Summary
Impostor syndrome can shut us down and keep us from reaching our true potential. This is something encore entrepreneurs struggle with but we can power through it together!
Have you ever suffered from Impostor Syndrome? What made you feel like an impostor?
I believe the only thing that stands in the way of feeling competent and confident is a lie you need to stop believing.
I’m Shelley Carney, I’m a
- Podcasting & LiveStreaming Host
- Coach/Consultant
- Personal Development Expert
- Interviewer
- Author
- Presenter
- Introvert
- 9 Enneagram
It took me years to be able to say these things about myself. But now I know that it doesn’t matter what I call myself. What matters is that I believe in myself and that I am enough just as I am. I get to decide how I define myself to the world and ultimately, I’m the only one who really cares, anyway.
Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.
Theodore Roosevelt
What is Impostor Syndrome?
Impostor Syndrome is defined as the persistent inability to believe that one’s success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one’s own efforts or skills.
Many people, especially women, experience impostor syndrome when they enter a new arena. Whether that’s going back to school, starting a new career, or transitioning into a different role. When we feel that uncomfortable uncertainty of trying something we’ve never done before, it’s easy to feel insecure.
Entrepreneur Requirements
Many of the requirements of entrepreneurial life bring up these insecurities that coalesce into the impostor syndrome. These triggers include:
- Pushing yourself to grow
- Promoting your abilities
- Selling your own products and services
- Continuous learning
- Teaching and leading others
- Reaching for new goals
- Trying new things that don’t work as anticipated
When these feelings come up for you, ask yourself if you are an impostor or just an entrepreneur.
“To attain “success” without attaining positive self-esteem is to be condemned to feeling like an imposter anxiously awaiting exposure.”
Nathaniel Branden
Traits of Impostor Syndrome
- Self-doubt
- Inability to assess your competence and skills
- Attributing success to external factors
- Berating your performance
- Fear of expectations
- Overachieving
- Sabotaging your success
Do you indulge in any of these emotional reactions? Look for these to pop up whenever you are reaching outside your comfort zone and understand it is normal protective behavior from your subconscious.
“I still have a little impostor syndrome… It doesn’t go away, that feeling that you shouldn’t take me that seriously. What do I know? I share that with you because we all have doubts in our abilities, about our power and what that power is.”
Michelle Obama
Questions to Ask Yourself
Do you agonize over every mistake?
Do you attribute your success to luck or outside factors?
Do you feel like you will be found out as a phony?
Do you downplay your own expertise?
Simply notice your answers and give yourself grace, patience and compassion. Then try to work on changing these reactions to something more productive.
“Like most other creatives, I struggle with self-sabotage, self-doubt, and feeling like an impostor more often than not. I struggle with expressing myself, because it does sometimes feel easier or safer not to.”
Jeff Jarvis
Personality Types
Those who frequently experience impostor syndrome usually fall into one of these categories.
The Perfectionist who feels, “I must be perfect or I’m just not good enough!”
The Superhero says, “I must fix every problem for everyone or I’m not doing my job!”
The Expert who decides, “I must learn everything there is to know so I can answer every question correctly!”
The Natural Genius believes, “I must succeed at everything the first time or I am a fraud!”
The Soloist thinks, “I must do it all myself because if I ask for help I am weak!”
Do you see yourself in any of these personalities? Which one resonates most with you? Do you know anybody else who follows this pattern?
“There are an awful lot of people out there who think I’m an expert. How do these people believe all this about me? I’m so much aware of all the things I don’t know.”
Dr. Margaret Chan
Conquering Impostor Syndrome
What are some of the ways we can overcome feeling like a fraud?
- Share your feelings. It’s surprising how many amazing people have the same feelings we do. Sharing helps us feel less alone.
- Focus on others. When we get out of our heads and pay attention to the people we are helping or leading instead, then we can make a positive impact.
- Assess your abilities honestly. If you can’t be objective, ask a friend or colleague to help you do this.
- Take small steps. Allow yourself to try something new without it meaning you are a failure if it doesn’t go perfectly.
- Question your thoughts. We are more than our thoughts and beliefs and we can surpass our environment and genetics.
- Stop comparing. Comparison is the thief of joy and is not conducive to growth.
- Refuse to let it hold you back. Have faith in yourself and your ability to show up and give 100 percent.
“You think, ‘Why would anyone want to see me again in a movie? And I don’t know how to act anyway, so why am I doing this?’ ”
Meryl Streep
Gratitude Heals
If you are feeling like an impostor, it means you have some degree of success in your life that you are attributing to luck. That’s evidence that you are achieving and moving forward in life. You made the decisions and took the required action. You did that.
Look at what you have accomplished in your life, celebrate it and be grateful.
The Encore Entrepreneur
An encore entrepreneur is a special person who is taking all their life and work experience and starting a home-based business. They may put themselves in the spotlight online for the first time. This feels uncomfortable, maybe even scary. Keep these important points in mind whenever you feel stuck or anxious.
You can help others and they are waiting for you to do so! Ask yourself, if you could help just one person change their life so they can finally feel good about themselves and happy in their lives, is it worth it?
Technology is your tool, not your nemesis. I’ve heard many people say, “I’m not tech-savvy. I hate computers.” Turn that around and imagine the possibilities when you learn to master the tech to share your message with the world.
You are uniquely suited to share your personal story and ideas. Nobody else is just like you. Only you can reach some of those people in the world that need to hear from you. Without you, they will have no one.
The people who resonate with you need you, not some other expert. Just because somebody else is teaching something very similar doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it, too. Everybody learns differently and some people need you or they won’t get the answers they are seeking.
Podcasting and Livestreaming
If you feel anxious about putting your content out into the world, you may need to turn your fears into possibilities. So ask yourself,
What if you try it and it’s the most fulfilling and fun experience you’ve ever had?
Or
What if you don’t try and you miss out on the best time of your life?
Community of Excellence
Please join our Facebook group for more helpful training and resources. This group is designed for Encore Entrepreneurs and Legacy Livestreamers – people age 50+ working from home using live streaming, podcasting and blogging to expand their brand and business. We’ll share how we take one idea and turn it into a social media storm of content and how you can do it too!
Leveraging Your Content Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/leveragingyourcontent/
Connect with me! Schedule a free consulting call to define your social media goals, assess your specific needs, and clarify your best options.
Come experience LiveStream Coaching with Shelley Carney and Toby Younis. Every week you’ll receive motivation, encouragement and supportive tips and tools to design a livestream video and podcast that will attract an audience full of friends, leads and new clients. Subscribe today and discover the steps to mastering technology and online marketing that will bring you success, fun and fulfillment.
Get your free copy of Podcast Star – How to Be a Great Live Stream or Podcast Guest ebook at this link: podcaststar01.agkmedia.studio
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