Imposter Syndrome

I have a big call for my business tomorrow and I almost didn't prep for it.

Not because I'm lazy and not because I don't care. But because my brain kept asking, "Who are you to do this?"

I have 20+ years of engineering experience. I've built systems, led teams, mentored engineers, and helped people land roles they didn't think they could get. And still, I caught myself freezing at my desk, finding reasons to do anything other than the thing I'm fully capable of doing.

The thought that kept coming back was some version of "you're just figuring this out as you go and pretending you have answers." Which is funny because figuring things out as you go is literally the job description of every engineer I've ever worked with.

So here's what actually helped me move forward. I stopped trying to win the argument with the voice in my head and just asked myself a smaller question: "What's the next 15 minutes of work I can do?" Not "am I qualified." Not "what if it doesn't go well." Just, what's the next small thing.

Turns out when you stop fighting the doubt and just work next to it, it gets quieter on its own.

The prep is done, the call is tomorrow, and I'm showing up.

When's the last time you almost talked yourself out of something you were fully capable of doing?

#BuildInPublic #LearnWithOJ #SoftwareEngineering #CareerGrowth #ImposterSyndrome