From Doubt to Dominance: How to Crush Imposter Syndrome and Own Your Pivot

Presenting in MGT 101

I was checking in with an entrepreneur recently, and she admitted things weren’t going great. Well, they were going okay. She was making progress on identifying her target audience and had solid ideas for marketing, but imposter syndrome was hitting hard. I could feel her struggle—because I’ve been there.

Every time I pivot, I get that knot in my stomach: Should I be doing this? Am I qualified? It’s wild how even after years of experience, those doubts can creep in. I went from owning a coworking space and running an accelerator to getting my real estate license and building a whole new network. Hearing her words brought back memories of so many pivots, including the time I was going through a divorce and went from running two restaurants and managing investment real estate to doing a complete pivot and becoming the Program Manager for Scratchpad Accelerator.

In that moment, I took a deep breath. I wanted to let her words linger, to really feel what she was feeling before responding. I said, Been there and felt that! Now that we’ve identified it, let’s work on letting it go. It’s okay to be in a time of transition, to face unknowns—it doesn’t make you any less of an expert. You know you’re a rockstar; we’re just changing how the world learns that.

I look up to my son for this. He’s lectured in my college classes and given presentations to professional groups, sharing his impact and story with confidence. It’s never a question for him if he should be up there or if he’ll connect with the audience—he just does it. He channels that carefree attitude that we somehow lose as we grow up. Watching him reminds me that we don’t need all the answers; we just need the courage to show up and share.

It reminded me of a quote from Be Seen by Jen Gottlieb. She writes in bold, “Stop Waiting To Be ‘Original.’” She shares a story about Steve Jobs, who built on the foundations others had laid before him. It’s a humble reminder to stop overthinking. You don’t need to reinvent the wheel to make a difference—you just need to start.

If you’re struggling with your next steps in business, reach out. I’d love to help you see the road more clearly.