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.
Abigail Dickinson
I can’t say I have fully overcome imposter syndrome or that I ever will. I think it is a completely normal feeling and if we flip the script, it can actually be used as a motivator for continued growth. I will say, imposter syndrome doesn’t creep into my daily thoughts often, so let’s dive into that. Read more>>
Jennifer Townhill
When I first launched my business as a professional photographer, I sometimes struggled with imposter syndrome. Before each photo session, I would get a little knot in my stomach. Art can be subjective and the reality is, when a client pays you for something, they have expectations. In the early days, when I delivered a gallery to a client, I would hold my breath and anxiously wait for their feedback. Read more>>
Alison Corteen
Im not sure I have ever completely overcome my imposter syndrome! But it certainly helps to have a supportive network. I have a great group of fellow artists where we encourage each other through our art journey. We work together to put on shows and how to price and sell our artwork. This really helps validate how we feel as artists. Read more>>
Demetria Graves
As a woman, especially a black woman, it took me a long time to accept my accomplishments despite my many years of hard work and dedication to my career. I would often down play my success and accomplishments and often told myself it was never “ok” to “brag” about my journey. But then I realized, it is a blessing to be where I am and in a position to encourage other women to go after their most outrageous goals. Read more>>
Domonique OBannon
It’s a cliche, but the hard fact is that no two people on this earth are exactly the same, and I LOVE reminding myself and my community of that. Two people can work on the same exact puzzle, and while they’ll both end with the same picture, I guarantee they took different routes to get there. I would doubt they placed every piece in the same spot at the same time. Read more>>
Ross Canter
Did I overcome it? I’ve had imposter syndrome way too often throughout my life and career(s). When I was a movie executive, I never felt as smart and aggressive and schmoozy as the other executives and legitimately used to think that the fraud police would come and yank me from my office (and, at that point, I didn’t know imposter syndrome was a thing — I thought it was just me). Read more>>
Clara Chou
I feel imposter syndrome all the time. Being at Pixar was particularly challenging. I kept looking around and seeing all of these incredible artists and people with more filmmaking and shot building experience than I had. I kept wondering why they chose me out of thousands of applicants. Read more>>
Malika Daniels
Imposter syndrome was a real issue for me. Since my previous career was in education, being a financial coach and running a business was completely out of my comfort zone. I was able to overcome feelings of imposter syndrome through education and consistently doing things that scared me. Read more>>
Cristi López
I wouldn’t say that I’ve overcome imposter syndrome, but I am aware of it in ways I wasn’t before. When I was younger, I over-identified with my negative thoughts, rationalizing their presence as an indication of dark truths about me. I looked at whatever my current experience was through the lens of this negative self talk, and it poisoned most everything I did and felt and said. Read more>>
Alanya Huang
When I first started teaching middle schoolers as a freshly turned 22 year old, I felt imposter syndrome hit hard. The post college blues after graduating from DePaul University in Chicago paired with having relocated to a new city was a lot to adjust to along with getting used to my new lifestyle as a teacher in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Read more>>
Cooper Neill
Imposter syndrome as a photographer in the Instagram era is a tough thing to beat… we’re constantly bombarded with imagery from friends, co-workers, brands, influencers, other artists, etc… and it’s hard to not compare yourself with others. For me there are two things I do that help me get past this: Read more>>
Malachi Moore
I love this question and talking about imposter syndrome because I feel like it’s something that a lot of people struggle with regardless of what they do for a living. There’s certainly a lot that goes into the extent to which a person experiences this — an inability to believe that one’s success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of their own efforts or skills. For me, I feel like I have pretty high expectations for myself when it comes to what I’d like to accomplish, whether it be personally or professionally. Read more>>
Shira Wilson
I’m honestly not sure if I have! Social media makes it very difficult to NOT compare yourself to others within your industry. It might feel like you’re not far enough along in your own journey but I try to remember that a lot of times, they feel the same way. The person I’m comparing myself to is also struggling to not compare themselves to someone they admire. It’s not a race. It’s ok to admire, eventually I’ll get there! Read more>>
Erica Murphy
