3 Easy Ways to Overcome Impostor Syndrome for Entrepreneurs

Do you ever feel like you don’t deserve your accomplishments? Like you’ve only succeeded due to luck, and not because of your abilities or qualifications?

Are you regularly experiencing feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt?

If you’re constantly getting these emotions, chances are you’re suffering from impostor syndrome (IS).  

Don’t worry. IS affects people from all walks of life. However, as an entrepreneur, your ability to deal with it can make or break your business.  

As your go-to digital marketing agency in Miami, we’ll teach you how to deal with IS.  

What Is Impostor Syndrome?

Impostor syndrome is the paralyzing feeling that you don’t deserve your success. You’re fully convinced that your achievements are because of luck or because you were ‘in the right place at the right time.’

You also fear that one day people will discover that you're not as intelligent, creative, or talented as you may seem.  

Why Do People Experience Impostor Syndrome?

Some experts believe it has something to do with childhood memories, such as feeling that your grades were never good enough for your parents or that a sibling was the favorite child because they excelled in certain areas. This can leave a lasting impact.  

People tend to internalize these ideas by thinking, “I need to achieve to be loved or lovable."

External factors, like your environment or institutionalized discrimination, can also play a major role in provoking impostor feelings. When you don’t feel a sense of belongingness in your workplace, your confidence is affected.  

That’s why, in our digital marketing agency in Miami, we strive to make everyone in our team feel included and important.  

Patterns Found in People Who Experience Impostor Feelings:

• Perfectionists – Still feel like failures even if they meet 99% of their goals. A single mistake will make them question their own competence.  
• Experts – Feel hesitant to ask a question or speak up in a meeting because they don’t want to look stupid. They need to know every piece of information there is before starting a project and won’t apply for a job unless they meet all the criteria in the posting. Always looking for new certifications or training to amp up their skills.  
• Natural genius – Feel the need to struggle or work hard to succeed. They know they're skilled and smart, so when they need to put in the effort to get results, something tells them it's proof that they aren't good enough.  
• Soloists – Feel the need to accomplish tasks on their own. Whenever they need to ask for help, they feel like a fraud or a failure.  

• Supermen or superwomen – Pressure themselves to succeed in all aspects of life. Feel the need to work harder than others to prove that they’re not a fraud.  

How to Deal with Your Impostor Feelings and Overcome Them

1. Talk Your Feelings Out

When you have impostor syndrome, your brain discredits your ability to succeed. You could literally be the Elon Musk of your industry, but your mind will tell you otherwise.

Just remember that your feelings don't accurately represent reality. So, whenever you feel a certain way, train your mind to separate fact from fiction. Don’t let your feelings rule your life.  

You must work actively to separate what you feel from reality. To do this successfully, consider talking out your feelings with someone you trust. This confidant could be a friend, family, or a professional therapist.  

Talking to someone outside of the situation can reassure you that what you’re feeling is normal. Knowing that others have been in your position can also make your journey towards overcoming IS less scary.

2. Accept Failure as a Natural Part of Being an Entrepreneur

Entrepreneurs who struggle with Impostor Syndrome are often troubled more by their successes than their failures. They believe that they don’t deserve any of their awards or achievements.

Whenever they fail, they think of it as a confirmation that the negative voice within them was right all along.  

If you’re experiencing impostor feelings, you can easily look at failure as a personal shortcoming, but it’s healthier to deal with failure as a natural part of your entrepreneurial journey.  

So, rather than letting failures overwhelm you with self-doubt and disturb your peace, here are some tips for accepting failures and moving on:

• Take a pause and clear your mind.  
• Accept the fact that not everything is under your control.  
• Become part of an entrepreneurial community and surround yourself with people going through similar struggles.

• Be realistic and don’t set yourself up for failure. Nothing happens overnight. Successful businesses take a while to build.  
• Try again and again. Never give up. Monitor results and figure out what to tweak in your equation to make sure you get your desired results.  
• Use Lean methodology to achieve continuous achievement both personally and professionally.  

Everyone fails. What’s important is how you bounce back from the situation.  

3. Practice a Healthier Mindset

To successfully overcome these feelings, it's important to acknowledge your thoughts and put them in perspective.  

By learning to recognize your toxic thought patterns and reframe them, you will begin to experience positive emotions, allowing you to make decisions that support your overall sense of well-being.  

Experts say that the only difference between someone who experiences IS syndrome and someone who doesn’t is how they respond to challenges. This means that reframing your thoughts is the key to responding to challenges effectively.  

As an entrepreneur, you should learn how to accept constructive criticism. Show your team that you value their ideas, even when you don’t ask for help.

As your trusted digital marketing agency in Miami, we are going to share with you some mindset reframing tips that have helped our clients achieve better chances of success:

• Success is a community effort. Although it’s normal for small business owners to wear many hats, you don’t have to take on all of the responsibilities in your business. Don’t be afraid to ask for help and hire brilliant team members who will contribute to the success of your business. This frees you time and energy, allowing you to focus on running and expanding your business.
• Speak with positivity. The words you speak to yourself, your employees, and your customers can affect the progress of your business. When you tell people how terrible you are, what a failure your business will turn out to be, and how your employees can’t get anything right, you’re bound to fail. But a positive mindset and language pattern will prepare you and your company for expansiveness. When you say yes to opportunities, you’re saying yes to success and yes to money!
• Accept and adjust your way to success. There's no single path to achieving success. If your plan doesn't work, figure out what went wrong and find new ways to accomplish your goals. Don’t be afraid of trial and error!

Now Is the Best Time to Become the Person You’ve Always Wanted to Be!

Whenever you experience impostor feelings, remember to talk it out with someone you trust, accept failure as a natural part of your entrepreneurial journey, and learn to recognize your toxic thought patterns and reframe them over time!  

Digital Resource is the no. 1 digital marketing agency in Miami. If you need expert help with the marketing and advertising side of your business, we’re the right agency for the job.  

Our team of digital marketing specialists and SEO experts will work together to put your business on top and help you achieve the victory you’ve always wanted to accomplish! Contact us today to learn what we can do for you!

‍