Calligraphy Biz Corner

7. Creating Confidence: 4 Strategies for Beating Imposter Syndrome

April 02, 2024 Alane Gianetti, Shaochen Wu Season 1 Episode 7
7. Creating Confidence: 4 Strategies for Beating Imposter Syndrome
Calligraphy Biz Corner
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Calligraphy Biz Corner
7. Creating Confidence: 4 Strategies for Beating Imposter Syndrome
Apr 02, 2024 Season 1 Episode 7
Alane Gianetti, Shaochen Wu

Today, we're talking about everyone's favorite topic! ...Okay, maybe not your favorite topic, but one that plagues all of us: Imposter Syndrome! Tune in to hear our personal experiences with imposter syndrome and of course, both tactical and mindset strategies to combat it. These include methods like looking at the evidence, creating more than you consume, leaning into discomfort, and writing your own narrative. 

We hope this episode helps you feel less alone when it comes to dealing with imposter syndrome, serves as a reminder that YOU have something unique to offer, and encourages you to lean into discomfort because it's a sign of big growth potential!

πŸ”— Links to resources mentioned in this episode:


πŸŽ™οΈ In this Episode:

  • 00:00 Celebrating 2 Months - Thanks for Listening!
  • 02:42 What is Imposter Syndrome?
  • 05:40 Strategy 1: Look at the Evidence
  • 11:14 Strategy 2: Create More Than You Consume
  • 16:26 Strategy 3: Lean into the Discomfort
  • 25:09 Strategy 4: Write Your Own Narrative
  • 30:43 Now, go share your gift with the world!


Support the Show.

πŸ‘―β€β™€οΈ Learn More About Us:

Learn more about Alane's business, Write Pretty for Me:

Learn more about Shaochen's business, Monstera Gold

Need help with pricing? Get Alane & Shaochen's pricing resource, The Creative's Pricing Toolkit

Show Notes Transcript Chapter Markers

Today, we're talking about everyone's favorite topic! ...Okay, maybe not your favorite topic, but one that plagues all of us: Imposter Syndrome! Tune in to hear our personal experiences with imposter syndrome and of course, both tactical and mindset strategies to combat it. These include methods like looking at the evidence, creating more than you consume, leaning into discomfort, and writing your own narrative. 

We hope this episode helps you feel less alone when it comes to dealing with imposter syndrome, serves as a reminder that YOU have something unique to offer, and encourages you to lean into discomfort because it's a sign of big growth potential!

πŸ”— Links to resources mentioned in this episode:


πŸŽ™οΈ In this Episode:

  • 00:00 Celebrating 2 Months - Thanks for Listening!
  • 02:42 What is Imposter Syndrome?
  • 05:40 Strategy 1: Look at the Evidence
  • 11:14 Strategy 2: Create More Than You Consume
  • 16:26 Strategy 3: Lean into the Discomfort
  • 25:09 Strategy 4: Write Your Own Narrative
  • 30:43 Now, go share your gift with the world!


Support the Show.

πŸ‘―β€β™€οΈ Learn More About Us:

Learn more about Alane's business, Write Pretty for Me:

Learn more about Shaochen's business, Monstera Gold

Need help with pricing? Get Alane & Shaochen's pricing resource, The Creative's Pricing Toolkit

Alane:

Hello and welcome back to another episode of Calligraphy Biz Corner. Before we jump into today's episode, we have a very exciting milestone that we want to share with you. We just passed the two month mark. And we just want to send a heartfelt thank you to everybody who's listening and following the show. This is our seventh episode. And that's also a huge milestone for us because as we were kind of starting this podcast journey, we were digging a lot into like statistics and we did see a stat. Somewhere we can't remember where we saw it. So please don't fact check us, but it said that 90 percent of podcasters don't get past the third episode. So we're super proud of ourselves, honestly, like pat ourselves on the back here for getting to episode seven.

shaochen_2_03-12-2024_112651:

Absolutely.

