You’re Not a Fraud. You’re a Business Owner.
Let’s be honest — imposter syndrome isn’t just something that shows up in your first year of business and then disappears. It tends to follow us through different seasons, especially when we’re stretching into something new. A launch. A pivot. A price increase. A video where you show your face.
You can be incredibly smart, passionate, and experienced — and still feel like you don’t know what you’re doing. You can be the one others look up to — and still worry they’ll “find out” you’re not as confident as you seem.
Imposter syndrome doesn’t care how qualified you are. It doesn’t care how many clients you’ve helped or how much impact you’ve made. And that’s exactly why it’s so frustrating. Because the more you care — the more it creeps in.
I know, because I feel it too. I’ve been in marketing for over 15 years. I’ve built businesses, worked with hundreds of clients, and now I’m building Navia — a tool designed to help others market themselves with confidence. And still — there are moments I sit at my laptop, stare at the blinking cursor, and think…
What if this doesn’t work? What if people think I don’t know what I’m doing?
Even writing this blog post, there’s that tiny voice in the back of my mind wondering — who am I to talk about this?
That’s imposter syndrome talking. And I'm learning how to not to let it call the shots.
What Even Is Imposter Syndrome?
Imposter syndrome is that sneaky voice that pops up just as you’re about to share your work or ideas with the world. It questions your worth, your expertise, your right to take up space.
It sounds like:
- I’m not ready
- I don’t know enough
- Everyone else is doing it better
- Why would anyone listen to me?
- I just got lucky
It’s funny — when I started building Navia, I assumed that once we had the tech, the brand, the plan… that confidence would just click into place. But with each milestone, that voice would quietly show up again — especially in public moments. Posting about Navia for the first time. Pitching to potential partners. Getting feedback on a feature I’d worked on for months.
That little whisper that says — you’re not doing enough — or worse, you’re not enough.
The more I lean into the opposite of what those thoughts are telling me, the more I learn that those whispers aren’t truth. They’re fear dressed up as protection. They show up when we’re doing something that matters.
Why Marketing Triggers Imposter Syndrome — Big Time
Marketing is deeply personal. Even if you're not posting selfies or sharing your life story, you’re still putting your ideas, your voice, your offers out into the world — hoping they’ll be seen, understood, valued. That’s vulnerable. And vulnerability can feel risky.
Especially when it’s your business. Your name. Your face.
I’ve literally rewritten Instagram captions a dozen times because I didn’t think they sounded “smart enough.” I’ve hesitated to share personal wins because I didn’t want to come off like I was bragging. And I’ve definitely delayed promoting things I believe in because I was worried it would seem too “salesy.”
And I know I’m not the only one. This comes up in nearly every conversation I have with business owners.
Here’s the Truth
You don’t need to be the most polished, experienced, or articulate person in the room to build trust. You just need to be you.
Your voice matters — even if it sounds different than everyone else’s.
Your story matters — even if it feels ordinary to you.
Your business matters — even if you’re still figuring things out.
People don’t buy from perfect brands. They buy from people they connect with. And connection comes from honesty, clarity, and consistency — not flawlessness.
I’ve seen this time and time again. The moments I’ve shown up imperfectly — a rough-draft story, a vulnerable share, a casual behind-the-scenes — those are the moments people respond to most. Not because it was polished. But because it was real.
5 Ways I’ve Learned to Move Through Imposter Syndrome
You don’t have to wait for the self-doubt to vanish. You just need to keep going — with tools, habits, and small mindset shifts that bring you back to who you are.
1. Say it out loud
Now when that voice shows up, I name it. “Okay — that’s imposter syndrome talking.” It sounds silly, but naming it takes away some of its power. It reminds me that the thought isn’t me — it’s just something I’m feeling in the moment.
2. Collect your own evidence
I have a folder on my desktop — literally called “my sunshine folder” — where I save screenshots of kind messages, successful launches, happy client emails, even DMs that say “thank you.” On the hard days, I go there. It’s a reminder that factually shows I’m not making this all up — I’ve done good work and I’ll keep doing it.
Here are some of my other favorite habits I swear by to run my business without burning out.
3. Let clarity win over perfection
This is a lesson I keep learning. Your marketing doesn’t need to be profound. It just needs to be clear. Say what you do. Say who it’s for. Say how it helps. That’s it. Perfection is a trap — and clarity is what connects.
4. Talk to someone you trust
This might be the most powerful one. Don’t keep imposter syndrome to yourself. Talk to a friend, your partner, a fellow founder. Every time I open up about what I’m feeling, I hear “me too” — and that alone makes me feel lighter.
5. Use tools that make it easier to show up
Navia exists because I needed it. I wanted something that could meet business owners where they are — tired, unsure, overwhelmed — and say “Here’s what to do. I’ll help you do it.” Marketing gets so much easier when you’re not doing it all alone. When someone (or something) can hold the strategy, help you write the content, and guide you through it step by step.
You’re Allowed to Take Up Space
You are allowed to take up space. To share your ideas. To tell your story. To build a brand — even before you feel 100% confident.
If you’re waiting for the day imposter syndrome disappears, you’ll be waiting forever. But if you’re willing to keep showing up with it — that’s where the real magic happens.
Your voice belongs here.
Your work belongs here.
You belong here.
And the people who need you? They’re not looking for perfect.
They’re looking for someone real — someone just like you.
