Imposter Syndrome Is Lying to You

Let me tell you something I don't say enough.

For a long time, I sat in boardrooms, investor meetings, industry events, and a little voice in the back of my head kept whispering: You don't belong here.

Not loud enough to stop me. But loud enough to be take a f*cking toll on me.

That's imposter syndrome. And if you've felt it, welcome to the club. Membership is free and the roster includes basically every person who has ever tried to do something worth doing.

Here's what I've learned after getting slapped in the face by life more times than I'd like to count: imposter syndrome doesn't go away because you finally "make it." It fades because you finally get comfortable with who you are.

There's a big difference there.

When you stop trying to perform a version of yourself and just start being yourself (your actual self, with all the strengths and the shortcomings) that annoying noise gets quieter. Not silent, but quieter. 

Do I still feel imposter syndrome sometimes? Yeah. A little. But it doesn't run the show anymore.

Here's the advice you might not want to hear:

Stop taking yourself so seriously.

I know, I know. You were expecting a five-step framework. But the truth is, imposter syndrome thrives when you're rigid, when you're performing, when you're so locked into how you're being perceived that you forget to just show up and do the thing.

The people who seem the most confident, they're not faking it. They've just stopped caring so much about whether they belong and started focusing on what they can actually do.

Let life be life. Observe. Enjoy the ride. You're probably doing better than you think.

And if all else fails… eat some mushrooms. (I'm kidding. Mostly.)

- G aka The Recovering Imposter

P.S. I'm on a mission to grow this community and share these insights with 100+ new recipients every month. If this message resonated with you, please refer a friend and have them sign up. Your support in building this tribe means a lot.

If you enjoyed this newsletter, please consider forwarding it to a friend.