We recently connected with Kristin Francis and have shared our conversation below.
Kristin, first a big thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and insights with us today. I’m sure many of our readers will benefit from your wisdom, and one of the areas where we think your insight might be most helpful is related to imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is holding so many people back from reaching their true and highest potential and so we’d love to hear about your journey and how you overcame imposter syndrome.
I grew up poor. Because we had 6 kids on a one military income household, my parents taught us we were “less than” and would never be like “them”. We would never have what “they” have and everything would be harder for us.
I learned the value of a dollar, having to work hard for any small luxury and even the basics. I was taught if I wanted something I’d have to be resourceful to find it and even to protect myself in keeping what I had.
Left to my own devices and always praised by my parents for my accomplishments, I entertained myself finding ways to explore my own curiosities.
I wanted to dance but we couldn’t afford lessons. In high school I accepted an invitation from a friend to go to dance team workshops to learn the tryout routine to accompany her. I wanted to learn so I went with no intention to try out. She wanted company so I tried out also. I made the team.
Total shock.
I showed up to the first day of practice and jumped in to learn the next routine. After being instructed to do a “jazz square” and a “pirouette” having NO idea what they were, I looked around and just copied what my teammates did.
I practiced relentlessly so no one would know I had no knowledge of basic dance steps. I could make my body do it if someone showed me, but I was embarrassed by my ignorance.
Every new job I took I ended up creating a new path for myself and blazing new trails so I almost never knew what was coming next. I often found myself without answers and having to tap dance around responses until I could find the answers.
I feigned expertise for so long I lost sight of ever having actually been an expert. Because I was always pushing the envelop I never “arrived”. I always felt like I was hiding a knowledge gap and that I’d be found out. I was forever in rooms with older and more talented, qualified people than me. I raced to catch up with them.
This made me so driven I excelled at absolutely everything I did but never appreciated myself for the talent I had acquired since I was always comparing myself to the person ahead of me.
When it was time for me to lead others I spent sleepless, anxious nights suffering from imposter syndrome. Why should anyone listen to or follow me?!
So I shared my truth. I shared the good, bad and ugly with an authenticity that ripped my own heart wide open. I exposed myself for the imposter I was and found myself more revered at the front of the room.
Those who listened and watched identified with my own struggles and hadn’t yet met much of my success. I shared the coaching, training and therapy I had done and the lessons I learned. It is what they all needed and wanted to hear – someone who had seen success sharing the truth in how it happened.
It was then I learned that I don’t ever have to practice being myself. No pretending required if I just share my own thoughts and experiences.
Working so hard on myself, my mental space and my leadership skills left me exhausted and exhilarated. I knew then I was doing my best every single day and since I couldn’t do any more than that I could, I could be at peace with who I am each day.
Finding that peace is what caused the imposter syndrome to melt away. I like me and I hope you do too.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Having mastered the art of real estate sales and making more money than I knew how to manage, I felt a bit untethered. Why did I need to grind so hard to sell more, more, more? I don’t need more money and don’t want less time with my family….
I was invited on a mission trip to Mexico. I found a 3 year old boy living in the dump, beaten and trafficked and was forced to return him to his abusers. I swore I would never let that happen again.
I found my purpose in his eyes that day and knew I had to sell more houses to create more opportunities so I could help more people.
Leading others to find their own purpose became my new mission, to create an unstoppable wave of exponential impact.
I created Imagination Generation for business owners to create businesses of significance for wild generosity. To inspire others into action, sharing their gifts of time, talent or treasure. To align themselves with others who are like-minded and inspire future generations of people into success to help the world one person at a time.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Curiosity, impatience and humility.
I want to know how things work and why. I’m impatient to the find the answer so I always act with a sense of urgency. I’m not afraid to struggle for the answer. I’ve never failed because I’ve never stopped trying.
If something doesn’t work, it should prompy another question you’re passionate to find the answer to. In the words of the wise Anna from Frozen – just do the next right thing.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
If you are the average of the 5 people you spend the most time with, and you don’t want to be the smartest person in the room, I’m always looking to add to the short list of 5. I’m looking for creative, impatient, humble people to run alongside and push to the limits of excellence.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.dcnovarealty.com
- Instagram: Stateofthereal
- Facebook: Kristin Francis
- Linkedin: Kristin Francis
- Youtube: Kristin Francis Team
