If there’s one mindset block I’ve seen in all of my clients and students (and myself) … it’s Impostor Syndrome.

You’re probably familiar with Impostor Syndrome. But in case you’re not, it’s a set of limiting beliefs that pop up when you think about doing something new, going for a big goal, or stretching beyond your comfort zone.

This voice of doubt questions if you’re capable of doing this. It wonders if it’s even possible for you. It might ask, “Who do you think you are?”

You might find yourself saying something like: “I’m not comfortable calling myself an expert yet. I need to get XYZ certification [or make X amount of money, or work with X number clients], before I can call myself an expert.”

If you’ve ever wrestled with Impostor Syndrome, you’re not alone. It shows up for even the most seasoned entrepreneur, and it doesn’t disappear once you hit the “magical” 6- or 7-figure mark.

You might say it’s insidious, sneaking up on you when you least expect it. And growing in strength if it’s not addressed.

I see it as a kind of default reaction — not necessarily something you’ll grow out of, but something you manage.

It doesn’t matter if you’re just starting in your business, or you’re scaling your business, if you’ve been in business for two weeks or six years, you WILL face Impostor Syndrome.

As soon as you try something new for your business, you’re innately going to think, “Who am I to write a book? Who am I to launch a software? Who am I to do that big, scary thing that’s just a little bit beyond where I am right now?”

Sadly, too many people listen to that voice of self-doubt and never take a chance on their dreams.

So, how do you defeat this enemy of progress?

#1 — Fight back with ACTION

When you start moving past those fears, taking action every single day, and just doing it scared, the magic happens in your business. You start to build momentum.

I’ve felt the fear, and impostor-y feelings, acknowledged it, and said, “Screw it. I’m doing it anyway.”

It’s a game-changer to live by this rule: Action begets confidence and clarity.

Action is your first go-to weapon against Impostor Syndrome.

By taking action, you show yourself that you finish what you start, you do what you say you’re going to do, and your business will grow exponentially just from that belief.

#2 — Watch how you talk to yourself

Yes, it’s natural for your mind to immediately go into questioning mode when you’re heading for the next level in your business.

But that doesn’t mean you have to follow the self-doubt and Impostor Syndrome. You can acknowledge it, and say, “No, thanks.”

You can also stop telling yourself that you have Impostor Syndrome!

Once people realize there’s a name for these feelings of being a “fraud” or not being “good enough,” they love to attach a label to themselves.

They keep repeating it, and it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy in that, “Oh, I can’t do that because I have Impostor Syndrome, or I can’t be on this podcast because I have Impostor Syndrome.”

It’s not a terminal diagnosis. It’s a belief system that you can change.

Will you always have some inklings of self-doubt? Probably. You’re human, right?

But it doesn’t have to control you. Catch yourself using it as an excuse, or using the thoughts of “I’m not this enough, or that enough to do this thing I really want to do.”

Catch it and reframe it. Imagine putting it on a little leaf in a creek and watching it float away until and it’s gone.

#3 Next best step

We’ve already covered action. And that can mean massive action, but it doesn’t have to.  

When I’m feeling overwhelmed, I ask myself, “What’s my next best step?”

Not — what am I going to do to fix this catastrophe?! How am I going to accomplish this goal — it’s so complicated?!

Next. Best. Step.

You can take baby steps every single day. 

If you want to write a book, put together the outline. Next, talk to a book coach, or research publishers. If you want to design a software, buy a book about software development. Next, start connecting with angel investors on Instagram. 

It doesn’t matter what you do, or how “big” the step is. What matters is taking consistent action toward your goal — figuring out the very next thing that you can do to keep yourself in momentum and taking that step. 

Want to listen instead? Check out the latest episode of The Rich Life Reframe Podcast.