When self-doubt becomes an advantage

I don’t hear ‘imposter syndrome’ as often as I used to but every now and then someone still reaches out confiding in me that despite what people have said about their work, they just don’t think they are good enough.

“That can be a good thing”, I respond.

Maybe it is true that you are underrating your capabilities, but if you respond by doubling down on more structured learning and intentional practice, to finally ‘get good enough’, then you only get better for it.

So maybe you are truly a 7/10, but you don’t believe it. With the right response, the worst case scenario is you get closer to 10 in reality.

That might be a better place to be than the person (and there are many) who believes their own hype—and stops growing.