Moment 43 - The Key To Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

00:02Hey Stephen, hope all as well. So my question is with regards the imposter syndrome, have you any feedback with regards how to deal with that? Have you experienced it yourself, and just how to go about like getting out of that mindset and acknowledging that you are potentially as good at your role as what people think you are, and you're not. Bluffing it or fluking it and so on. Thank you.

00:24So here's the thing, I think we all feel deep within us, the same feeling anytime we're in a position that feels a little bit outside of our comfort zone sometimes that feels like a little bit of nerves in your chest. For example, when I go up on stage and I know there's10,000 people behind the curtain, of course I feel that in my chest, of course I have that tingling, that sensation that they call butterflies. However I don't interpret it as being fear, as being a signal to escape or to avoid the scenario. My interpretation which has grown over time and our interpretations are influenced by our beliefs, the stories we tell ourselves based on the evidence we have, based on our experiences and my evidence, my interpretation tells me that I'm ready, that this feeling is normal and I'm supposed to feel this way. People sometimes, because of their experiences and the evidence that's created and the stories that's made them believe about themselves, will tell themselves that that feeling is fear, that they should run, that they are ill prepared, that that feeling is there because they aren't competent enough to complete this task.

01:23So what I'm saying.

01:24Is we all get the feeling, but the story we tell ourselves is ultimately what creates what some people call imposter syndrome. For me, if you look at my life, I've kept myself one step outside of my zone of comfort for my entire life. Of course, I've never been a dragon on dragon's den. No one in their first year has been. I'm looking to my left and seeing Peter Jones, who's been there for 17 odd years, and Deborah meaden, to my right, who's been there for 15, I am new, however, I'm supposed to spend my life in situations where I am an imposter. That is the sign of growth. If I'm ever spending too long in a room or situation where I don't feel to some degree like an imposter, I am in the wrong room. And if I am to grow and growth is an incredibly important part of being stimulated and motivated and being fulfilled, I have to change rooms for me in my life, I've spent my entire life trying to escape my zone of comfort and keeping myself one foot outside of that zone of comfort. When you do that, what you find is that zone of comfort expands. You take one more step and it expands again. Every person that.

02:24Ever done anything for the first time? Whether it's Ed Sheeran singing to a group of people before, or Barack Obama doing one of his speeches, or usain bolt running in a track, when they first started, they were inexperienced and incapable. So you should expect and welcome that feeling. It's a feeling you're supposed to have.

02:42If you're somebody who wants to spend your entire life growing and progressing and learning, which are all things conducive with fulfillment, you should always feel like an imposter. If you're not, I would assert that maybe, maybe you're playing it too safe. Maybe you aren't challenging yourself enough so for me what people call imposter syndrome isn't evidence that you're in the wrong situation, one that you aren't supposed to be in it's clear proof that you're in the right one, you're exactly where you're supposed to be. I'm I'm supposed to spend my entire life doing things that make me feel somewhat like an imposter. That is the answer to a happy, fulfilling, progressful life where I'm striving forward, I'm trying things I'm challenging.

03:24Challenging myself and I'm pursuing goals that are worthwhile. We should all feel imposter syndrome, so if you're not, then it's time to challenge yourself more.