Many years ago, I used to suffer from imposter syndrome. I didn’t have a college degree, and I automatically assumed that everyone who had a college degree was somehow superior to me.
Only after obtaining a college degree, I realized that it was all in my imagination. People with college degrees were not superior to me in any way. In my case, the only value of my college degree was to get rid of my impostor syndrome.
I feel insecure and intimidated when I am surrounded by people who are more experienced and/or more intelligent than me. It happens almost every day when I record a podcast. If I interview someone is because they have a degree of wisdom that I don’t have. But I don’t feel like an impostor any more, I feel totally comfortable with my ignorance. I don’t need to have a facade of perfection or to give the impression that I have it all figured out.
I eliminated impostor syndrome from my life
When I started my dance school, I started teaching dance without knowing how to dance. I had only taken about 10 hours of dance class in my whole life, I never had an ear for music, but one day I declared myself a dance teacher, I bought some advertisement and I started accepting students. I knew that I was way out of my league but I also knew that the best way to become a teacher was to put myself out there.
Later on in life, I started investing in real estate. I just read a couple of blog posts about real estate and I went out there and started doing real estate deals. I didn’t know what I was doing, but I was willing to learn and fail, and I was not afraid to show my ignorance.
In another chapter of my life, I decided to start a photography business. I bought a professional camera, I watched some YouTube videos, I read some blog posts and I built a website declaring myself a photographer. Within three months I felt comfortable in my new business.
Now, I am a podcaster/blogger/YouTuber. I have no problem admitting my ignorance, yet I have booked interviews with scholars, professors, business leaders, politicians, and noble prize winners.
Only by putting myself in these kinds of situations that are outside my level of expertise I have an opportunity to grow.
Don’t be afraid to be found out
Most people who suffer from impostor syndrome are afraid to be found out. “One day I am going to be found out.” They tell themselves, and they leave in constant fear. Well, how about if you get rid of that fear? How about if you say to yourself, “Most likely I will be found out, but I will try it anyway.” How about if you admit that you are out of your league but do the work anyway? The world is waiting for people to raise their hand and take that step forward, it might as well be you. Others will look at you with fear, admiration, or curiosity, and some may criticize you, but mostly because they didn’t have the courage to take that step forward themselves.
Don’t be afraid to fail
People are terrified of failure. They see it as something definitive.
Failure is just part of the learning process. I fail every day. I make mistakes scheduling guests, I never have enough time to prepare for interviews, I stumble upon my words because English is not my first language, and I discover spelling mistakes on my show notes or my blog posts; And then I do it again the next day. Making mistakes is part of the process of getting better.
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