Alane:

yeah, but we are very passionate about this project and we just wanted to share some ways that you can support the show if you have been liking our episodes and you want to help us keep. Bringing you this calligraphy biz content. So the most important thing that you can do for us is to follow the show. So whether you're on Apple podcasts or Spotify, just click that follow button, and then tell your friends about it. So if you're listening to an episode and you're like, ah, I think that she would love to hear this, then please send it to her, whoever her is, You can also leave us a rating, which just takes one second of your time. So when you're listening, just tap the number of stars that you want to give us. And then if you have more than one second and you want to write us a review, we would love your feedback in a review form. Again, you can do that on Apple and on Spotify. I guess you could also leave a comment on YouTube if you're listening on YouTube.

shaochen_2_03-12-2024_112651:

Yeah.

Alane:

And then lastly, we would love to hear from you. So if you have any feedback or if you have topic ideas, things that you want to hear in the coming months, please send us a DM on Instagram at calligraphy biz corner, and we will chat with you there.

shaochen_2_03-12-2024_112651:

Yes. Thank you guys so much for listening and supporting the show. It means so much to us with that. We're going to dive into today's topic. We're going to be talking about imposter syndrome and some ways that we can overcome it. So let's start by defining imposter syndrome. I feel like it's a complex feeling and it's hard to put into words. So I actually looked up the definition on the Merriam Webster dictionary and they define it as. A psychological condition that's characterized by persistent doubt concerning one's abilities or accomplishments, accompanied by the fear of being exposed as a fraud, despite evidence of one's ongoing success. I feel like that sums it up really well, actually.

Alane:

a fraud is like, Oh my God.

shaochen_2_03-12-2024_112651:

exactly. That's the crux of it. I thought we could talk a little bit, just to kind of make it feel more real. Like talk about how it shows up for each one of us. So Elaine, how does imposter syndrome show up for you?

Alane:

Yeah. So for me, imposter syndrome is that feeling of just not being good enough, not being worthy enough and fearing judgment of others. So I find that when I am feeling imposter syndrome, it tends to hold me back from. Sharing things, posting, you know, on social media, pursuing new ideas, because I don't think that I'm. So yeah, it's just really that feeling of doubt and I guess in a way to have being exposed as a fraud, like, Oh, maybe somebody is going to figure out that, like, I don't know everything and I don't have all the answers and I'm not, you know, fit to be speaking on this topic.

shaochen_2_03-12-2024_112651:

Yeah.

Alane:

yeah, that's how it shows up for me.

shaochen_2_03-12-2024_112651:

For me, I tend to like over consume content and I, a lot of times my admiration borders on something that's unhealthy. So I will kind of like fixate on someone that I am. inspired by, but rather than letting it motivate me to action, I will just be kind of like consumed in not a healthy way, maybe have feelings of jealousy, and then like feeling like I'm never going to be where they are. So And those kinds of emotions just kind of snowball for me sometimes, um and then I go down rabbit holes of like comparing myself and it completely sucks up my productivity. So imposter syndrome is pretty detrimental to me. But, impostor syndrome affects everybody, no matter where you are in your journey, no matter how much experience you have. experience you've had, and chances are that you've also felt it, even if it shows up differently for you than it does for us. So what we hope to do with this episode is to arm you with some strategies to combat it when those feelings arise. And we're going to start with two tactical approaches that you can put into action. And then we'll end with two mindset strategies. So let's dive in. Elaine, what is the first suggestion you have for overcoming imposter syndrome?

Alane:

So the first thing that I like to do when I start to feel imposter syndrome creep in is to look at the evidence. Imposter syndrome is 100 percent feeling based, like even in the definition that you read before, it said that it's a psychological condition. So in order to combat it. I think that it's helpful to look at and focus on the actual facts that are surrounding me rather than whatever it is that I'm feeling inside. I try to collect all of the evidence that I am good enough, that I am worthy, that there is room for me at the table. So for me, this looks like Referring to past reviews from clients. I've mentioned this in previous episodes before, but I keep a Google doc that has all of my favorite client reviews in it. Whenever imposter syndrome does start to show its ugly head, I revisit these testimonials because they serve as tangible proof that I am good at what I do, that my clients value my work and that my services are both needed and appreciated. The next thing that I like to do is remind myself of where I started and where I am now. being able to reflect on my journey helps highlight the growth that I've achieved and just reinforces my belief and my trust in my own capabilities. I've been tapping into this one a lot lately, as I start to dive deeper into the business mentorship side of my business, I've had to confront. A fear of failure, feelings of inadequacy, worrying that like I might not be able to get this new idea off the ground, but reminding myself that I've already built a business once really helps empower me to be able to navigate these. Challenges with confidence because I know that I'm already building upon a solid foundation of past experience. So I think it can be really helpful just to look at where you were, whether it's six months ago, a year ago, or five, 10 years ago, and where you are now. And just look at how far you've come.

