Impostor Syndrome Is No Joke

Impostor Syndrome Is No Joke. It can wreck careers and businesses. But how do you know if you have impostor syndrome or if you’re just not good enough? Here’s my story…

The Phases of My Career Through the Lens of Impostor Syndrome

Phase 1: The Student

I was self-learning web design, graphic design, print design, marketing, web development, management, and productivity. It was exhilarating. Acquiring new knowledge and skills energized me, pushing me to learn even more.

Impostor syndrome level: Low

Why? Because I knew I didn’t know enough, so I wasn’t pretending otherwise. I just kept learning.

Phase 2: The Expert

I started applying my skills, working with clients, and creating things for myself. I built hundreds of websites, apps, and visual materials and held various marketing and leadership positions in multiple companies.

Impostor syndrome level: Medium

Why? I knew a lot, but practicing the craft constantly reminded me how much more there was to learn. Still, I had to maintain the appearance of knowing what I was doing.

Phase 3: The Consultant

I began giving presentations, conducting training sessions, and consulting brands. I published 21 online courses on digital marketing, branding, and business. I taught at three different universities and trained over 10,000 students—online and in person.

Impostor syndrome level: High

Why? The more experience and knowledge I gained, the clearer the bigger picture became. And that perspective made me realize how small my expertise was compared to the vast universe of business and marketing. Yet, I couldn’t show any hesitation or uncertainty to my clients and students. Or so I thought.

Phase 4: Back to School

At some point, the weight of the discrepancy between what I thought I should know and what I actually knew became unbearable. I had to step back and double down on learning. That’s when I decided to fade from the public eye and immerse myself in mastering my craft.

Impostor syndrome level: Medium

Why? Accepting that I still had much to learn gave me peace and focus.

Phase 5: Sharing Is Caring

But one thing kept gnawing at me. I had to share. Keeping my knowledge to myself felt like a waste. Teaching others had fulfilled that need before, but now impostor syndrome was creeping in again. It was torture.

It took me a long time, but eventually, I wrapped my mind around a new concept: sharing.

I didn’t have to “teach” people, tell them what to do, or prove that I knew more than them. I could simply share what I knew. If they found it relevant, they could learn and grow from it. If they didn’t, they could just move on.

That was it.

The Impostor Syndrome-Free Life

Here’s how does it look like for me:

1. I continuously learn and practice.
2. I structure and organize my knowledge—it’s one of my superpowers.
3. I share what I’ve learned. No teaching, no advising—just sharing and showing.
4. I always clarify the source of my knowledge—experience, research, brainstorming, discussion, or just my personal opinion.

This is how I keep impostor syndrome at bay, stay true to myself, and ensure that whatever I share is based on my knowledge, skills, and experience. I am 100% transparent with my audience. No gimmicks, no catchy buzzwords, no manipulation.

Disclaimer

Okay, maybe I use some copywriting hooks to grab your attention and cut through the noise. But once you click, the content is of the highest possible quality and value—and it always overdeliver. That’s a fact and a promise for the future content.

—

How’s your impostor syndrome doing? Do you have it? How do you manage it?