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.
Ego
I’m not sure it’s something I will ever fully overcome, but I know how to manage its symptoms. Imposter syndrome is something you sometimes have to treat as an ailment. You treat the symptoms with some medicine and keep it moving. For me, that medicine comes in the form of discipline and a really good ‘fake it til you make it’ mentality. Read More>>
Donna Schorr
When I began my fitness career in 1984, it seemed that all the instructors/trainers around me had degrees in exercise science, which seemed strange, since most of the fitness jobs were very low paying. It didn’t make sense to me that my colleagues were pursuing advanced degrees. Read More>>
Samantha Miletich
Imposter syndrome is something I believe every one has experienced in their life. If I’m speaking honestly I don’t feel as though I has over come it. Your business is a direct reflection of yourself and it can be really hard to look in the mirror. There are such highs and lows when it comes to a service business such as mine. Read More>>
Jesslyn Course
For me, overcoming imposter syndrome wasn’t about doubting my abilities — it was about learning to expand into bigger rooms without shrinking myself. I’ve always been confident in my work, but stepping into new opportunities sometimes made me feel like I had to ‘tone down’ my personality, my ambition, or the level of excellence I expect from myself. Read More>>
Daniel Overberger
I don’t think most normal people overcome imposter syndrome. Your really going to need to move forward regardless. Over time the voice in the back of your head telling you ‘your an imposter’ may get quieter or you will just get used to ignoring it and moving forward. The positive side of imposter syndrome is it is a great motivator. Read More>>
Jeff Kraus
I used to feel imposter syndrome every time I stepped into rooms I never imagined I’d be in — cooking beside chefs I once studied or competing on shows I grew up watching. What helped me move past it was owning my story — an unconventional path built on grit, curiosity, and making simple food unforgettable. Read More>>
Mika Newton
I didn’t overcome imposter syndrome in one dramatic moment — I learned how to stop letting it lead. For years, I carried the quiet belief that I needed permission to take up space, especially when I shifted into more creative and healing work. Read More>>
Lindsay Brunner
I think this is such an important discussion point, because more of us than you can imagine have dealt with imposter syndrome. There are larger questions of why it’s so pronounced in my generation (Millenial) and why it is so common in helping professions like physical therapy, but I’ll just speak to my own experience. Read More>>
Michael Marx
Imposter syndrome still pops up from time to time, but I’ve learned to stop letting it run the show. What helped most was realizing that growth always feels a little uncomfortable—that feeling isn’t proof that I don’t belong, it’s proof that I’m stretching into new territory. I also started leaning into evidence rather than emotion. Read More>>
Bianca Bee
“Honestly, I overcame imposter syndrome by deciding I was done shrinking. For years I booked major talent, produced high-level segments, built my own brand, and still felt like I had to prove that I deserved to be in the room. I also realized that I deserve to be there. Why not me? Read More>>
Heidi Shabarek
I used to be an introvert who avoided large crowds and any kind of confrontation. Social situations drained me, and I was most comfortable staying in the background. But when I started my business, everything changed. Read More>>
Ryan Guthrie
I don’t think imposter syndrome is something to be overcome. I don’t think it’s necessarily a bad thing. Read More>>
Galvy Ngimukua
For me, overcoming imposter syndrome starts with believing in myself. I’ve realized that self-belief really is the foundation for chasing any goal or dream. If I don’t believe I belong in the rooms I’m stepping into, it becomes harder to show up the way I need to. I also lean a lot on the people around me. Read More>>
Denisse Hiller
My name is Denisse Hiller, and my story begins in the vibrant heart of the Dominican Republic, where I was born and raised. My passion for creativity, storytelling, and community building took root early in life, long before I realized those passions would define my path. In 2021, my husband, our daughter, and I made a life changing move to Miami, Florida. Read More>>
Matt Tory
There was a time when I doubted whether I had earned the right to call myself a ‘filmmaker.’ I didn’t have million-dollar budgets or a full crew—just some friends and a camera. I’ve found, though, that instead of waiting until you feel ‘worthy,’ worthiness is earned by doing. Read More>>
michael wall
I have always been an introvert. I was a shy boy growing up and never wanted the attention to be on me. As an adult this caused me issues in my career as a call center manager. I was very good communicating with equals or direct reports but was hindered by my nervousness dealing with upper management. Read More>>