shaochen_2_03-12-2024_112651:

Yeah, similarly, I like to also remind myself of what I've been capable of in the past, not just in building this business, but also in past jobs or past experiences that I've had in school or whatever that may be, because all of the skills that you've collected throughout your life, throughout your various careers, all of that is going to translate and be part of who you are today. So I look back on those. You're welcome. You know, wins and successes too. And I think this is especially helpful if the business part of it is new to you. So when I just started, I remember I would build up my confidence by thinking to myself, like I used to be a business consultant and I advised fortune 500 companies. I was a director at the number one CRM company in the world. And I managed a team and created new functions. Like I really thought about the things that. Really, really pushed me and challenged me and that I overcame because ultimately I think remembering how you have overcome challenges in the past is what helps you build the confidence to do that again in a different capacity. And so all of those accomplishments in the skills I learned, they don't go away because I'm starting something brand new and that I don't have any idea what I'm doing yet, so many of the things that I learned are still translatable. To what I'm doing now. And that really helps to channel my confidence towards something new.

Alane:

Yeah. That's such a good reminder that just because maybe you aren't starting from like your own business, you have past experience just from living life and working and having another job or another career. And all of those have skills that can be applied to your business. The next thing that I like to do when it comes to looking at facts versus feelings is this one's super tactical. So if you pull out a journal or a notepad, I like to make a list of the opportunities that I could miss out on if I don't do something because of imposter syndrome. So I'll write down like. On the left side of the page, what my fear is around whatever it is that I'm thinking about doing. And then what the opportunity is that I could miss out on if I listened to that fear. So for example, it could be like, I'm scared to share about my business because I'm scared that people will judge me. And then on the right side, my missed opportunities could be, I miss out on potential jobs, or I miss out on a really cool opportunity, or I miss out on the chance of like, Just getting to do something that I love for a living because I'm not talking about it. Another example is I'm scared to increase my pricing because I'm scared that people won't pay or I don't feel like I'm worth that or worthy of making that much money, whatever the case may be. And on the right side, my missed opportunities would be, you know, I risk staying in my current financial situation, or I risk working 24 seven because I'm not charging enough and I'm just always working in my business.

shaochen_2_03-12-2024_112651:

I love that. That is so evidence based. Like you said, you start to think about like the consequences of whether you, whether you choose to do this or not choose to do it. It's like you're, you just described an imposter syndrome worksheet right there. So I love that. Okay.

Alane:

Yeah. And it's, it really is. It's like thinking of the consequences if you're not going to do something. And for me, that's usually enough to just like get my button gear and be like, okay, shut this down. I'm not listening to the fear and the doubt and the judgment anymore, because the things that I will miss out on are far too important than, you know, what other people may think of me or what I'm thinking of myself right now, or whatever the case may be. Our second tactical strategy for overcoming imposter syndrome is to create more than you consume. So I really love this one. I forget where I had originally kind of stumbled upon this idea, but as soon as I heard it, it like. Totally changed my world. Social media is both a blessing and a curse. I think that we can probably all agree on that. And I definitely, just like you, I find myself getting hit with imposter syndrome when I'm just mindlessly scrolling and just like being, you know, inundated with what everybody else is doing and how great their lives look and all of that. So my number one tip is to just stop. Doing that, just stop the mindless scroll. Some of the ways that I actually like put this into action on a daily basis. Include setting boundaries around social media and my phone. So I try really hard to not pick up my phone or look at social media before 9am and after 10pm. I actually just put my phone on do not disturb. So like, as soon as 10pm hits, it goes into like. Sleep. Do not disturb and then that stays on until 9 a. m. So I'm not getting text messages from anybody. I'm not getting, hit with any other sort of notifications And I really try my very best to not open any of you know The social media apps during those hours as well instead. I try to focus on something for myself whether it be Taking a walk reading a book Answering emails first thing, like whatever the case may be. I just try to do whatever needs to be a priority for me during that time, rather than letting other people like kind of dictate and get into my mental space. Whenever I do open Instagram, I try to open it with intention. That means like it can either be, I'm going to be posting something or I'm opening it to engage with other accounts, or I'm opening it to check my DMS and get back to somebody. The 2nd, I catch myself just mindlessly scrolling. I close the app immediately and put the phone down. So the main idea here with this, like, create more than you consume is to just do something for you or to get the work that you need to get done before you allow. allow all of those external distractions to influence your mindset.