Imposter syndrome can cause many of us to be trapped by fear. I am not sure there is such a thing as overcoming Imposter syndrome because when you are a big dreamer, your goals and visions can be very daunting along the journey. When thinking about the level of success you aspire to, there is a possibility to have Imposter syndrome at every level of success. Read more>>
Breathless aka Honey B
It really does feel like there are times when I strive for a bigger goal or opportunity than I’ve done before, I wonder if it’s something I should even consider myself for. Like, am I really good enough to be on THAT stage with THAT many people or do THAT song with THAT artist? Then i start looking back over the things that I have accomplished over my decades of professional work to understand that I definitely belong in whatever room I’m looking to walk into. Read more>>
Cassie Schmidt
Short answer? I didn’t. In fact, I did a podcast episode about imposter syndrome with a therapist friend of mine recently. In preparation for that show, I did some research and found that many billionaire entrepreneurs admitted still feeling imposter syndrome every once in a while… and one could argue they’re crushing it! Read more>>
Nisié Palacio
Truth be told, I think if we were to sit on the shoulder of our favorite artist and listen to them talk out loud in the midst of them creating art we’d all come to the consensus that we don’t ever fully overcome the feeling of imposter syndrome. I think as artists we are our hardest critics. I’ll speak for myself now, but in the beginning of merging my passions of makeup artistry and Caribbean dance, it was hard for me to not feel like a fish out of water. Read more>>
Jacqueline Brown
Overcoming imposter syndrome with Om Jackie Om was a journey that required self-awareness, self-compassion, and a deep commitment to personal growth. Here’s how I managed to conquer imposter syndrome in the context of my business: Read more>>
Chad Phillips
As someone who grew up bridging multiple cultural, social, political, and religious identities imposter syndrome is probably something I will have to overcome for the rest of my life. Even when I was awarded an Emmy for a set I designed for ABC News, I was worried I didn’t deserve it and until it was physically in my hands I was skeptical it was even real. Read more>>
Jessica Rice
Imposter syndrome is a topic that often comes up during coaching conversations with clients, especially with women. Some people do not believe it exists, while others feel it is overused. We most often relate imposter syndrome to a lack of confidence in oneself, which can stem from feelings of inadequacy or a lack of belonging. These feelings can be deeply rooted in our childhood or experiences earlier in life. Read more>>
Striz
Overcoming imposter syndrome is a continual process. I try my best to overcome it by believing in myself, and reminding myself what I’ve done to get to where I am. It can be intimidating to stand on a stage in front of hundreds of people and DJ, but when you look up and see everyone is having a good time it’s the best evidence that you’re doing something right. It’s the same thing with music production. Read more>>
Olivia Scott
Any questions or discussions regarding imposter syndrome are always very fascinating to me. I do not fully grasp imposter syndrome. In my opinion every room you are in- you should be in. If I am at an audition and there are bigger actors there I immediately think, bring it on! Read more>>
Cristal B.
Imposter syndrome isn’t something I’ve overcome completely, it comes and goes. Some days I feel super confident in my creativity and my skills, and then other days not so much. The main thing that helps me overcome those moments of self-doubt is reminding myself that I deserve every success and opportunity that comes my way because I have put in the work. Read more>>
JOHN MACARTHUR
The “imposter syndrome” is never really conquered. Anyone that says they have conquered it are actually describing a period of time when the syndrome is dormant. There is no actual scientific explanation of what causes the dormant periods, but just when you think you have beaten it into submission, it raises it’s ugly head and takes a large bite out of your self confidence. Read more>>
Heather Bellew
Imposter syndrome is something I’m still working on every day. Being a woman in the business world, I often come across discouraging messages that can make it feel like I don’t quite fit certain roles or that I should settle for less. Read more>>
Savannah Phengsavanh
Being a content creator can come with “imposter syndrome” which I have experienced countless times. When I first began in January of 2022, I would compare myself to other creators everyday. I would get discouraged when I would lose followers or when I feel I’m putting in no effort into my photos because other creators photos look 10x better than mine. I remember saying, “what am I doing wrong ?” all the time. Read more>>
Domenique Comparetto
Overcoming imposter syndrome, especially in a field as dynamic and visible as marketing, requires both introspection and actionable strategy. Read more>>
Eva García Luna
I haven’t, I fight it all the time, but now I know how to recognize it and do something about it. Is not easy. I have to remind myself all the time how amazing I am.
