063: Confidence Won't Fix Your Imposter Syndrome

MarlenaKelley.com Today, I'm diving deep into imposter syndrome, particularly for us Gen X entrepreneurs. Here's what I need you to understand: confidence alone won't fix feelings of fraudulence. Let me tell you why.

I start with a question that might hit close to home: Do you ever feel like a fraud? Like someone's going to find out you don't really know what you're doing? If so, we need to talk. Because the real issue isn't a lack of confidence, it's unworthiness. That liar called unworthiness is at the core of imposter syndrome.

Here's the distinction I want you to grasp: Self-confidence is about believing you CAN do something. It's the courage to act—to launch your business, to speak on stage, to show up on video. But imposter syndrome? That's about believing you're UNWORTHY of having done the thing, of receiving the praise that follows. You can be confident enough to take bold action and still feel like a complete fraud when people celebrate your success. You're not lacking courage, my friend. You're battling the lie that you don't deserve the success that follows.

I share my personal story of returning to business after seven years, after my diabetic ketoacidosis crisis, after rebuilding my health from the ground up. Despite filling my skill gaps by learning AI and automation, despite knowing I could do the work, I felt completely unworthy of the attention, the second chance, the opportunity. I had the courage to show up and work, but I couldn't shake that feeling in my stomach that I didn't deserve what came after.

Then it hit me one day: I was doing what I tell others not to do. I was being nosy. I was comparing myself to everyone who didn't have to take a seven-year break, everyone who didn't have a health crisis, everyone who stayed consistent. And every single comparison fed the feeling of not being good enough. I was believing lies that said, "You should have known better. You shouldn't have needed that much time off. You should have been stronger, smarter."

But here's what shifted everything for me: I had to separate fact from fiction. Truth versus lies. The facts were: I survived a life-threatening crisis. I rebuilt my health when doctors said I'd be on insulin forever. I came back to business in a completely different landscape and learned new skills to stay relevant. I didn't quit. I didn't give up. I came back. That's the truth, and I simply had to choose to believe it. PERIOD.

In this episode, I walk you through practical strategies to combat these negative narratives. First, I teach you to consistently document factual evidence of your accomplishments and skills, effectively challenging the fiction of unworthiness. By reinforcing positive truths, you can begin to reshape your internal dialogue. Second, I show you how to disengage from comparison with others, particularly those who seem to be on a different path. I advocate for self-awareness and the conscious redirection of focus back to your unique journey.

I encourage you to practice grace and kindness toward yourself during this process of breaking up with unworthiness. I introduce my "Dear Entrepreneur Journal," which serves as a structured tool to aid in this introspective journey, providing frameworks and prompts that reinforce your personal success. By consistently documenting your achievements, you create a tangible record that confirms your value.

As we close, I want you to know this: Your worthiness isn't up for debate. It's settled. The question isn't "Am I enough?" The question is "Will I stop thinking like an imposter and start owning what I've actually accomplished?" That's when everything changes. That's when you stop testing yourself and start trusting yourself. That's when profit follows purpose and perseverance.

I believe in you because you are worthy, you are deserving, and you are enough. Now go do what only you can do, my friend.

Go to MarlenaKelley.com and Grab your copy of The Dear Entrepreneur Heart & Mind Business Playbook