shaochen_2_03-12-2024_112651:

do find that social media can really just suck you in sometimes, even if I. I'm going in with a specific thought in mind, like I'll go check my Facebook group for my course and then I'll open Facebook and all of a sudden I'm bombarded with all these like updates from people that I haven't talked to in forever and like a mess. From marketplace or whatever it is. And all of a sudden I have completely forgotten what I want to do. And that was kind of just like how social media behaves in general. It's like a bit chaotic. So I totally agree with just like putting blinders, I'm getting the stuff you need to get done first and maybe like designating the time for scrolling, you know, rather than letting it, Takeover. Along those lines, I talked a little bit about how social media can make me over consume, make me go down these rabbit holes. I finally solved it by just muting certain accounts. If I found that I was becoming too attached to what somebody else was doing. And it's like not a knock on them. These are still people that I admire, their work and everything. I just find that it's a little bit better for my mental health if I choose when I go and take a look at what they're up to, rather than just, you know, being bombarded with. Content at any moment because I can't control what, um, Instagram decides to show me. So I'd rather kind of choose when I go down the rabbit holes, if that makes sense. that really helps me to stay in my lane, like I was saying, and just focus on my own ideas and focus on executing those.

Alane:

Yeah, that's a really great tip to like mute accounts if they aren't serving you. I mean, I've even unfollowed accounts before if they aren't serving me or I notice myself like spiraling into negative thoughts whenever they come up and it's really not, like you said, it's not a knock on them. It's not an insult. Like you just, you have to do what's best for you and put those boundaries in place, whatever that ends up looking like. And nobody's going to take offense. If you're putting your mental health first.

shaochen_2_03-12-2024_112651:

Yeah, and then another reminder is like, we follow way more calligrapher accounts, art accounts, like stationery accounts than the average person does, and we're constantly bombarded by all these things that other people aren't seeing, and that does make it a little bit hard for us to come up with our own ideas,

Alane:

yeah, actually that reminded me of something else. It's like. Diversifying your feed helps too, right? Like, so don't just follow calligraphers, follow other people that inspire you, because that can also just help you see like, what else is possible or what kind of content are they sharing? And like, serve as inspiration for your own business without feeling like it's a direct. I don't know if direct copy is the right word, but, it's just helpful to see what other people are doing, like in other industries, rather than just your own,

shaochen_2_03-12-2024_112651:

Yeah. That's a great point. Our third strategy is more mindset focused and I call this one lean into the discomfort. I love this saying and It reminds me that when things get tough, I've learned that those most uncomfortable moments are actually when I'm on the brink of something really big. So I try to remind myself that when I'm feeling that discomfort and the challenge that it's because I'm growing and I'm stretching and it's probably something that's going to like shift my identity and that's why it feels so uncomfortable and new. So I'm going to give a couple examples of when I've felt this throughout my career, or throughout my business journey. One of them was when I became a people manager. At a past job, it was like a huge learning curve. I had just only ever focused on making sure my own work was done well as an individual contributor. And it was really uncomfortable because now I not only was in charge of making sure that. My work was done well, but also motivating other people to do their work well. And so much more of a soft skills thing than kind of a follow these steps and you'll be successful thing. Like you really have to find your own style as a manager. And that was hugely uncomfortable for me in this business. I would say the biggest leap that. I took, and when I felt the most uncomfortable was when I decided to launch my course, my first course, Pro Wedding Calligrapher, even though I had already mentored 30 calligraphers one on one at that point, I still felt that, um, like the dictionary definition of like, Worried about being exposed as a fraud. I had never created a course before, right. But I did know like, what were the themes that people wanted to learn and what they struggled with? And even all of that evidence that I had and then I knew I still felt. Really nervous. and there was so much that I hadn't done before with creating a course, like how to be an effective educator, how to outline and structure the lessons, how to record myself, what kind of tech to use, like how to price the course. I mean, like so many things that I had to learn. And it was really, really growing and stretching me. And it was literally the first thing that I would think about when I woke up in the last thing. That I thought about when I went to bed, but that obsession kind of became a motivator for me to take action. Like the only way I realized I could resolve my discomfort was if I did something about it. And that's kind of why I love the saying of lean into the discomfort, really let that be something that motivates you to move forward, to take action. So that's exactly what I did. I started doing a lot of research with my audience. You know, I figured out the outline. I launched a pre sale and then 45 people signed up for it during that pre sale. That was far more than I expected. I didn't know what to expect, but I was thinking maybe like 10, right? But I think because I like put in that legwork and I, I really let that discomfort drive me to action, that it led to a really great outcome because I cared about it so much. Talk about a really big moment for pushing through imposter syndrome. It really built my confidence to see that many people believe in me and trust me to help build their businesses. and just like lit the fire to create something that was really great for them because at the time of the presale, I hadn't actually created the course yet. People literally bought just by seeing the outline I put out. There and I was like, Oh my gosh, I need to make this the best course I can possibly create for them. And now there's 170 students in the course. I think the course is coming up on three years old. I still regularly get messages from people saying that they love it and it gave them the roadmap to get their business off the ground. I just feel like I let the imposter syndrome really drive me to do what I wanted to do. It like helped me to make that big leap. So anyway, just a reminder to kind of, like, use that energy towards where you want to go. And also, if you want to learn more about the Pro Wedding Calligrapher course, I will, drop a link in the show notes.

Alane:

yeah, I love that story. And listening to you talk about it also just made me think of this podcast. We don't know what the hell we're doing,

shaochen_2_03-12-2024_112651:

Yes.

Alane:

but we, we wanted to start this podcast. And like, we kept talking about it and we did all the, you know, the research and the work of figuring out the tech and how to edit videos and how to record and how to even just get it onto the streaming platforms. Like even that we had a curve ball thrown at us. Remember we were like, Oh my God, it's going to take two weeks to go into Spotify. Like we didn't know that.

shaochen_2_03-12-2024_112651:

He has a story that our listeners don't know. We were worried we wouldn't be able to launch on our launch date because we discovered that it apparently took up to two weeks to get published as a brand new podcast.

Alane:

Exactly. I definitely had that imposter syndrome of like, who are we to be launching a podcast? There's so many podcasts out there already. Is there room for us? Do we, does even, does anybody even care? Do they want to hear what we have to say? Like all of those things were going on in our minds, but I think that we both kind of have that, like. In touch with our intuition of like the discomfort is actually a good thing because we've experienced it enough and we've learned how to lean into it that we're like, no, we're just going to keep going and we're going to figure it out. And like, thank God we did. Cause honestly, same thing with like your signups for your course, like. We thought that two people were going to listen to this podcast.

shaochen_2_03-12-2024_112651:

Right. Yeah. We

alane_2_03-12-2024_132651:

