Oh friends, what a treat we have today! My best friend in business, the amazing Michelle Gifford is on the podcast today. We decided to take some of our best conversations to our podcasts. You can listen to our episode over on Michelle’s podcast HERE from last month. We talked all about getting started with your business. And this month we’re addressing something that holds WAY too many entrepreneurs back… Imposter Syndrome. Ever struggled with it? We’re giving you some amazing tools to help you overcome it!
Knock-Knock, Imposter Syndrome is here!
Interestingly enough, Michelle’s imposter syndrome happens AFTER she has succeeded at something. For many of us it’s a total game of freeze tag where we don’t even dare make the first move in our new endeavor, but Michelle shares how it was actually after she had massive success selling on Etsy (her first online job) that she experienced the ugly monster of imposter syndrome. Let’s break down WHY that is. She started out without any expectation and selling was just fun. “Let’s see if this works!” And then… as do all things we place low expectations on… it totally worked. Without the pressure of anyone watching her, the sales were effortless and fun. But then…oh but THEN it was time to tell others what she had done…and BOOM. Imposter Syndrome arrived rearing its ugly head. Now that she needed to identify as an Etsy Seller and not just someone who tried out selling on Etsy, the lies and limiting beliefs set in.
Michelle’s advice to combat that case of Imposter Syndrome? Own your success SOONER. Claim your space and just OWN it.
How to Claim Your Success
Michelle refers to the people who may say they have 20,000 followers and then upon closely looking you see it’s a collective number of their followers on all social platforms+their email subscribers. While we don’t encourage being deceitful in any way, focus on what you DO have going for you and take the credit! If you wait for certain numbers or achievements, it’ll never be enough. Celebrate your success NOW and it’ll be easier to overcome imposter syndrome down the road.
What about the HATERS?
Spoiler alert, they’re going to exist. People will call you out (or try to) for the success you try to claim. They’ll do whatever they can to pick apart those achievements you have worked so hard to take ownership for. They’ll find ways to discredit you and keep you small. Best advice from Michelle as I asked for her honest and true friend/business coaching… “Well, first of all, let’s not give people who hate us more power than people who love us.” Wise words indeed. Why DO we give more credence to the haters than the lovers? If you work to prove people wrong you’ll never be right. You’ll always be proving something to someone.
Change the STORY
Michelle tells a story of how the limiting stories about her piano playing skills kept coming in as she was growing up. Now, years later as a grown adult as she started playing piano again, she recognized some of those thoughts coming in AGAIN. Only this time she knew how to talk BACK to the thoughts and take ownership for her talent! She started focusing on all the things she would be able to do with her skill for the piano and reframed the stories of “I’m not good enough” with all the endless possibilities her practice would bring. She brought it full circle comparing this journey to business and how much wisdom is required to stifle the lies, to create a new story that resonates in truth, and not our fears.
FIND THE FEAR
In order to rewrite the story and turn your fear into action, you must first identify the fear. If you don’t establish what it is that is REALLY freaking you out about moving forward, you can’t flip the script. Are you afraid of not making money? Afraid of feeling embarrassed when you go live for the first time? Afraid nobody will even WATCH your live video? Identify what the story is and then replace it with something positive. Michelle gives some great examples in the podcast of how she does this!
There are SO many golden gems in this episode, you need to listen in to find them all!
Want to connect more with my bestie Michelle? Listen to her podcast The Michelle Gifford Podcast or follow her HERE on Instagram!! Want some help turning your content into money? Check out Michelle’s Money Maker’s group!
Looking to master your mind and overcome imposter syndrome? Check out the Manifesting Marvelous 5 Day Challenge HERE!