It’s difficult because I’m a perfectionist and I always feel like I need to improve more, but now I give myself the opportunity to try and making mistakes in the end is the only way to learn, just try and trust that everything will turn out well. Read more>>
Disco
Dealing with imposter syndrome is quite the journey. I believe that no matter where you find yourself in life, there’s always that lingering feeling that someone out there is doing better than you in some way. Instead of trying to completely overcome it, I’ve found it’s more about managing imposter syndrome. Read more>>
Nani Ferreira-Mathews
Learn to say no. It seems the more you grow and evolve, the more possibilities to face another form of imposter syndrome. In that sense, how can we ever stop that feeling of not being adequate or good enough? It becomes and unshakeable part of being a professional in any field. We find that the best way to defeat those feeling is to have a partnership of encouragement and a culture that wants to say yes, but knows when to say no. Read more>>
Kylie Johnson
Once I realized that everyone’s first is usually a trainwreck, that was very freeing. Someone’s first YouTube video, no matter if they start out with state-of-the-art equipment, is going to be awkward and probably cringe-inducing. The first short film one might write and direct will probably look terrible and have inhuman dialogue. Read more>>
Purple Life
I keep a praise folder. I’ve done this since I started my first job. Working in Marketing in NYC can be very demoralizing. At my first job I rarely heard if I did something right, but if I did something wrong it was all I heard about. As a result, I started writing down any time someone complimented my work so when those feelings of inadequacy would bubble up I could read the praise in my folder and remember the truth: I am capable. I’m good at my job. And that helps me beat imposter syndrome. Read more>>
Anton Jeftha
I grew up in neighborhoods in and around the Cape flats, so firstly naturally when I decided to enter this industry and move to the Atlantic seaboard where people were more affluent, I felt out of place. Acting especially at the time seemed to be for kids whos parents could afford to put them in the best institutions and so this definitely triggered inferiority in me at first. Overcoming all this Id say is a journey of placing yourself in rooms where you are uncomfortable, doing the work, consistently showing up until one day, this ‘syndrome’ organically becomes a non factor and you begin to feel worthy and comfortable within yourself. Read more>>
Bill Brady
It’s hard to imagine the road from where we start to where we wind up. Trying to figure out whether you belong at the table can be overwhelming. When I first started out, photography was not easy. Aside from having an eye, when I started my photography journey, it took a great deal of technical skill. Shooting on film can be an unforgiving process; anything can go wrong and derail your result. Read more>>
Derek Harrison
I’m not sure if that is something you necessarily overcome, but you can learn how to accept it. Every artist I know struggles with imposter syndrome. We admire each others work, we have a thorough understanding of the greats that came before us and comparing our work to others can be useful. Read more>>
Aviana And The Pure Root
It’s a daily practice. I have to constantly remind myself that I was given my vision for a reason and that I’ve put in the work to be where I am today. When I’m offered an opportunity that scares the shit out of me, but is something that I know is in alignment with my calling-I do it scared. Every time. I consistently show up for myself no matter what. Read more>>
Amélie Saint-Jacques
I think that to a certain extent, it’s normal for people to have imposter syndrome. For me, the best way to overcome it is to gain experience and, if needed, write down specific things I’ve learned. Read more>>
Deva Yoder
I believe Amanda Palmer calls it “The Fraud Police.” Knowing that different people have different names for this same feeling is helpful, because that tells me it’s universal. Dwelling too much on feeling like an imposter is a problem of the ego, and the ego has no place in authentic work. When you start to recognize the urges in you to create something and you obey them, then the feeling of being an imposter flies out the window. Read more>>
Alexander Parks
Fake it ’til you make it. There will always be another person that does what you do or want to do better than you. There will always be people who don’t see value in your abilities or what you have to offer. If I feel passionate, if i feel excited, if I feel called do to something or be someone or put something out into the world, I don’t see it as a choice. Read more>>
Kella Price
Overcoming imposter syndrome was a journey that required some deliberate steps and a change in mindset. First and foremost, I learned not to be afraid to surround myself with the best in the industry. Instead of feeling intimidated by their expertise, I started viewing it as an opportunity to learn and grow. I realized that the people I admired had once been in my shoes, so it was possible for me to reach their level with dedication and hard work. Read more>>
Daniel Grimsland
For me it can still be an on going struggle, but it really came down to going out and doing the thing I wanted to be. Once I decided I wanted to shift my focus to producing music, I had to then had to go be a music producer. Meaning, I had to find someone to produce. Someone who was willing to take a chance on me. Read more>>
Piran Zarifian
Navigating the treacherous waters of impostor syndrome was as complex as any business challenge I’ve faced, even as my spa business in Santa Monica and Beverly Hills passed the decade mark. The longevity of my businesses was both a source of pride and a surprising contributor to my self-doubt. The question, “Am I truly good enough?” often played on repeat in my mind despite our success. Read more>>
Sahana Turner
At first, stepping into the world of content creation felt daunting, and I often questioned whether my experiences held any value in the digital space. However, I realized that I actually have the perfect experience and skill set, as I’ve been on social media most of my life. If you’re experiencing imposter syndrome, I believe it’s crucial to discover your ‘why’ for being on social media. Read more>>
Marilyn E Porter
First let me begin by saying this, “Imposter syndrome is REAL and it is bigger than your imagination it goes into the depths of your soul.” I had heard the term being used for many years before I began to realize that I could possibly be a partaker of this insidious, mind boggling, emotionally draining ideation called imposter syndrome! I had always been someone who did things with ease. Read more>>
Jacquiline Cox
Imposter syndrome is a common experience that many people face, regardless of their accomplishments. Overcoming imposter syndrome can be a personal journey, but there are some strategies that can help. In my case, I overcame imposter syndrome by recognizing my achievements and acknowledging my own worth. Read more>>
