SWAKE, I had no prior background or experience in the cosmetic industry, so of course I felt like an imposter. As I learned more and experienced supply chain difficulties, customer challenges, and sales strategizing, I felt more and more integrated in the industry. Read more>>
Maximilian Johnsson
I think most people struggle with imposter syndrome, and I have by no means overcome it completely. But I think a vital step for me that has made it less crippling is trusting that the fact that me loving what I do is enough. If I love what I create, who cares if people think I’m better at it than I think I am or “see through me”? All they’re gonna see is a person who loves what they’re doing with an ounce lower self-esteem than they initially would have guessed. Read more>>
Dylan, Lonzo, Nic, and Chris
Dylan: I think the big way we do that is consistently encouraging each other as a unit. Depending on where we are in that moment as well impacts how we go about it. If we’re on the road at a gig it’s as simple as reminding ourselves that we’re doing what we love to do and sharing a piece of our hearts to people who love to hear it. Read more>>
