Learning from one another is what BoldJourney is all about. Below, we’ve shared stories and insights from phenomenal artists, creatives and entrepreneurs who’ve successfully managed to overcome imposter syndrome.

William Van Rooy

I think there are a lot of creative people (myself included) who never fully “overcome” imposter syndrome. At some point there is always a little voice in the back of head telling me I don’t know what I’m doing and I definitely shouldn’t be getting paid to do it.. It definitely gets less over time, with experience, but I know people with wildly successful careers in the arts who still have that gnawing feeling of “I don’t deserve to be here.” Read More>>

Natalie Dreaden

Facing imposter syndrome is inevitable in modern day society. The social media phenomenon plays a vast role in comparison and self-doubting. As a creative and small business owner, I rely on social media to promote my business. This is where the comparison can begin for us. The moment we begin that vicious cycle of comparing the number of views , the number of likes, or the large number of followers self-doubt creeps in.  Read More>>

Jorge Cancino

The truth is that I haven’t, it’s still there sometimes, what I think is important in these situations is what are you willing to do next when you are having the symptoms, Are you going to keep pushing yourself or are you going to stop doing what you love to do? Regardless of what others think of you, more important is what you think about yourself, keep it positive as much as you can. Read More>>

Kari Cao

You see, my Toastmasters icebreaker speech was exactly about this. It started with a knock-knock joke—because imposter syndrome often feels like an unwelcome guest, constantly knocking at the worst times. Read More>>

Ryan & Amber

We love this question because of how often it’s asked. However, it’s kind of like asking someone how they overcame hunger. Maybe they ate, but eventually they’ll get hungry again. Turns out “overcoming” hunger is simply the daily practice of eating. And if you stop that practice, the hunger comes back. Read More>>

Foxy

For me, overcoming imposter syndrome is a continued practice. With every new level I reach , the feeling is always there but I make myself take a step back and remember that “ I “ too , am there. Even if I feel inadequate I’m still ‘in the room’ and I have the opportunity to learn and grow from the people around me. Read More>>

Nita Parker

I wouldn’t say I’ve fully overcome imposter syndrome, but I’ve definitely made great strides. My approach has been to educate myself as thoroughly as possible about the topic at hand. I make it a point to study the people around me—understanding their roles, how they connect to mine, and the part I play in driving a project’s success. For me, knowledge is power, and it’s what builds my confidence. Read More>>

Elizabeth Hartman

Imposter syndrome can be a powerful motivator when you approach it with the right mindset. For me, it functions as a reminder to stay curious, humble, and open to growth. The challenge, though, is not letting your inner critic hold you back. In moments of doubt, I focus on my strengths and seek ways I can add value. Read More>>

Brian Larson

Growing up, my life was shaped by constant change. Born in Los Angeles, California, I moved to Vermont at five, lived in two different homes there, and later moved to Phoenix before landing in Pittsburgh by the fifth grade. At 18, I went to Malibu to attend Pepperdine University, but eventually returned to Pittsburgh to complete my degree at Duquesne University. Each move meant starting over—new schools, new communities, and new challenges. Read More>>

Shannon Onstot

The truth is I haven’t overcome imposter syndrome but I have learned to work with it. I worked in the same career for over 15 years, too afraid to leave because it is where I was comfortable. I worked in television my whole adult life – first in news then in game shows. I was good at what I did and it came easily to me (though not without stress) so I thought this was supposed to be my path even when I didn’t feel passionate about the product I was putting out into the world. Read More>>

 Molly Leach

Imposter syndrome is real! I do not know if this is something that is overcome, but instead, something that you learn to deal with when it occurs. It is remitting and is not always there. For me, it shows its head at the most inopportune times when normally large life events occur. For me, I deal with this by reflecting inward. Seeing if my goals align with my morals. I think about how far I have come and the people that I have touched with my art.  Read More>>

Cedric Israel

This term is kind of funny to me because I don’t know that I had heard of it until maybe 5 years ago. It seems like a trending pop psychology term. One of my friends started talking about how he deals with imposter syndrome, and then I thought “Oh man, I know what he is talking about. I have felt that way.” I have had to come to grips with those feelings especially since making the move to Nashville where there are so many incredibly talented people working on incredible projects.  Read More>>