Dr. Estenia Goodridge
Imposter syndrome and I have had a very long relationship. I teach executives and rising professionals how to carry themselves with confidence yet I am very open about the fact that confidence is a practice not a destination. In my business etiquette courses I always tell my clients that presence is not about pretending you never doubt yourself. Read More>>
Spike Yee
As creatives we often fall into this self conscious pothole that prevents us from fully becoming who we know we are, deep down. I think most artists are very self aware people- sometimes too aware, unfortunately. This leads us to doubt our own skills from time to time and we like to let our self deprecation get the best of us. Read More>>
Carly Cruickshank
Imposter syndrome is such an interesting thing. And I think at times, no matter who you are, you are going to feel it. I don’t feel it in my design career now, because I truly believe that I am doing what I am meant to do. I trust that I am where I am supposed to be. Read More>>
Isabella Carlsen
The short answer is I didn’t. When I book something, no matter what it is, there is always slight imposter syndrome. Seeing myself on tv may never feel ‘normal’ but I like that. Imposter syndrome keeps me humble and reminds me how grateful I am for such amazing opportunities. Read More>>
Jonathan Morris
I overcame imposter syndrome by remembering all of the seemingly small moments that brought me to where I am today. Read More>>
Nadia Gordon
For me, imposter syndrome began with self-doubt. It wasn’t rooted in anything someone said or did — it was the internal feeling of not being “worthy” of certain spaces. I first felt this during my very first corporate internship. Read More>>
Chantrell M. Lewis
I stopped letting my insecurities speak louder than my reality. I started acting on the evidence – my work, my results, and the effort I put in – not the fear in my head. I keep a record of my accomplishments, big and small, so when doubt shows up, I have something to counter it with. Read More>>
Grace Zuccarello
The only thing I’m an imposter of is being a blonde. It’s natural to start any venture, passion project, and/or to switch gears in your career and feel insecure. It’s a valid and healthy concern to admit your shortcomings. It also means you’re aware you need to put in the work. Read More>>
Jeanette Ponce
Imposter syndrome is something Ive struggled with a lot , especially when it comes to my work with hair. Being self taught & beginning my journey brought up a lot of anxieties at first. Ive always been a control freak so the idea of not having everything pre planned out and being prepared for every possibly mishap caused so much unnecessary panic/stress. Read More>>
Carlos Kareem Windham
I wasn’t able to get beyond feeling like an imposter in my own skin until I really grappled with self-acceptance. For me to accept myself, I really had to go through a lot of very deep self-reflection and then taking action. Read More>>
Hannah Keiffert
I didn’t! And to be honest, I’ve found that people much further along in their careers aren’t fully over it either. But I don’t mean this in a defeatist way – I actually find it comforting that people way more senior than I am feel the same way. Read More>>
Brett Galley
I wasn’t born into a Luxury career, I grew into it and gained credibility along the way~ For a long time, I felt like working with Jon Bon Jovi, Katy Perry, Tony Bennet, Barack Obama, Diana Ross, successful CEOs, and various leaders was a fluke. I felt I had to constantly prove that I deserved to be in the rooms I was in. Read More>>
Stephen Gervais
I don’t know if one that feels this way ever overcomes imposter syndrome. This to me is the feeling that you’re not good enough or that your skills don’t warrant the fee charged for whatever you’re doing. Read More>>
Derrick Credito
My professional life has been defined by three very different paths that often wax and wane: teaching, writing, and music. At times, it can be easy to fall into self-defeating thought patterns when doing the grind at a day job and then carving out whatever time and energy is leftover on your true passions. Read More>>
Paragraph Taylor
I overcame imposter syndrome when I realized it, and all trouble or doubt, comes not from within us, yet from dark energies that wish to thwart our progress, evolution, and creation. I, like many, used to think it came from our experience, trauma, logic, brains, or justifiable authority. However, all negative issues are illusory. Read More>>
Steven Williams
I honestly can’t say I’ve overcome it, because from time to time it will rear its ugly head, but I have learned to deal with it. In recent years, I have found myself in rooms with the people I admire, consider my heroes if you will, and wonder to myself “how did I get here?” Praise and admiration from those around me seems to be undeserving at times. Read More>>
