How I Overcame the Imposter Syndrome | Nia Lewis - 035

Overcoming imposter syndrome is challenging enough, but navigating those feelings as a woman of color can be even worse. But, today’s guest Nia Lewis overcame those barriers and is now a thriving entrepreneur. As the host and founder of the Solopreneur Hustle Podcast, a show dedicated to helping solopreneurs build businesses designed for growth (rather than merely staying afloat), Nia explains how she overcame the imposter syndrome and how you can do the same.

Nia became an entrepreneur immediately after college.

• She never worked a full-time job, decided to start a business immediately after graduating college. (She had nothing to lose. What better time to start?)
• While gaining experience, Nia worked part-time jobs as a secretary, recruiter, and even a cosmetologist as a safety net to make ends meet.
• Her business started as a consultancy, utilizing her degree in communications to help with marketing and communications work. 
• She eventually shifted to a content-driven platform, using the knowledge and skills she developed to create a content-based business built around the Solopreneur Hustle Podcast.

Developing a client base as a new entrepreneur can be difficult.

• At first, Nia perused job postings on LinkedIn, Indeed, and other job boards to find local businesses that needed what she wanted to do.
• She viewed the skills and experience those jobs were looking for, and then she found opportunities and pro bono work to practice and develop those skills.
• Once she had the experience and value that people would pay for, she used the stats and numbers from her past experiences to give her the confidence to get paid clients.

The Imposter Syndrome is real, but especially for a woman of color.

• At networking events, she would often be the only woman or person of color there.
• What helped was reminding herself of her value. Anytime she noticed a feeling of imposter syndrome, she remembered she deserved to be there.
• People of color are wired to see ourselves as less than or not enough when walking into an event. 
• Remember that, regardless of what people may feel about you, your work will speak for itself. 
• People of color constantly deal with the belief and expectations of assimilation. But we don’t need to assimilate. We can carve our own path and be just as successful as anyone else.

Nia’s advice to someone breaking out of their imposter syndrome?

• Write down what you want out of life. 
• Come up with what experiences you need to get you down the path you want. What value do you need to bring to the table?
• Once you develop that experience and the projects you need, your confidence increases. 
• Surround yourself with people making money, reaching their goals, and doing the things you want to do.

To get in touch with Nia, message her at solopreneur hustle on Instagram and Facebook, and you can find her podcast (The Solopreneur Hustle) everywhere podcasts can be found. Check out her website for more resources and information about Nia!  For a free five-day, self-paced business boot camp, visit subscribepage.com/businessgrowthebook.

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Audio provided by Free SFX and Bensound. Other songs used in the episodes are as follows: The Organ Grinder written by Bradley Jay Hill, performed by Bright Seed, and Produced by Brightseed and Hill.