Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Nicolle Lamb. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Nicolle, 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.
The term “Imposter Syndrome” was coined in 1978 by two female psychologists. Over the years, it has gained momentum as one of the main questions in every interview, conference, and forum we hold for women. But it should actually be removed, stricken from the literature, and eliminated as a label for women. You see, self-doubt is not gender-specific. Imposter Syndrome was created as a label for the self-doubt that women experience.
When a man feels doubt, we don’t label him an imposter and tell him he has a syndrome. He simply has a doubt that he has to overcome. The same is true for a woman. But by using this label and continuing the legacy of this term, we are giving women another negative way to view themselves.
The irony for me lies in the statistics around genders when applying for a job. When a woman reviews a job description, she typically needs to feel confident in 80 to 90% of the job description before she thinks she is qualified to apply for the role. Conversely, a man will apply if he feels confident in about 40% of the job description skills and details. That would lead us to believe that the impostor in the role would actually have a much higher likelihood of being male than female.
How did I overcome Imposter Syndrome? Luckily, I’ve never been afflicted with this dreaded syndrome. Most women I have met are over-prepared for most rooms they enter. They are planning for the next event before the first one has been completed and many are doing the job of two or three people at any given time.
We’ve evolved a lot since 1978, and it’s my hope that our terminology does as well. This is not a syndrome that women have; self-doubt is a human condition, natural and felt at some point in time by everyone. How do we overcome it? We need to believe in ourselves. The Imposter Syndrome term itself is a harsh label. The word imposter is defined by the Webster Dictionary as “a person who pretends to be someone else in order to deceive others, especially for fraudulent gain.”
This is not simply asking a woman how she’s dealt with doubts along her journey. A better way to ask would be: How do we handle challenges? How do we handle when others doubt us or think we aren’t the right one for the job?
And from what I’ve witnessed the answer is usually, “We prove we are the right one.”
We dig in, we do the job of many, and if we don’t know something, we learn it. As I think about my “bold journey” and look back on how I’ve built a successful career, I can tell you that it was a lot of hard work, perseverance, and overcoming many obstacles. I’ve told myself many times, “Just keep going”. And when I get this question in interviews and at conferences when I’m on a panel, a smile forms across my face as I know I am not an Imposter and I don’t have this Syndrome.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Hello everyone, I’m Nicolle Lamb, CEO and Founder of Lane Marketing (www.lane-marketing.com) and Wings Coaching (www.wings-coaching.com).
At Lane Marketing, we specialize in helping businesses navigate the digital landscape to maximize their online presence and drive growth. From strategic planning to execution, we work closely with our clients to develop tailored marketing strategies that resonate with their target audience and deliver measurable results. What excites me most about Lane Marketing is the opportunity to work with diverse businesses and industries, helping them achieve their goals and succeed in today’s competitive market.
As for Wings Coaching, we focus on empowering individuals to unlock their full potential and achieve personal and professional success. Through coaching and mentorship, we provide clients with the tools and support they need to overcome challenges, set meaningful goals, and thrive in all aspects of their lives. The most rewarding part of my work with Wings Coaching is witnessing the transformation and growth of our clients as they discover their strengths and achieve their dreams.
In addition to our core services, I’m thrilled to announce some exciting developments in both Lane Marketing and Wings Coaching. We’re launching a series of workshops and webinars aimed at providing valuable insights and practical strategies for businesses and individuals looking to elevate their business and/or career. Stay tuned for more details on these upcoming events!
Overall, I’m deeply passionate about helping others succeed and making a positive impact in the world. Whether through marketing initiatives or coaching sessions, my mission is to empower individuals and businesses to reach new heights of success and fulfillment.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
The first is to be a “Seeker”. If you need an answer, seek it out. There are so many resources today. Many more than when I started my career. Being someone who is always learning something new has served me well. I have seen people start a career and do that one thing year after year. It’s important to grow your skills and add new tools. There are so many certifications and classes you can take. I became certified in Google Analytics, Google Adwords, and DiSC, just to name a few. I pride myself on always trying to learn something new. This last year I got my level 1 certification in Reiki. Reiki is a healing technique based on the principles of channeling energy to restore balance and well-being. It is always good to be learning and growing.
Second, don’t be afraid of mistakes. So many times today I see people stuck or not making decisions for fear of making a mistake. This will stifle your growth. I can tell you that we do not grow from doing things right. Some of the best lessons I’ve learned and largest growth moments came from times that I made my biggest mistakes. Take the risk. Make the decision. You will learn that you are stronger than you thought and you will grow your skills in handling tough situations, which is exactly what you will need as you grow your career!
Third, have fun and be genuinely yourself. You don’t have to show up as someone else. The world needs who you are. Sure, you can look up to people or find mentors who can help you hone your skills and teach you. But be sure to show up as yourself. I struggled as a young woman in the workplace trying to figure out how to move to the next level in my career and be a leader. There were not a lot of examples, and the ones I did have were women who thought they needed to be “tough” and yell a lot to be respected. In many ways, it felt like they were showing up as they thought a “man” would. I made a pact early on with myself to just be myself. Showing empathy and nurturing growth were two things that I excelled at, and I was not going to dull those skills because they weren’t “man” enough for the workplace. Being genuinely myself has served me well as a leader. I know the impact I have made on my teams, and I am so proud of the legacy I am leaving. And that I showed up unapologetically as me.
What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?
This one is definitely specific to the role and also goes back to my “Be a Seeker” mantra. I think we should always be learning and growing. If we can grow in areas where we are not currently strong, it can enhance our value in the workplace. But first, it needs to be something you feel confident you can learn.
I started my marketing career in Direct Mail. I could have stayed there. I could have doubled down on the things I had learned and stayed within that field. However, there was a large shift happening in advertising. Digital Marketing was becoming more and more prevalent. And it meant I needed to continue to learn and grow. Because it was evolving and changing and continues to. You have to dig in and commit to learning being a part of your role. Being one of the first to really understand Digital Marketing, SEO, SEM and how it works and becoming analytics certified allowed me to be more marketable myself and to also be more valuable to my clients. Analytics was never a place that I would have said I would excel, and now today, it’s one of my key strengths. The analytics hold all the clues to show you what is working and what is not. It’s the best part of Digital Marketing.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.lane-marketing.com, www.wings-coaching.com
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolle-lamb-7032a429/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@nicollelamb6703