And we have like,

Alane:

how many downloads our first day? We were like, holy crap, there's more than 10. And it's more than just like my boyfriend, your husband, my parents. It's just, I feel like it's all a good reminder that you're always going to start from a place of not knowing, but also going back to like looking at the evidence when you do feel that discomfort and you are trying to lean into it to remember that like, You're starting with something you're starting with some sort of skill or knowledge or something that you can take into this next phase and That will hopefully help you lean into that discomfort. I also remind myself that like our brains are so smart. They're actually wired to keep us safe, which makes sense, right? Like throughout history and evolution, like we probably wouldn't have made it this far as a species if our brains didn't sense fear and discomfort or danger and say, run in the opposite direction. So like. That's what they're designed to do. But I think that as, I mean, as just individuals, as well as business owners, we need to learn how to differentiate between like real danger and fear. And what I kind of refer to as like good fear, which is fear that's actually pushing you towards something greater. Um, it's actually funny. I had a DM from a calligrapher today on Instagram saying that she. Had just upped her hourly rate. And when she sent like the, that rate to the client the night before, like she had had, you know, the knot in her stomach and that feeling of like, Oh my God, I'm going to be sick. And what if they say no and all of that stuff? and she was like, but they said yes. And like, that's the highest that I've ever booked. And it's like, yes, exactly. That means that you're supposed to grow. You're supposed to push yourself. Like you're. Helping yourself get to that next level by taking those scary things. And like, it's good that your stomach is like in knots while you're sending that. I've had that so many times. Um, and I just believe that that feeling is kind of a sign that, we're not supposed to stay. Stagnant with where we are. Just like you went through this with your course. Like I've personally grappled with this lately with launching my one on one mentorship program. There's been a ton of fear and uncertainty coming up during this time in a multitude of ways, but I'm just trusting that the persistent dream that's been in me, has helped me embark on this journey and it's kind of starting with this podcast and then expanding into the mentorship program.

shaochen_2_03-12-2024_112651:

I'm glad we're sharing this and being like, honest and transparent about the fear that we felt because I think from the outside. You don't necessarily see that, You don't see someone else's imposter syndrome usually, right? Unless they're specifically talking about it. So from the outside, it'd be like, of course, Elena is qualified to launch this mentorship. You know, she's done so many weddings, worked with high end clients. It's a no brainer. And it's like, so funny when somebody else tells you that and gives you that external validation, even though that is absolutely not how you feel at all inside.

Alane:

Yep. Exactly. Well, and this actually kind of brings us to one of our last points, which is, um, it's kind of a two parter. We wanted to talk about affirmations, but we also wanted to talk about writing your own narrative. And I think that that ties in really well because it's kind of along the lines of fake it till you make it. But I do believe in showing up as the person that you actually want to become. And understanding that you have the power to be able to write and to tell your own story and that your self belief actually shapes the way other people perceive you. Like, of course you are in a position where you can educate others on how to build a wedding calligraphy business, even though you are feeling all of that imposter syndrome, sometimes inside with certain things, it's like. There is also a reason why you're not letting it all out into the world, right? Because you're not going to constantly show up telling people like, I don't feel confident in myself, or I'm struggling with this. Like there's, there's also a balance of being real and authentic, but also having the confidence that you need and like outwardly presenting that confidence, right? Like, think about it with proposals. Like if I. Sent somebody a proposal and I was like, well, you know, the price is 3, 000. And I don't really know if I'm actually worth that much or if I can actually charge that much, but I'm hoping that you say yes.

shaochen_2_03-12-2024_112651:

Yeah. Yeah. It's like, well, I've never done this part before, but I'm hoping that you trust I can figure it out. Like, that does go through my mind, but I usually don't tell the client.

Alane:

Exactly. But if you are like, you know what I can do this and this is my pricing and this is why. I charge what I charge, and this is what you're going to get from working with me. And these are, this is the value. These are the services I'm going to be providing. X, Y, and Z. Even though in the back of your mind, you might be like, this is the highest package that I've ever sent out. And I don't know if I'm actually. Worthy of this, like you presenting it with all of that confidence to the client is going to make them go, Oh yeah, she knows what she's talking about. I trust her. This totally seems worth it. That's a no brainer. I'm going to sign and book with her. Getting back to this, like creating your own narrative, quote, unquote, fake it till you make it, which I feel like can be, I don't know. I feel like people have different thoughts on that. But I, for me, it's really just showing up as the person that I want. To become, rather than letting myself be stuck in this story of like, no, that isn't meant for me, or I'm not worthy of that, or I'm not good enough for that or whatever the case may be

shaochen_2_03-12-2024_112651:

Yeah. And maybe we don't like the word, like, fake it. The thought for me is kind of like, have enough confidence in yourself to that. You can figure it out. Like, maybe that's another way you can think about it. is that, yes, maybe I don't have this exact capability at this moment, but I know that I have all these skills that kind of surround that thing that I need to do that. I'm confident that I can execute on something new. And I think we all need that because if we didn't have that, we would never do anything new.

