Overcoming Imposter Syndrome: Believing in Your Entrepreneurial Journey

 By:  NofisatRaheems



"This is not where I should be."
"Someone will discover that I'm acting."
"I'm not yet ready."


You're not the only one who has these thoughts.

A prevalent, unsaid problem for entrepreneurs is imposter syndrome, which is the ongoing sense of self-doubt in the face of obvious accomplishment. It is nondiscriminatory. Imposter syndrome has a way of infiltrating your thoughts, regardless of whether you're a seasoned CEO raising millions of dollars in venture capital or a lone founder bootstrapping your project.

 

The reality is that you are not an imposter just because you feel like one. It indicates your growth.

 

Self-Doubt's Hidden Cost

Resilience, vision, and risk-taking are necessary for entrepreneurship. However, imposter syndrome subtly undermines confidence, causing many founders to put off making decisions, stay out of the spotlight, or question their gut feelings. That inner critic can eventually cost you more than just sleep because it can impede your progress.

 

Imposter syndrome expert Dr. Valerie Young, a psychologist, divides those who experience it into groups such as "The Soloist" and "The Perfectionist." Entrepreneurs frequently fall into these two categories, they believe they must go it alone and strive for perfect execution.


The outcome? Paralysis. You keep making changes rather than releasing the MVP. You keep "improving" the deck rather than making a pitch to the investor. You minimize minor victories rather than acknowledging them.

 

The Greats Even Feel It

 

According to Starbucks' previous CEO, Howard Schultz. "Very few people, whether you've been in that job before or not, get into the seat and believe today that they are now qualified to be the CEO," he once said.

 

For example, Maya Angelou said, "I've written eleven books, but each time I think, 'Uh oh, they're going to find out now,'" even though she had published several books and been awarded more than fifty honorary degrees.

In Lean In, former Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg even admitted that she was always afraid of being "found out."

You can shift industries if they can make you feel like an imposter.

 

Making Fuel Out of Imposter Syndrome

Eliminating imposter syndrome is not the aim. The goal is to learn how to use it, manage it, and keep going.

Here's how:

 

1. Reframe the Fear

Try thinking, "I'm learning something new," rather than, "I'm not ready." It's always awkward to grow. The soreness is a milestone rather than a warning sign.


2. Honor Small Victories


Was that beta version shipped? Get your first customer? Is this your first blog entry? Honor it. In order to feel validated, entrepreneurs frequently wait for the "big success." Small steps, however, make up the voyage.

 

3. Look for a Sincere Community

Be in the company of other founders. For genuine conversation, not just advice. Trust is fostered by vulnerability, and realizing that you are human rather than broken comes from shared experience.


4. Record Your Travels

It can be therapeutic to keep a journal or share your experiences online (Medium or LinkedIn!). You can remember your personal development by comparing where you started and where you are now.

5. Rethink What Success Is

Not every company achieves unicorn status. Not all founders give speeches at TED. Success is creating something that you are proud of. Perhaps it's generating riches for future generations, establishing a distant lifestyle, or providing for ten devoted clients. Take ownership of your definition.


From Fake to Mastery

To refer to yourself as an entrepreneur, you do not require authorization from anyone. You are already one because you had the guts to begin.


Self-doubt will come, yes. Allow it to arrive, but do not allow it to unload and remain. You're not pretending when you push through fear; rather, you're proving yourself wrong in the most positive way.

Then proceed. Introduce that product. Forward that email. Raise your voice in that room.
Being an entrepreneur isn't about knowing everything. It's about having faith that you can discover them along the journey.
 
Please share this with someone who needs to hear it or leave a comment if you have ever struggled with imposter syndrome in your entrepreneurial journey. Let's celebrate the progress and normalize the fight.

 

 

Nofisat Raheems


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