The Impostor Syndrome is a well-researched, well-documented phenomenon that occurs when successful and intelligent professionals feel they don't deserve their accomplishments...that they have faked their way to success.
Psychologists Pauline Rose Clance and Suzanne Imes developed the concept, originally termed "imposter phenomenon," in their 1978 founding study, which focused on high-achieving women.
They posited that "despite outstanding academic and professional accomplishments, women who experience the imposter phenomenon persist in believing that they are really not bright and have fooled anyone who thinks otherwise."
"...people who suffer from imposter syndrome fall into two camps. The first includes people who feel like frauds and fear that people will one day find out who they really are. People in this camp include the high achievers, the workaholics, the perfectionists, the super-heroes, and the individualists. These are all people who often put in extra work to cover their perceived faults.
The second camp is comprised of people who are trying to either learn something new or who are in a new environment. This group includes the new hires, junior employees, college students, and anyone trying to learn a new or challenging skill. These people often think things like, I don’t belong here; I can’t learn this, I’m not smart enough; I’ll fail; or Who am I to reach for a goal this grand?
People in both camps suffer from a lack of self-confidence, self-worth, and self-acceptance."
So let’s do some pop psychology - no assessments - no testing - just what we feel fits our situation, okay?
Most of us have experienced the feelings associated with imposter syndrome. We call it by the official name because it sounds … official. Am I right?
And it’s easier to say we’re suffering from something … official … because it gives us an out. A reason for not taking action. Or for taking action that feels right but really doesn’t take care of the problem.
How close am I to your experience?
I ask because that’s been my experience. And when I read the two definitions above - one official and one that is now used to describe feelings of fear, inadequacy, lack of confidence, and more…
When I'm honest with myself, I admit I fall into both camps. Okay, into many camps.
Want to know the camp fits me perfectly? The camp of overthinkers and out-thinkers. My ability to think myself into and out of things isn't something to brag about. But it is something I contend with on a regular basis.
For instance, earlier this year I planned out a product funnel. Cheat Sheet > Book > E-course > Workshop > Courses. If all went well, I would add the courses to a membership site being planned for 2024.
I talked myself out of finishing the products inside the funnel because - there's a lot of information and courses already available for the topic. People with great followings have already made their mark with this topic.
Who am I to think I can compete? Okay, not compete but to stand next to these established and known experts? And what if these experts decide to turn their followers on me to declare me as a ‘know nothing’ fraud?
Not likely to happen but… because I had the thought I continued that line of thinking and stopped myself from finishing the project...until now. Just a few weeks ago I made the decision to hire a marketing virtual assistant to help me get it done. The job position is written and I know where I will post it.
Oh, you want to hear another example? I've got plenty so give me a moment to decide which one I'll share -
the time I spoke from the stage and had a room of buyers ready to take out their credit card for a workshop I mentioned ... and I talked myself out of doing the workshop.
the time I had a following of dedicated and diverse online business owners willing to engage with me in a social media group and I talked myself out of creating a product they would certainly have purchased.
the time I picked a business partner solely to help me do a podcast and when she didn't want to do it anymore...I stopped and left behind around 150 regular listeners (btw this was in 2011).
I could go on. And I could provide logical reasons why I didn't follow through with those opportunities (and others). But I won't. Because there are examples of just the opposite - where I ignored my thinking and pushed through.
the time I started my business in spite of not knowing what to expect.
the time I did a course correction within my first year to offer online marketing.
the time I decided my agency would be entirely remote - in 2009 - long before most people even considered being remote.
the time I built my agency to 6-figures, was known locally for in person workshops, taught local businesses how to do social media before it was cool.
I disliked being an agency owner. But I built it and it paid the bills. Then it was time for a change.
I stopped and started many things. I experimented.
Today I have an agency...very small...with a small remote team that writes copy and content for SaaS companies. I don't market or promote it, yet, because we're partnering with a SaaS to help them during their launch of their version 2.
And, as they appear, I onboard consulting clients and offer marketing communications advice so they make more sales.
And for fun and profit and because I can…I take on email copywriting projects.
And of course, the biggest most recent positive is my decision to hire the marketing VA to finish what I started earlier this year.
I don’t know about you - though I can guess in some ways you’re like me. There was a time when I would have gone down the rabbit hole to try to figure out - on my own - why I am the way I am. When I tried so hard to be like someone else. And yet, all the while, everywhere I went and everything I did was because...I wanted to. I just needed someone/something I could blame when things went awry or went wrong.
Which brings me --- always --- to a simple principle: take responsibility for my thoughts, my actions, my beliefs, my desires, my wants. When I do, it's easier for me to make decisions. It's easier for me to accept my level of success. This means, by the way, having an income that not only pays the bills but also allows me to save for a rainy day, take myself and my husband on nice vacations, enjoy being in control of how I spend my time.
Yes, I struggled with feeling like a fraud and fearing that people will one day find out who I really am. And when I was learning something new I had this insane belief that I 'should' know more than I did...to explain why learning the new thing was so hard.
The complicated answer to how I overcame or worked through both challenges includes intentional personal development, joining groups focused on improving a skill, a bit of therapy, a lot of prayer.
The simple answer is that I succeed when I ignore my own thinking and simply do the actions I know will get me closer to my goal.
Neither are easy to do. Both require that I take responsibility for how I feel and how I decide what the next action will be.
=============================
Marketing Tip
Avoid getting caught up in the hype.
Someone on LinkedIn offers you 64 ChatGPT prompts to improve your content marketing. You download the PDF and tell your marketing team they need to get on those now.
Why? Because you see self-described experts shouting on social media that ChatGPT is the latest greatest thing to hit the business world.
Someone on Instagram claims they just hit $100K in sales from their TikTok video. So you buy their course and tell your marketing team they need to make videos for TikTok.
Why? Because you see TikTok videos being shared on every social media platform and think you're lagging behind and missing out on making money.
News Flash!!!!
You've gotten caught up in the hype. You just chased a shiny object. You have been diverted from your marketing plan.
Chasing every new tactic that shows up in your email or on your social media feeds will derail your business.
Ignore the hype, avoid shiny object syndrome, focus only on tactics that advance you toward your #1 marketing objective. Be honest with yourself. If you don’t see how they help, don’t do them. You can always save them for next time.
=============================
From the Research Files
aka random bits of info you may or may not be able to use in your life
Why do graduating students wear square hats?
Back in the 11th century, a newly ordained clergyman would receive a round skullcap called a calotte. As the centuries passed and universities grew to include new areas of study, the headwear stuck around. The hat evolved from a small skullcap to a round and puffy beret (called a pileus rotundus) to a square-shaped hat (called a pileus quadratus, which supposedly saved time and fabric). Four centuries later, the ceremonial square cap — first called a mortarboard in the 19th century for its resemblance to the boards masons used for carrying mortar — remains the graduate’s go-to. https://harcourts.com/blog/cap-and-gown-history/
=============================
Pun of the Day
Light travels faster than sound. That's why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂
If you are at all informed /entertained /amused /educated by today’s edition of Burke’s Bits, here's where you can show your appreciation.