Alane:

exactly.

shaochen_2_03-12-2024_112651:

So along the lines of kind of being able to think like a future you, you know, shaping your own narrative. I also listened to a podcast that gave the advice of making decisions as though you're already where you want to be. And I found this to be so powerful. It's what you're saying, but in a more, it's like a very specific capacity is like make decisions the way that future you would make them. So, like, when I have a fully booked wedding business, for example, is this something that I would be concerned about? Is this where I would be spending my time or my money? And just thinking like The future successful you that you envision yourself to be. Um, and that really helps me to begin feeling like the business owner that I want to become.

Alane:

Yeah. I love that tip so much. And I do that myself as well. Like in my own business, like I try to think about where is it that I want to be. And how would Elaine act like, you know, what is my goal for the next year? Where am I going to be at or the next five years? And how would that version of me make decisions show up in her business, show up in her life, et cetera. Our last point here is to reframe negative thoughts into positive affirmations. So I really like to practice this myself., as an example, it could be like, if you want to start your business and get out of a, Really crappy job that you don't love, but you doubt your worthiness of that dream. I think that a lot of people do tend to like kind of struggle with just not feeling worthy of whatever their big dream and desire is. You could practice like writing down some affirmations, like I deserve a job that I love and that, that I'm excited to wake up to every day. Or, you know, I deserve to be able to use my creative talents to serve people and make money from it, something like that. And then you could just like write them on sticky notes and put them on your bathroom mirrors for a little daily reminders. I did this when I was doing some money mindset work with my business coach. I like wrote down my little money affirmations and was just like. Pasting them all around my desk and my computer so that I like could look at them and see them and just repeat them to myself every day. And that helps too, right? It's kind of like the idea of speaking. Your desires, your dreams into existence and goes back to, you know, what we were just saying with like writing your own story or showing up as the person that you want to become.

shaochen_2_03-12-2024_112651:

Exactly.

Alane:

So those are our four tips for beating imposter syndrome. Two were tactical. The last two are a little more mindset, but we hope that you feel armed and ready to go to battle with imposter syndrome next time it. Peaks it's ugly head up in your life. And then we just want to remind you that it is really easy to compare yourself to others. We both are guilty of doing that as well. And it's especially hard when you are inundated with social media. So whenever imposter syndrome does strike, just remember that everybody is starting from the beginning. Not a single person on the face of this earth is born knowing everything. So instead of letting imposter syndrome take over, Use, you know, whoever it is that you're looking at or aspiring to be like, use their journey as your inspiration rather than as something negative. I also just want to remind you that there is room for everyone at the table. You do have a unique gift to share with the world. You have a unique perspective and skill to offer, and the world does want and need to hear from you.

shaochen_2_03-12-2024_112651:

Yeah, I know for me that imposter syndrome will always, always be around and I also know that that's because I believe in having many chapters in my life and reinventing myself. And I think we all do. We all have many chapters in our lives that are going to stretch us and challenge us. and so. That imposter syndrome is going to ebb and flow I'll kind of climb to a peak where I feel really confident about what I'm doing. And I'm going to try something new and that imposter syndrome is going to creep back up. And so it's really more about knowing how to manage those ebbs and flows when they come along. But truly, if you think about if we did the same thing forever or the same job forever, how boring would that be? Right? Like

Alane:

Our lives would be so boring.

shaochen_2_03-12-2024_112651:

think part of what makes life worth living is just having all these like new experiences. So just a reminder to keep leaning into that discomfort because that means your position for your biggest potential. And with that, we're going to talk to you next time.

Celebrating 2 Months - Thanks for Listening!
What is Imposter Syndrome?
Strategy 1: Look at the Evidence
Strategy 2: Create More Than You Consume
Strategy 3: Lean into the Discomfort
Strategy 4: Write Your Own Narrative
Now, go share your gift with the world!