Conquering Imposter Syndrome: Your 1080-Month Journey

If you were to live to 90, you'd have only 1080 months in your life. By the time you're 30, that is already down to 720. This sobering information helped me refocus on what matters most and overcome imposter syndrome multiple times.

The Monster in the Mirror

For me, the main battle I always had was with myself—beating the imposter syndrome. Every time it creeps on me, I know I have to go back and remind myself of what I have already achieved and push myself forward. Even an inch is a win.

I often wonder what I could have achieved if I were not battling with imposter syndrome most of the time, and I know I am not alone. I often remind myself, every month spent not working towards your real self is a month wasted.

During the years, I tried to find the best strategies and techniques to overcome this, and some proved to be more useful than others. I decided to share them here with you, and it might be useful for you as well.

1. Proactively chip away at insecurities

So you're feeling unworthy at work? You should do something about it, but what? Nothing is stopping you from growing the skills or knowledge that make you feel "out of your depth."

Start by asking yourself, What is it exactly that makes me feel "not good enough" when I do it? Am I held back by lack of ability or lack of belief?

Make a list of 3-5 tasks that usually make you feel not good enough. Then create a daily practice routine working on these skills to help you get out of that mentality. I named my own list "MY Gap Tree". It is a list of skills that I currently lack and need to work on to improve them or learn them from scratch.

The key is not to try to be a different person in a short amount of time. You are not going to become a confident person all of a sudden. It takes time, so give yourself the mental clarity and space to move towards your goal gradually.

2. Embrace Your Identity Crisis

There is not a definitive answer to who the real you is. Even the goals you set are not definitive, and they change as you grow and the world around you changes as well. And your imposter syndrome won't serve you in reaching those goals.

To remind yourself that your identity changes all the time, try out a one-line-A-day journal or habit tracker. You can use your phone notebook, a Notion, or a simple paper notebook. Ask yourself the same question every day: "What's one thing I regretted not doing today?"

3. Celebrate the Small Wins (No, Smaller Than That)

I keep a journal where I write my wins and success of the day, month or any big milestones. This is really handy for me to review when I am down. On tough days, I dig through it like it's a jar of cookies. It's a tangible reminder that I'm not as hopeless as my brain sometimes tries to convince me I am.

4. Find Your Tribe

I started a monthly "Imposters Anonymous" meetup with a few friends who are also first-time founders. We vent, we brainstorm, and we celebrate each other's wins (no matter how small). Sometimes, just knowing you're not alone in feeling like a fraud can be incredibly powerful.

The Ongoing Battle

Every time I push through the discomfort, every time I do something despite feeling like an imposter, it's like I'm reclaiming a little piece of those 720 months I have left.

Look, I'd love to tell you that there's a magic bullet for imposter syndrome. There isn't. Some days, I still feel like I'm fumbling in the dark. But you know what? That's okay.

Now, I'd love to hear from you. What's your go-to move when imposter syndrome comes knocking? Drop a comment below. Let's build a community where we can all feel like imposters together—and maybe, just maybe, realize that we're all a lot more capable than we give ourselves credit for.