Let me address something I heard constantly while training pitch contestants in Washington DC last week. Imposter Syndrome is real and it is debilitating our business growth. Incredibly, the number of occurrences of this phenomenon has increased 225% to 70% amongst business owners. Up from 24% in 2018. In fact, contrary to popular belief, this isn’t just a female problem – men actually rate higher on the most intense impostor syndrome symptoms at 11% versus women at 8%. Discovered by psychologists Dr. Pauline Clance and Suzanne Ims in 1978, Imposter Syndrome is the feeling of inadequacy tied to your success. It’s believing you’ll be “found out” and that any success was just luck that you can’t repeat. The statistics are staggering: 23% of entrepreneurs worry others will discover their knowledge gaps, 22% attribute success to luck, 61% feel others are more intelligent, and 64% discount the importance of their achievements.

My Personal Battle and Investment in Solutions

After spending 20 years as a corporate buyer for giants like Pepsi and Pizza Hut before founding The Repositioning Expert, I’ve felt this repeatedly. I’ve invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in coaches because I realized Impostor Syndrome was a massive impediment to business growth. The core impostor thoughts are: “Do I deserve this?” “Can I repeat this?” “Is this just luck?” “Will I be found out?” and “Am I less intelligent than others?” These thoughts don’t just affect competitions or presentations – they show up daily in my clients’ businesses, stopping them from pursuing opportunities, doing outreach, and increasing visibility.

The Three-Pronged Solution Strategy

First, keep achievement logs – journals where you challenge feelings with facts. When impostor thoughts arise, ask “Is this really true? Have I actually repeated success before?” Document every win, big and small, in your business and life. Second, invest in mindset and self-talk work. Notice defeating thoughts as they occur, gently challenge them by asking “Is this really true?” then forgive yourself for having the thought. I’ve spent significant money learning transcendental meditation, which literally numbs my prefrontal cortex and calms my nervous system, helping me rewire my brain’s response patterns.

When to Seek Professional Help

Third, build your support network through peer groups, advisory boards, and coaches – I’ve always maintained all three. However, if your Impostor Syndrome is so severe that it’s stopping your business growth, visibility, or sales outreach, then consider therapy beyond coaching. While obtaining my professional coaching certification, we learned the distinction: if your blocks stem from past trauma (childhood experiences that have “locked into your body” as described in the book “The Body Keeps the Score”), therapy becomes essential. When Impostor Syndrome creates a business plateau or worse, causes business failure, professional therapeutic intervention is crucial.

The Daily Reality for Entrepreneurs

Remember, Impostor Syndrome isn’t confined to pitch contests or stages – it’s an everyday reality for entrepreneurs. Those pitch contestants I trained were incredibly brave, memorizing timed presentations under intense pressure. But the truth is, we all face these internal battles daily. The key is recognizing that these thoughts aren’t facts, they’re patterns that can be interrupted and rewired. Through achievement logging, mindset work, meditation, and professional support, you can move past these limiting beliefs that are keeping you from the business growth and success you deserve.

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