How I’m Battling Imposter Syndrome

I left my full-time, secure job last week. And I’m just now starting to realize how different self-employment will be.

It’s definitely been a busy week…

• I launched my newsletter and podcast 

• I’m creating Web3 Twitter content and networking

• I’ve started prospecting for new SEO clients in the Web3 space

But no matter how much I enjoy all of these activities, it doesn’t feel like work. Or maybe a better way to put it: I don’t feel like I’m capable of running these projects like a business.

That’s the imposter syndrome bubbling up in the back of my mind telling me I’m not good enough. Telling me that a secure job is all I’d ever be able to succeed at. Telling me I’m a fool for thinking I could find a better way of working - a way that brings my life actual fulfilment.

Because who do I think I am? No one in my family is an entrepreneur. Same goes for my friend circle. Sometimes I worry that I’ve been contaminated by Twitter optimism (or should I say X optimism) over the last few months.

Does following a hoard of personal growth gurus online make me an entrepreneur? Obviously not. But what makes me feel like an imposter for trying to start a business?

After all, you don’t need a degree to start a business. Countless billionaire founders never even finished university. Instead, they forged their own path - one that doesn’t come with a 4-year degree.

So where does my imposter syndrome come from?

This isn’t new to me…

I remember the first time I felt imposter syndrome. I’d just started my first full-time job. Within a week, I was working on the Nike account and immediately felt insecure. Unsure of myself.

I couldn’t comfortably say that I worked with Nike. I felt like a phony. Like at any moment someone would realize that I didn’t know as much about SEO as I should. That I had no place being in these conversations with Nike’s senior director of search marketing.

I know now where the insecurity came from…

• I wasn’t some high-profile designer with my own audience.

• I wasn’t Kanye.

• I was just some guy who landed his first job. And that job was with one of the world’s biggest companies!

But at least back then, I got constant validation from my manager that I was on the right track. And if I wasn’t, they supported me to get back on track.

Now it’s all up to me. If I’m missing something, it’s nobody’s job to tell me how I can improve. If I mess up a pitch, I might not even realize why the first 101 times. Nobody’s really there to brainstorm with me how I can improve.

I might know nothing beyond the prospect’s “Your presentation was great and you clearly know what you’re talking about. But we decided to go with someone else.”

The feedback cycle is exponentially longer now. Now that I’ve gone from passenger to the driver of my own career.

There’s more at stake now. My livelihood is in my own hands.

Dealing with the Syndrome

While I’m currently in the middle of this mindset, I’m lucky I‘ve already had experience feeling like an imposter in the past. I know I won’t let it get the better of me or stop me from reaching my full potential.

Otherwise, I’ll end up shying away from great opportunities just because I don’t feel comfortable - or even worthy - of such a great opportunity.

After all, why can’t I have nice things?

Nobody starts a business with the hope of earning less than their 9-5 salary. You don’t take this kind of risk without hoping for a better life and an outsized reward. The only thing standing in the way is my fear of failure.

Fortunately, imposter syndrome doesn’t last forever. And as far as I can remember, it’ll pass before I know it.

Here’s my roadmap on what to expect next as I overcome it 👇️ 

So what should I expect?

There may be times when I say or do something that isn’t ideal - or worse yet - wrong.

For example, I could use the wrong clause in a contract that doesn’t protect my business. Misunderstanding a prospect’s business or key priorities during a pitch could lose me the pitch. Or I could mess up the invoice in some way that upsets the client.

There are hundreds of mistakes I can make, so I won’t bore you with an extensive list here. I just want you to know that I’ll probably make a few big mistakes this year.

My task is to always be ready to look like a fool. And admit my mistakes once I find them.

Ultimately, everyone makes mistakes. I just need to be willing to drop any façade I might be clinging onto of seeming perfect.

Defensiveness won’t help me here. I know I’m not perfect. I’m just somebody who wants to help my clients.

Of course, I’ll need to fix and learn from my mistakes. And that’s part of the process as well.

But I’m also grateful for everything I’ve learned in the last 7 years.

Now I just need to feel comfortable calling myself an entrepreneur. Luckily, I’m ready to put in the work and start working with my own clients.

What’s your experience with imposter syndrome? Feel free to reply to this email and let me know 🙏

Join me again next week to flush out the 9 to 5 with your weekly dose of Day Job Detox!

Yours truly,

HoboMojo