Is Imposter Syndrome Sabotaging Your Business?
Words are powerful, and the words you feed yourself can nourish your success, or they can starve it.
It takes courage and creativity to start your own business.
It is an adventure based on faith in what you do and the belief that what you provide will benefit others and our world. To embark on this adventure alone, as a solopreneur, can feel even more daunting. As a web designer and business coach, I have worked with many solopreneurs and small businesses, and I have tremendous respect and admiration for them.
Over the last few years, I have worked closely with women solopreneurs and noticed a disturbing trend—so much so that I felt I had to write about it. It seems there is a shared language among women who have ventured out to start their own businesses—and I want to encourage them to stop it!
What I have noticed is women, and yes, it is mainly women, say at least one of these phrases, usually many times until it starts to sound like a mantra.
"I have this little business," "It's just this little business thing," or "It's not really a business."
Referring to your business as "a little business," "not a real business," or "just this side thing" is sending a strong message to yourself and the world, and I don't think it serves you. This kind of language devalues the legitimacy of your work. It suggests you do not take it seriously—and if you don't take it seriously, my friend, no one else will. Most businesses start small, but there are often big visions behind them. I encourage my clients to change their language to "I am building my business" or "I have a business."
Words are powerful, and the words you feed yourself can nourish your success, or they can starve it and keep it small. You have an exciting new business and the smarts, sass, and dedication to make it happen. Own it.
Today, Women are responsible for one of the fastest-growing sectors of the entrepreneurial world.
Fueled by the economic upheaval caused by COVID-19, many women decided to launch new businesses, most of them online. In 2023, it was estimated that 14 million women-owned businesses make up 39.1 percent of all U.S. businesses, a 13.6 percent increase from 2019. (2023 Impact of Women-Owned Business Report)
However, even as women become more influential in the marketplace, many are plagued by imposter syndrome.
Studies and articles have been written about this phenomenon, but seeing it in action with my clients was eye-opening. Imposter syndrome typically occurs when we decide to take on new roles or responsibilities, and it can result in feelings of self-doubt, anxiety, and guilt. Those who experience imposter syndrome often sabotage their own success, obsessing over minor mistakes or working twice as hard to prove themselves.
Imposter syndrome in business is not limited to women, but women tend to experience it more than men.
In fact, 75% of women executives interviewed said they had experienced imposter syndrome at one time (Forbes). One of my clients shared that when she first considered starting a business, a voice in her head kept saying, "You are being ridiculous; you are not the entrepreneur type. You don’t know what you are doing." And she is not alone. Many very successful women have heard that same voice.
“I still have a little imposter syndrome… It doesn’t go away, that feeling that you shouldn’t take me that seriously. What do I know? I share that with you because we all have doubts in our abilities, about our power and what that power is.”
—Michelle Obama
Luckily, my client did not listen to that voice and she is now running a successful business. She came to realize that there is no one type of entrepreneur or one "right" way to run a business.
Every business is different.
They have different goals, different audiences, and different paths, and each one requires different strengths. Build a business that represents you and your skill set, not one that tries to conform to what a business "should be." One of the best pieces of advice I received from a mentor was to do an audit of my strengths and lead with those strengths. In areas where you might not feel as strong, that is where you seek out support.
I encourage my clients to gather a support team, including a good accountant, lawyer, mentor, and marketer. It is an investment in the future of your business, so you don't make mistakes, and you set it up right—with the mindset that you are in this for the long run.
Investing in technology and tools can boost efficiency in running your business and help you avoid burnout. It can lead to cost savings, improved productivity, and better customer service. Making strategic investments in branding and marketing can enhance your business's professional image and give you a competitive edge, build engagement, and drive loyalty.
When you venture into something new and put yourself out there, there will be self-doubt and many things you don't know. But there are many things you do know.
And you will learn as you go. And yes, you will make mistakes, and that is okay. I have made many, but that is how we learn. If you are passionate about your work, smart, capable, and have support—chances are you have what you need. So, be honest with yourself and ask, do I really need one more workshop before I start my business, or am I avoiding starting my business because I am scared? Then ask, what are you afraid of? Failure? Yes, most of us running our own business worry about that. But I suggest we turn that around and think, what if I am wildly successful? What if I change lives with what I bring into the world? What if I create a job I love, one that feeds my creativity and expresses my values? How great is that, and isn't that worth being a little uncomfortable and bumbling around a bit?
As I said, starting your own business takes courage—a mountain of it. Step into your warrior, your best self, and take the risk—bring all your skills, creativity, love, and passion to the table. The world needs you, and you are enough.