Abby Clapper

I have felt imposter syndrome in almost every aspect of my life throughout my life! It can be difficult to overcome, and honestly, it is a daily choice to overcome second guessing myself. As common as imposter syndrome is, there is a way around it. When I start to feel it creeping up, I take that opportunity to remind myself of all of the times that I have gotten through hard situations.  Read More>>

Melanie Mar

I’m so glad I get to answer this question—because I haven’t.
I suffer with imposter syndrome every.single.day. I actually made a social media post about it recently, after a pretty heavy week of needing to write but being unable to. It was the first time in a long time I felt so restrained by my own mind. Read More>>

Anna Feeney

Overcoming imposter syndrome has been a real journey of learning to trust myself and my abilities. For a long time, I felt like I was just “winging it” or waiting for someone to tell me I was good enough, but I realized the real key was acknowledging those feelings and not letting them hold me back. I started celebrating my little wins, no matter how small, and gave myself credit for how far I’ve come, especially as a mom juggling everything. Read More>>

Jeanette Lira

Healing is ongoing, and the same goes for imposter syndrome. It’s something I work at every single day.

I’ve realized that the voice of imposter syndrome comes from our wounded selves. It’s that little voice in your head saying things like, *You’re not good enough. No one will want to listen to you. You’re not smart enough.* The key to overcoming it is to actually listen to what you’re telling yourself. Read More>>

Yvette Lopez

Imposter syndrome is like living with an internal critic that whispers, “You don’t belong here,” even when the evidence of your achievements is undeniable. I’ve been acquainted with that feeling long before I knew it had a name. Navigating spaces where I felt like an outsider has been a recurring theme in my life—and each experience shaped how I eventually silenced that voice. Read More>>

Holly Mcmahon

I have come to perceive imposter syndrome as a chronic flare-up, and not something that I have completely overcome. I always have to remind myself that growing and healing is not always linear and feeling secure as an artist is the same. It has always been hard for me to take up space, to feel comfortable or worthy of other people’s time and attention. There is nothing more vulnerable to me than putting my art out there for people to see.  Read More>>

Jennifer Trask

I wish I could tell you that I heard one sentence that changed everything and all of the sudden I didn’t feel like an imposter anymore but that just wasn’t the case. Looking back, I can narrow it down to a few things that really helped me. Read More>>

Russell Crooms

One night, I was sitting at my desk, staring at lines of code that just wouldn’t work. I was building Grocery Savvy, an app I dreamed up to help people make healthier grocery decisions. But at that moment, I wasn’t dreaming—I was doubting. Every error message felt like it was shouting, “You’re not cut out for this.” Read More>>

Justin Acosta

Great question! Honestly, I don’t think I’m fully over Imposter Syndrome—it still creeps in sometimes. Even though I know my work is good and people seem to love it, negative thoughts often hold me back from sharing; however, two things do help me a lot. Read More>>

Brian Xicotencatl

“When you’re good at something, you’ll tell everyone. When you’re great at something, they’ll tell you.”

― Walter Payton

It was the last tournament of my college career and honestly I was quite unsatisfied with how I had performed. I had played scared and unsure of myself. Read More>>

Jax Sprague

Does anyone really overcome imposter syndrome? I battle it daily. I feel like a fraud for getting my degrees but not remembering much of my coursework. I hear a new song from an independent artist and think about how they have such better vocals, lyrics, and production than I do. I look at models who are younger than me and wish I had that control over my expressions and positions and that discipline over my body.  Read More>>

Lauren Ball

Imposter syndrome is definitely something I still struggle with as an artist and small business owner.

Even after almost 5 years running mybusiness, I still sometimes worry if I’m not good enough or making mistakes. The way I overcome that feeling is through a variety of methods and self-reflection. Read More>>

Haley May

Imposter syndrome is something I still face daily. Every time someone reaches out to me for photos it’s hard to not think “why me?”. But the way I try to overcome it is by just reminding myself that I have worked hard for my career and people like my work for a reason. Every new show or photoshoot makes me more confident in myself and my work and hopefully one day I will see what everyone else sees. Read More>>