From Potatoes to Proficiency: Battling Impostor Syndrome by Owning Your Growth
If you’ve ever woken up and thought, Wow, today’s the day they figure out I’m just winging it, you’re not alone. Whether it’s in your career, a new relationship, or meeting someone else’s parents for the first time (did I really say I’ve never had a better tuna casserole?), impostor syndrome creeps into the most mundane and magical moments. I’ve been there—plenty of times. And let me assure you, there’s a path forward that doesn’t involve throwing in the towel or signing up for nightly karaoke as exposure therapy. Though, you could. That might actually make for a good story…
Dialing Down the Doubt: That Awkward Beginning
Let’s take a trip back to young Leslie, fresh out of Boise State, clutching her journalism degree like it was a winning lottery ticket. My first beat at the Idaho Statesman was covering local tech start-ups. My editor wanted someone "young and plugged in." Meanwhile, I was still warily typing “www” into the browser every time I Googled something. Tech? I didn’t even know all the functions on my flip phone. (Yes, I had a flip phone. It was 2008; give me some grace.)
Every interview felt like an improv audition, and every piece I turned in came with a heavy dose of existential dread. It wasn’t long before the self-doubt turned into a tiny, relentless voice in my head: Who do you think you are? Looking back, that voice was louder than my actual ambition, louder than my curiosity about telling stories that mattered. It was loud enough to keep me up at night but not strong enough to stop me entirely—because deep down, I knew I was cut out for this. I just didn’t know how to prove it to myself yet.
Sound familiar? Like trying to figure out if you’re “cool enough” to sit at the metaphorical table with someone you’re crushing on or wondering if you’re “interesting enough” on a third date? That’s the thing about self-doubt—it doesn't discriminate. It shows up everywhere and anywhere, waiting for you to crack under its pressure.
The “Fake It Until…” Trap
We’ve all heard the advice: fake it ‘til you make it. On the surface, it sounds empowering, even kind of fun. But for someone swimming in impostor syndrome, “faking it” feels less like a motivational mantra and more like buying a scratch-off ticket with your rent money.
Faking it can get you through the door, sure—but then comes the paralyzing question of what happens when someone figures out you don’t have it all together. This hit me hard during one particularly brutal mid-winter interview with a local entrepreneur. He asked a detailed question about venture capital I couldn’t even begin to answer. I mumbled something vague, eyes darting to the clock like it might save me.
Instead of spiraling into imposter-y despair, I took a new tack. I admitted it—something like, “Honestly, I’m still learning the ins and outs of this side of things. But here’s how I’ve approached it so far...” Miraculously, he didn’t laugh in my face or ask to see my credentials. In fact, he appreciated my honesty and started walking me through the basics.
Lesson learned? Vulnerability isn’t the same as cluelessness. Being upfront isn’t admitting defeat; it’s showing that you’re willing to learn. Sometimes, you don’t “fake it.” You fumble it, but you keep on fumbling until one day, without realizing it, you’re no longer faking at all.
Stop Comparing their “Highlight Reel” to Your “Behind the Scenes”
You know what fuels impostor syndrome faster than anything? Comparison. In my early twenties, I moved to Chicago for a fellowship stint, landed somewhere between awe and mild terror on the regular. Everyone around me seemed like they had their lives, outfits, and deadlines together. Booth after booth of polished, impossibly impressive writers at networking events left me wondering why I thought my homegrown Idaho experience measured up.
Social media (then in its infancy) didn't help, with its endless scroll of curated wins and sparkling résumés. I’d sit in my borrowed office and think: Do these people ever stress-cram a frozen waffle into their mouth on their way out the door like me? Never mind that most of those curated wins were just that: highlights, not an unfiltered view of their reality.
The truth is—and this sounds cliché because it is—that most people are fighting their own battles. That person who seems like they exude confidence? Probably triple-checking every word of their emails. That couple you think has it all figured out? Maybe they spent the last hour debating Trader Joe’s snacks for their road trip. Nobody has it all together. (Okay, maybe Beyoncé. Beyoncé has it together.)
Instead of spinning yourself into a doom cycle of comparisons, try a trick I picked up from my debate team days: focus on your own evidence. Look at your progress. Write down the steps you’ve already taken toward your goals and the little wins that got you here. Document these moments, big and small, so you can pull them out the next time impostor syndrome is knocking at the door.
The Power of Showing Up (Even Awkwardly)
Do you know how I finally stopped worrying about feeling like I didn’t belong at a table? By pulling up a chair and refusing to leave. It’s exactly like learning to dance at a middle school mixer: you can’t wait around for someone to ask you to two-step into confidence. Sometimes, you just step on some toes until the music starts to make sense.
Professional success and confident relationships follow the same principle: keep showing up. You doubt your ability to impress on date nights or bond during meet-the-friends situations? Keep showing up. Trust seems foreign or unnatural after past heartbreak? Again: keep showing up. Repeat often enough, and guess what? You won’t just feel like an expert in your field, your love life, or your own self-worth—you’ll be one in your own unique way.
Opposite all expectations, the repetition breeds confidence instead of a constant reminder of your perceived failings. Nobody actually has a blueprint for being the perfect professional—or the perfect partner. But by staying in the moment, leaning into discomfort, and actively engaging, you learn more than you think.
Finding Your Rhythm
Do I still occasionally fall into moments of self-doubt? Absolutely. (Ask me how many times I’ve reread this article while debating if it’s even good.) But experience, both lived and observed, has taught me that the key to handling impostor syndrome isn’t in eradicating it—it’s in recognizing it for what it is: an annoying but temporary visitor.
When you feel like an outsider in your own life, remember: the you from yesterday wasn’t an impostor, and neither is the you dreaming of tomorrow. Confidence isn’t about arriving—it’s a journey. One fumbled moment, one vulnerable admission, one stubbornly-won success at a time.
So, believe in your potato-farming grandparents’ grit (or your own equivalent) and get out there. You’ve got this. And if all else fails, there’s always karaoke.
