My talk at Wordcamp Nashville about "Imposter Syndrome" - how to recognize it, get over it and get on with it.

1. Imposter Syndrome
How to get over it and get on with it
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2. Beth Downey
Graphic Designer / Web Developer
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3. Beth Downey
Graphic Designer / Web Developer
“Imposter!”
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4. What Is Imposter Syndrome?
● Term coined in 1978 by clinical psychologists Dr. Pauline R. Clance and
Suzanne A. Imes
● Refers to high-achieving individuals marked by an inability to internalize their
accomplishments and a persistent fear of being exposed as a "fraud".
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5. #WCNImposter

6. Well known
Imposters
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7. “I have written eleven books, but each time I think, ‘uh oh,
they’re going to find out now. I’ve run a game on everybody,
and they’re going to find me out.’ ”
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8. “I have written eleven books, but each time I think, ‘uh oh,
they’re going to find out now. I’ve run a game on everybody,
and they’re going to find me out.’ ”
Dr. Maya Angelou
Nobel Laureate, poet, memoirist and
Civil Rights Activist
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9. “I still believe that at any time, the no-talent police will come
and arrest me.”
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10. “I still believe that at any time, the no talent police will come
and arrest me.”
Mike Myers
Actor, comedian, screenwriter,
composer, producer, Saturday
Night Live standout
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11. “Why would anyone want to see me again in a movie? And I
don’t know how to act anyway so why am I doing this?”
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12. “Why would anyone want to see me again in a movie? And I
don’t know how to act anyway so why am I doing this?”
Meryl Streep
Called the “best actress of her
generation,” winner of eight Golden
Globes & three Academy Awards
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13. 3 Types of Knowledge
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14. 3 Types of Knowledge
1. Stuff you know
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15. 3 Types of Knowledge
1. Stuff you know
2. Stuff you know you don’t know
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16. 3 Types of Knowledge
1. Stuff you know
2. Stuff you know you don’t know
3. Stuff you don’t know you don’t know
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17. You have been successful in taking a lot of information out of the third category and put it
into the second category; you know of a lot of stuff you don’t know. This makes you feel
dumb and helpless a lot of the time.
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Why You Feel Like A Fraud

18. Negative Side Effects
of Imposter Syndrome
How we sabotage ourselves

19. Not applying for positions.
Not asking for enough money (salary)
Not asking for pay raises.
Self Sabotage

20. BIG
NEWS
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21. BIG
NEWS
IT IS OKAY TO SUCK
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22. Try something new
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23. Try something new
Yoga
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24. Try something new
Yoga
$5 class / 1 hour
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25. Try something new
Yoga
$5 class / 1 hour
I thought I was going to die
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26. When you suck at something but gradually
improve, two things happen:
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27. When you suck at something but gradually
improve, two things happen:
1. You know what being awful at something really feels like
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28. When you suck at something but gradually
improve, two things happen:
1. You know what being awful at something really feels like
2. You realize that you do have talent and/or perseverance and this builds
confidence
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29. My Own Journey
Art School - (1995 - 1999) Attended alongside many people with far more artistic talent than myself
Graphic Designer (1999 - present) - Never felt like a “real designer.”
Jr Web Developer (2012 - 2015) - worked with Kenneth White at Sprclldr for 3.5 years and stayed keenly
aware of what I didn’t know.
Jr Web Developer (July 2016 - now) - work as a Jr Developer at Parthenon Publishing & spent the first
month convinced I would be fired bc I didn’t know what I thought I should.
I continue to learn...
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30. Combatting Imposter Syndrome
● Review what you have learned - you know more than you think you know
● Surround yourself with peers who are supportive of the learning process
● Keep a list of the nice things people say to you about you
● Get involved in your community - be a mentor or a mentee
● Step out of your comfort zone - you might find other things you’re good at too
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31. #WCNImposter

32. Beth Downey
Twitter @PermeliaMedia / Instagram @MissBethD
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