From Self-Doubt to Self-Assurance: Saying Goodbye to Imposter Syndrome

Imposter syndrome is a feeling that most entrepreneurs likely relate to. I had the honor of collaborating with Bold Journey Magazine awhile back to chat more about it! While rereading, I realized these words still ring so true. I’m resurfacing the article below with the prayer that it can hopefully reassure one of y’all reading this as well! Xx

Hi Annika, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.

This question made me smile because I haven’t overcome it and don’t know that I ever really will!

One of my business mentors always told me that in being an entrepreneur, there will always be aspects of the industry or of your business that you will feel like an imposter in! As entrepreneurs and as individuals, we are always learning, growing, and advancing; sometimes, the growing pains of change are translated into imposter syndrome! This is not inherently a bad thing; rather it is the way you respond that matters.

For example, if this imposter syndrome turns into fear, self-doubt, and lies (such as, “I’m not good enough,” “I don’t know enough,” or “I shouldn’t be doing this”), this feeling has now turned negative. But, if it is used as motivation or encouragement (such as “I may not know everything I want to know, but I am dedicated to learning more,” or “I don’t know the answer to this problem, but I am going to explore possible solutions”), this feeling has now turned into resilience, commitment, and grit.

There are three things about imposter syndrome that I would encourage you with:
1. Do not be afraid to feel the emotions of imposter syndrome! Instead, make a conscious effort to use those feelings for good, to drive and challenge yourself.
2. Don’t shy away from the experiences that may make you feel like a little bit more of an imposter or a fish out of water. The bold, hard experiences are where we grow.
3. Lastly, give yourself grace! You don’t have to have it all figured out!

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

Prickly Pear Coffee Co. exists to combine the truth of the gospel with a passion for coffee, making it a vessel for spreading love and building relationships in Nashville, Tennessee. The focus is on fostering connections with every customer so that each one may feel seen, cherished, and championed. Specifically in the corporate world, Prickly Pear Coffee Co. aims to make a meaningful impact by using coffee as a connection point.

We are solving the lack of community-driven, sustainable coffee experiences in the bustling and diverse market of downtown corporate Nashville. While there are numerous amazing coffee shops and chains in the area, none exist solely to create an experience in corporate offices. We address this problem by infusing our coffee business with a mission to create meaningful connections, networks, and relationships.

The solution we offer lies in our commitment to delivering a sustainable and community-driven coffee experience. Through this experience, the building management team has seen higher numbers in tenant retention, satisfaction, and the overall value of these offices. With carefully sourced, locally roasted, premium-grade coffee beans, we ensure quality and support local producers. Our expertly trained baristas use state-of-the-art equipment to craft each cup precisely and consistently while providing outstanding customer service. This combination of quality beans and skilled preparation guarantees a top-notch coffee experience.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

I could write a whole book on the things that were impactful to my journey, my mistakes, and what I deem essential! But I’ll leave you with these three.

1. The success or failure of your business does not define your worth. Being an entrepreneur can indeed be all-consuming. It’s essential to be able to find space between you as a human and you as an entrepreneur. Not only is this important for work-life balance, but also your mental health! Just because the business is going through a hard season does not mean you need to own that. Establish yourself aside from the venture.

2. Do not be afraid of the word no. This is a classic piece of advice in the business world, and it’s so popular because it is so true! Similar to my first note, a no does not define you, your business, or the trajectory of your business! Don’t be afraid to hear that word.

3. Prioritize whatever it is that fills your cup. Again, it’s crucial to establish that work-life balance, but often this just means that you may “get off” work, and now you have switched to “life,” and it means you’re grocery shopping or catching up on laundry… no. That’s not what they mean when they say “balance”! Find what it is that fills you up. What makes you feel rested, rejuvenated, and inspired to return to work? Prioritize it! Do more of it!

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

I LOVE the book “How I Built This” By Guy Raz! I try to re-read this book once a year, just because I feel like I cannot fully soak up all the goodness in one read!

Coinciding with his podcast, the book tells the stories of entrepreneurs, their background, their mistakes and how they built their amazing companies! This is a great read for everyone, but especially those just starting out, because it helps shed a light on the fact that even the founders and CEOs of Fortune 500 companies have had hardships, delt with imposter syndrome, made mistakes, and still found success!