How to Own Your Success Without Feeling Like a Fraud
You’ve worked hard. You have the degrees, the promotions, the glowing LinkedIn recommendations to show for it. And yet, every time you accomplish something new, that nagging little voice pipes up:
You don’t actually know what you’re doing.
You just got lucky.
Any minute now, people are going to figure out you have no idea what you’re talking about.
Sound familiar? Welcome to imposter syndrome, the psychological phenomenon that convinces highly capable people that they are secretly frauds – just one mistake away from being exposed.
Feeling like an imposter has nothing to do with actual competence. In fact, imposter syndrome tends to strike high achievers the hardest. The more you accomplish, the higher the stakes feel—and the louder that inner critic becomes.
So, if success hasn’t silenced your self-doubt, what will?
Let’s take a fresh look at imposter syndrome, why it persists, and how to finally quiet that inner fraud police so you can own your success with confidence.
What Imposter Syndrome Really Is (and Isn’t)
Imposter syndrome was first coined in the 1970s by psychologists Pauline Clance and Suzanne Imes, who noticed that high-achieving women often attributed their success to luck, timing, or external factors—rather than their own abilities.
But despite what social media might suggest, imposter syndrome isn’t just feeling nervous before a big moment. It’s a deep-seated belief that you don’t truly deserve your achievements—and that sooner or later, people will figure it out.
It can show up in different ways:
- Perfectionism: Believing that anything less than flawless means you’re a fraud.
- Overworking: Thinking you need to prove your worth by constantly doing more.
- Avoidance: Holding back from opportunities because failure would “confirm” you don’t belong.
- Discounting Praise: Dismissing compliments or attributing success to external factors.
Here’s the truth: Imposter syndrome is a feeling, not a fact. And it’s one that thrives in isolation and self-doubt—but shrinks in the face of evidence and action.
How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome (for Real This Time)
If you’ve tried to “logic” your way out of imposter syndrome before and it didn’t work, you’re not alone. The problem isn’t that you lack qualifications—it’s that your brain is stuck in a faulty feedback loop.
Here’s how to disrupt it:
1. Recognize That Imposter Syndrome Thrives in High-Achievers: The fact that you care about your work and hold yourself to high standards? That’s not fraudulence—that’s competence. Imposter syndrome often hits hardest when you’re growing, stretching, or stepping into new territory—which means it’s actually a sign of progress.
2. Start Collecting Receipt: Your brain is wired to remember self-doubt more than success. Combat this by keeping a “Wins File”—a place where you store praise, accomplishments, and reminders of your expertise. When imposter thoughts creep in, revisit the evidence.
3. Reframe Self-Doubt as a Normal Part of Growth: Instead of thinking, I don’t belong here, try: I’m in the process of growing into this role. Instead of, I don’t know enough, try: No one knows everything—learning is part of the job.
4. Speak the Doubt Out Loud: Imposter syndrome thrives in silence. Share your feelings with a trusted friend, mentor, or therapist. You’ll likely hear, Oh yeah, me too, which helps dissolve the illusion that you’re alone in this.
5. Own Your Success (Without Apologizing for It): Next time someone compliments you, resist the urge to deflect or downplay it. Instead of, Oh, it was just luck, try: Thank you—I worked really hard on that.
Imposter Syndrome Won’t Magically Disappear—But You Can Stop Believing It
Imposter syndrome doesn’t go away the moment you hit a certain milestone. It’s not waiting for you to get that next degree, that next promotion, or that next external validation merit badge.
But you can stop letting it dictate how you see yourself.
The next time that little voice tells you you’re not good enough, remind yourself: You didn’t get here by accident. You got here because you earned it. And no, they’re not going to “find out” you’re a fraud—because you’re not one.
Breaking Free
Would you rather measure success by feeling fulfilled and living in line with your own values, instead of external approval? Check out my Growth Roadmap that is can help you chart a course to ditching the perfectionism an overcommitment that comes along with imposter syndrome.
