Imposterception: When Impostor Syndrome lurks, Even After 20+ Years of Experience.

I'll admit it:

Here I am, a designer with over two decades of experience, hearing that silent but nagging voice in the back of my mind as I write… about impostor syndrome. Imposterception, if you will.

"Are you really qualified for this?"

At the start of my career I thought this feeling would somehow magically disappear with age or experience. But it didn't. In fact, it sometimes feels stronger than ever.

Being a co-founder in a #startup doesn't help. Building something from the ground up means there are plenty of moments when I feel uncomfortable — wearing multiple hats, making critical decisions under uncertainty, tackling tasks that are way outside my comfort zone, or working on projects I have no formal training in.

Being a creative person doesn't help either. Our work often depends on subjective assessments, changing trends, and feedback loops. It's easier to feel like we're "faking it" when so much of what we do is fluid.

But here's the thing: It's not as big of an issue as we sometimes think it is.

Last week, I attended the Start it Accelerate | @KBC bootcamp with my co-founder Jeroen Borloo.

It was during one of the group sessions that it struck me: While impostor syndrome makes us feel like the only "imposter" in the room, around 75% of attendees indicated they feel the same way from time to time.

We're not as alone in this as we think.

So should we try to eliminate impostor syndrome? Or should we accept it as part of working in a field that's constantly evolving. After all,... isn't part of being an entrepreneur trying to master the art of being comfortable with discomfort?

I'd love to hear your thoughts about this. Let’s chat over a coffee — my treat. ☕️

#Rookoo #Wintercircus #Ghent #kbcstartit