We’re all guilty of the diagnosis, and most of the time, we don’t even realize it. The guilt, second-guessing, questioning how you even got to where you are. What diagnosis am I referring to? The imposter syndrome.

Imposter syndrome

What is it?

Imposter syndrome is that feeling that consumes you when you realize someone knows something you don’t. Or the moment you realize you don’t have the same skillset as the person you’re working for.

It’s the idea that the only reason you’ve been successful is pure luck, not because of your talent or your qualifications. Yep, that moment when you question your abilities based on someone else’s life or business.

We all get imposter syndrome from time to time. Most of the time, we just don’t realize we have it.  It’s that instant when you’re looking at another business owner on social media and think, “Wow! She has it all together!” and then — you let the questioning creep in, the self-doubt, the guilt that you haven’t accomplished more, or taken “that course”…

The next words out of your mouth sound something like, “How am I even running my business when I don’t know how to do that?”

Maybe you’re in the very early stages of your business and catch yourself thinking, “I’ve been at this for months and I have no idea what I’m doing!”

Imposter syndrome is this habit we create when we think just because we don’t know how to do one thing that someone else knows how to do, means the thousands of skills we DO have are irrelevant.

Listen, you’re in charge of building the life you want. Don’t for a second think you aren’t capable of it. Shake those thoughts off quickly.

I’ve been there. I still go there. We all go there. So, how do we fight it?

Kicking Imposter Syndrome to the Curb.

Tip Number One: Build your tribe.

As a human, an employee, a business owner, and especially as a remote worker it is so important that you have a tribe of people behind you that support you every step of the way. These people that know you and your worth are the keys to saying, getting through imposter syndrome

Building your tribe plays a key role in building your confidence. We all need people who we can call when our insecurities take over; the friend that says, “You are being ridiculous. Do I need to remind you how awesome you are at ______?”

It’s so important to have people you let yourself be vulnerable with; people you can run to when you’re not sure about something, someone who can point you in the right direction to other resources.

Tip Number Two: Remind yourself of your worth.

Again, we all have these rough days where we think, “How did I even get here? I clearly have no idea what I’m doing.”

So, when that hits you, here’s what I want you to do:

Grab a notebook, a scrap piece of paper, or that journal you’ve been saying you’re going to write in since last year, and write down exactly what you’re already great at. Note all your skills, the things you feel so confident in you could teach a class about them.

Now, write all the things you want to become great at. Every little thing you’ve thought, “I wish I knew how to do that!” Write it down and make a commitment to figuring out how you can learn that skill. Ask your tribe for help. Look into classes, books, or hands-on training, whatever you need to do to accomplish that goal.

Your take-away from this is simple:  Imposter syndrome is real.  It will hit you at some point (and maybe many points) but you’ve GOT what it takes to overcome it.  You are enough.

Always remember that you can do hard things. You are worthy of the success you’ve already created and the success that will come your way.

Create habits that build your confidence and help you break free of imposter syndrome quickly when it hits you.

Having a business strategy can help alleviate your battle with imposter syndrome. Are you clear on your business plan?