The Impostor Syndrome

Did you know that 8 out of 10 of my clients regularly admit they experience impostor syndrome?

This phenomenon is not only about occasionally doubting yourself. For many talented professionals, it can become a recurring struggle that affects the way they make decisions, present themselves, and move forward.

I’ve experienced it myself, in different moments of my life and career.

Today, I want to explore this strange feeling with you, share some of my own experiences, and talk about what I’ve learned from it.

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With Love From G #20

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1. What Is Impostor Syndrome?

2. My Personal Experience

3. Strategies to Overcome It

4. WLFG Behind the Scenes

5. Hey, Try This

6. Key Takeaways

7. Hall of Fame

For me, impostor syndrome is strongly connected to the way we perceive our own value.

You can have the experience. You can have the training. You can be surrounded by respected people. And still feel that you are not good enough.

I first experienced this as a dancer.

I was trained by a four-time world champion and was part of respected ecosystems, but I still thought I wasn’t worth it and wasn’t good enough. I had a serious lack of confidence, and that lack of confidence blocked me from shining in battles and other situations.

Later, I experienced something similar in business.

When I was trying to raise money as a startup founder, I found myself comparing myself to others.

And comparison can quickly make you question your own value.

You look at someone else’s journey, their achievements, their results, and suddenly your own journey doesn’t seem like enough.

I think this is part of what makes impostor syndrome so difficult. The external reality can tell you that you belong, while internally, you are still questioning whether you deserve to be there.

One of the strongest moments happened when my group finished on the podium of Hip Hop International France.

We had the opportunity to represent France in the United States for the world finals.

It was a big achievement, but I remember that most of my friends didn’t believe in me.

Part of me thought, “Okay, maybe I should show how serious, good, or important I am in the Hip Hop dance game.”

Looking back, I understand that I was still trying to prove my value through an external result.

Another moment happened when I was invited onto Mouv’, the number one national Hip Hop radio station in France, to promote my book and my work as an entrepreneur.

I felt terrible.

Why? Because I wasn’t selling millions of copies.

The welcome I received felt like that of an intern speaking just to balance an empty programme.

Once again, I was measuring myself through external validation and direct results.

But I have learned that I should not base my value on other people’s opinions. I should not base my value on direct results, and I shouldn’t compare my results to those of other people.

I have my own clock for my Personal Legend.

That has become an important lesson for me.

My relationship with impostor syndrome has changed over the years. When limiting beliefs and thoughts appear, I can identify them and delete them.

It took me years of training and practice to be able to do that.