Ever feel like you're not qualified enough to launch, teach, or lead—even when you have the experience to back it up? You're not alone. In this episode, we're unpacking overcoming imposter syndrome and how it's silently holding back brilliant entrepreneurs from taking bold action in their businesses.
We’ll walk through what imposter syndrome really looks like and practical ways to push back with truth and strategies so you can serve your audience with confidence.
✅Why even Meryl Streep and Jennifer Lopez struggle with feeling like frauds
✅Why perfectionism and busywork keep you stuck
✅The biblical truth about speaking life to your soul (it's not new age - it's neuroscience!)
✅How to create a "wins folder" that instantly shuts down self-doubt
✅The 30-day truth statement practice that literally rewires your brain
Grab the resource mentioned in the podcast to help shift your mindset and step into your calling with confidence.
Resource Mentioned:
Show Notes:
Hey, everyone, Kerry Beck here with Family Ebiz, where we help families start and scale online businesses so they can have the freedom in their life to do what they're called to do. We are going to be talking about calling today and over the next several weeks.
We are talking about confidence in our business, and another word we use for that is imposter syndrome. Some of y'all are not putting things out because you want it perfect. Some of you are like, just keep doing busy work and never get where you want, because you're just wondering, "Who am I to be doing this? I'm not good enough, or I'm going to fail, and everyone will know I'm a fraud."
This episode is for you if that is something that you have faced, and I want to tell you pretty much all entrepreneurs go through this. I know I still at times do, and it's like, why are they buying this from me, and yet I know it helps, and I know it works. And yet I still question myself at times. So you're not alone.
In fact, imposter syndrome shows up most often in high achievers. And if you're trying to have an online business, you are a high achiever.
Did you know people like Jennifer Lopez have talked about this? I mean she sold millions of albums, and she still questions herself, and Meryl Streep. How many Oscars has Meryl Streep won, and she's like, I think they're going to figure out I'm a fraud and come take these all back.
It's because people that are high achievers care deeply about whoever it is they are serving. They are pushing into new territory like you. So let's normalize this and give practical ways to fight back with truth.
Naomi is typical of a person that's getting started. I was looking at research from University of Queensland and Imposter Syndrome Institute. She has years of experience in her field, a proven track record, small but growing audience on the edge of creating something big, launching a premium course that could easily bring her $25,000 a month.
But every time she gets ready to pull that trigger, that little internal voice in her head is saying, "I'm not expert enough. Who do I think I am?"
So what does she do? She tweaks her website a little more, creates a new logo, signs up for a new course, and she never launches. Or maybe she launches, but she launches small and she doesn't go all the way.
You might be able to relate to that. And I just want to tell you right now, if that is where you are, you are doing a disservice to that small but growing audience. They deserve your help. They deserve whatever it is you know at this point in time. You're withholding help from them that could get them further in whatever it is.
Entrepreneurs like Naomi, according to the University of Queensland, are losing an average of $300,000 a year in potential revenue because of mindset blocks, especially imposter syndrome and perfectionism.
One idea that I personally use is, I speak truth to my soul. Y'all may go, "That's new age," y'all know I'm a believer, I'm faith based. No, it's actually in the Bible as well. There's a man named David. He was a king back in the other days, and he would speak to his soul and speak truth.
What is that negative thought that you need to replace? "I'm not good enough." We need to flip it on its coin and say, "I have this information that has changed my life and others. I need to get it out there."
I would encourage you to write down whatever the 2 or 3 negative thoughts are, and then write a truth statement the opposite of that, and say it out loud every morning for at least 30 days.
Did you know there's a thing called neuroplasticity? It can change the way you think. You grow new brain cells every night. And so if you are saying these words, and I believe it's important to say it out loud, then it will become a part of who you are, and it will literally change the way you think.
There are scientific studies. Carolyn Leaf is an expert in this. She's a neurosurgeon, I believe, and she has done so much research. I encourage her book "Switch On Your Brain" by Carolyn Leaf.
Another thing that you can do is create a wins folder. What do I mean by that?
Go and take screenshots of testimonials or emails that people have sent saying, "Oh, this was so helpful," and maybe milestones that you've hit. Put it in a folder when you sold your first product or your podcast downloads, or how many attendees you had on a webinar, that type of thing.
If you have kind DMs or comments from your community, put all of that in a folder. Every time that little voice of doubt creeps in, go to your wins folder and start seeing the truth about your impact.
You're not a fraud. You're a work in progress who is already helping people. Keep this on your desktop or on your phone notes so that you've got it with you. Make it easy to access, especially on those hard days.
Testimonials have really helped me see the transformation that my course "Raising Leaders, Not Followers" has in these homeschool moms, and it has been so encouraging, and it has given me more confidence. So it doesn't have to be huge. Some of it started with just an email saying, "Oh, this lesson really helped me."
Did you know that sometimes even CEOs feel like frauds? It is said that 70% of people experience imposter syndrome at some point in time. Not just beginners.
We're talking successful CEOs, surgeons, researchers, award-winning writers. John Steinbeck experienced imposter syndrome. Jodie Foster - I was reading something from Jodie Foster one time, and she won the Academy Award, and she said afterwards, "I kept thinking they're gonna knock on the door and say, 'Oh, we made a mistake. Meryl Streep gets this and take it away.'"
These are award-winning people, and they still deal with imposter syndrome. One woman, a tenured professor and published scientist, admitted she sometimes thinks, "I've just fooled everyone this far."
Success doesn't erase self-doubt. If you listen to my coach, Amy Porterfield, she deals a lot better, but she said in the beginning she really dealt with imposter syndrome, and has had to really work on herself and her mental attitude to overcome that.
Instead of saying, "I'm a fraud," say, "I'm learning, I'm growing, I'm showing up to serve."
This isn't just fluffy affirmation. It is truth, and you are learning to serve the people with your expertise. You do not have to be perfect. You just need to be present.
Journaling is another thing you can do. I shared last week my little 5 Year Journal, and that is so encouraging because I read what I wrote 3 or 4 years before, and it really helps me see the changes that have gone on in my mindset.
Think about it, even small wins. "I answered a tough client question confidently." "I finally sent the email that I've been crafting forever." Here's one for me: I showed up on Facebook Live every week for 3 or 4 years, even though I was nervous.
Write it down, journal it. Again, neuroplasticity - you say that thing out loud, it's going to change the way your brain is thinking.
Let's bring it all together with a quick recap and some action steps:
Start with that wins folder. Collect screenshots, messages, reviews, milestones. Proof silences the lies.
Then write down your 3 negative things and replace them with truth, and say those out loud every day for the next 30 days, maybe even longer.
And then journal the "I did it anyway" wins. It may not have been perfect, and one of my mentors from 20 years ago, Dan, always says "good is good enough." You're never going to get it perfect. Good is good enough.
So go from "What if they find out I'm not good enough" to the truth: "I'm serving people with what I know right now."
Don't wait to feel ready. Clarity comes through action. Confidence comes through action.
I would love it if you, wherever you're listening to this, if there's a place to leave a comment, leave a comment and tell me one moment this week that you helped someone. Just one moment. All right, leave a comment, big or small, no matter what it counts.