My Imposter Syndrome Theory for Creative Entrepreneurs (Inspired by Mario)

I’ve got an armchair theory…

It’s about this thing everyone calls “Impostor Syndrome.” You know, that sneaky feeling that makes you doubt yourself right when you’re about to do something new.

I’ve seen it a lot with the entrepreneurs I mentored over the years. Heck, I’ve battled with it myself at times!

First off, “Impostor Syndrome” isn’t some official medical diagnosis. It’s more like a mix of fear, doubt, and stress—all those delightful little feelings that show up when you’re pushing your limits.

Just last week, in a call inside my Create Your Purpose® Collective, we had a great chat about this. Members shared their recent imposter-like moments, related to:

• 💰 Money: One member shared about her anxiety after sending a proposal with a higher rate than she had ever charged before.
• 🏡 Stability: Another member shared recurring doubts that make her question her decisions & think of getting “a real job.”
• 🏆 Validation: A woman celebrated winning an award, but opened up that her initial thought was that the judges took pity on her.
• 📱 Perception: Another shared worries about what her friends and family would think of her promoting her business on social media.

Listening to their stories, I had a lightbulb moment and my armchair theory became clearer, so I shared it:

“What if the real ‘impostor’ is just an old version of yourself showing up for challenges it hasn’t faced yet in an attempt to keep you safe?”

The irony of it all is this:

Once you show up brave & afraid and do the scary thing anyway, you begin to step into a NEW version of yourself.

Over time, the more you face those challenges, the more that nagging voice saying “I can’t do this” gets quieter.

A few months go by, and you’re taken aback when you suddenly realize that the voice and those fears and those doubts that once felt so real and so overwhelming are poof! 💨 GONE.

On our call, we joked that this is typically called “leveling up” in the business space, but since that term reminded us of MLM-like pyramids, we decided to rebrand it:

Think of this phase like you’re Mario in a Nintendo game collecting Power Stars…

Every time you grab one, you unlock new worlds and level up your abilities. Sometimes you even gain temporary invincibility and combat your enemies (fear! doubt! shame!) like the fiesty Italian plumber-turned-hero you are.

When you look at Impostor Syndrome in this way, it becomes a more positive process of growth, of gaining new skills and confidence in your business rather than something that will drag you down forever.

It’s a moment you’re experiencing. Not your identity.

By the end of our call, everyone felt energized. We felt less alone. Our feelings were normalized. We even shared tips, like posting visual “receipts” of our successes near our desks, to keep each other motivated.

These kinds of candid, vulnerable conversations are game-changers. Being part of a community means you’re not alone in your struggles.

Sure, getting accountability to cross things off your to-do list is also essential, but it’s these deep, honest exchanges that truly have the power to transform how you relate to our businesses.

It’s so easy get so caught up in the day-to-day grind that you forget to process your feelings and doubts within your business. But when you have a group of people who get it—who’ve been there and can offer real insights and support—you move forward so much faster.

Plus, I don’t know about you, but verbal processing about my business with other entrepreneurs ALWAYS makes me feel as if I just had my favorite froyo on a beautiful spring day.

It’s like having a team of Marios, all collecting Power Stars and reaching the next level, together 🌟🌟🌟

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We accept new members into our community a couple of times a year, so if getting this kind of support feels like something that will help you in the next “level” of your business, get your name on the waitlist now.