Do you ever feel like an imposter in your own business? As though one day, everyone will find out that you are not as talented as you lead them to believe? Imposter syndrome is very real for a lot of self-made business owners.
You are not alone! 62% of Adults experience imposter syndrome.
In the time I have been a photographer, I have spoken to many business owners. They all felt as though they were imposters at some point. Many of them were self-taught.
I certainly felt like an imposter in my own business.
My Story
When I started my photography business, although I studied some basic courses in photography, I never received a formal qualification. My love for photography grew, I couldn’t get enough of it. I consumed books, watched videos, and practised, practised, practised. It became an obsession I could get enough of. I read everything from really technical aspects to light, posing and more.
Over the years I have invested in myself, both as a business owner and as a photographer. Yet I still didn’t feel as though I was a “real” photographer.
The result was that I found clients that didn’t value me. I didn’t value myself so how could I expect to have clients that valued me? I was undercharging for my services. Giving away more than I should have. I often had clients that tried to get as much as they could for the lowest possible price.
I remember doing one of the biggest commercial brand shoots of my career. It came from a friend recommending me to one of her family members. I felt that I was so lucky to have been in the right time and the right place. That that was how I had won the work. I found out later that there had been a number of photographers that had been put forward. I had won the bid on my talent and personality not luck.
Time to change my mindset.
That was when I changed my mindset. I was able to get over this feeling. The feeling that everyone was going to find out that I wasn’t very talented. That my photography skills were just luck and that I wasn’t a real business owner.
One of the biggest turning points was when I had a personal branding photoshoot. I came away feeling empowered and I suddenly saw myself in a different narative – I looked the part. And it helped me to feel the part too.
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I looked the part and I saw myself as a professional each time I used an image. This was just a starting point. It had such a huge impact on my self-image that it started to change my mindset. I have come to realise how I was doing myself a disservice.
This was the point when I made the decision to become a personal brand photographer. Empowering other woman and men in business excites me. I love to help them to take charge. Build not only a successful business but a successful mindset.
Changing my mindset has helped me believe in myself. I started to research how I could use my mindset to my advantage.
What I did to stop deal with my Imposter Syndrome.
- Celebrating my wins. I started celebrating my wins. No matter how small or big – every week I wrote a list of all my wins.
- Using positive affirmations really helped me. Looking in the mirror each morning and telling myself I was worth it.
- I let myself make mistakes. I don’t do everything perfectly and have really put myself out there. Imperfect action is better than no action.
- Embracing positive communities with positive like-minded businessmen and woman has helped me.
- Serving my clients so that they started to value my input. This was very powerful for my self-image.
The exaggerated esteem in which my lifework is held makes me very ill at ease. I feel compelled to think of myself as an involuntary swindler.
Albert Einstein
Check out my blog on creating a mood-board for your brand.
