Imposter Syndrome and the Self Employed

At some time or other, we have probably all suffered from Imposter Syndrome during our careers, but the isolation of being self employed, for some, can exacerbate it, and not in the early days.

Being self-employed or an solopreneur is a powerful, and very common combination — and it can be particularly intense because when you are the brand, the boss, and the product, any self-doubt can feel deeply personal because the buck, really does stop here.

So why do the Self Employed suffer from Imposter Syndrome?

No Validation Structure
❌ There is no boss giving you feedback or promotions to affirm your progress.
❌ You are your own benchmark — which is usually a moving target.

Constant Comparison
❌ You see other entrepreneurs online “crushing it,” leading to self-doubt.
❌ Social media highlights everyone else’s wins, never their struggle.

Wearing All the Hats
❌ Marketing, sales, accounting, customer service — you are doing everything, you spread yourself so thinly, you are convinced you are failing.

Fear of Being ‘Found Out’
❌ You might feel like you are just “pretending” to be a professional or expert.
❌ “I’m just making this up as I go” becomes an inner soundtrack. Tying Identity to Business Performance
❌ If business is slow, it feels like you are failing — not just the business.

So how do you reframe Imposter Syndrome …

✔️ You're Not Faking It — You're Figuring It Out. Every entrepreneur is experimenting. Trial and error is not fraud — it is growth.

✔️ Create a Personal Dashboard by tracking:
- Wins (big or small)
- Testimonials or kind words
- Revenue milestones
- Skills you have developed
- Times you took brave action (launched, pitched, posted)
This helps you measure progress when no one else is doing performance reviews.

✔️ Detach Self-Worth from Outcomes
- Business setbacks ≠ personal failure.
- You are learning and adapting. That is what real entrepreneurs do.

✔️ Talk to Other Business Owners
- Join a co-working group, online forum or link up with someone who does what you do.
- Normalising struggles through connection is a fast way to dissolve panic.

✔️ Create an "Anti-Imposter" Ritual
- When you are in doubt, do one or more of the following:
- Read your testimonials.
- Review past client wins.
- Record a voice note of your goals and why you are qualified to pursue them.
- Email a mentor or peer for a perspective check - surround yourself with good people; who "get you" and your business.

💡 Remember:
✔️ “If I'm showing up, I’m succeeding.”
✔️ “I don’t need to know everything — I just need to take the next step.”
✔️ “Uncertainty is part of entrepreneurship, not a sign I’m failing.”

Isolation is one of the biggest triggers for Imposter Syndrome - try and surround yourself with WISE people!