Faking It Till You Make It (and Hating It)

The Imposter Syndrome Antidote

I am a train wreck.

I did not know what I was doing last week.

I drained away time, watched 2 stupid movies - The Escape Room and The Anantomy of a Fall (actually looking back, I kinda liked them, I guess)

I am here, a “coach“ who “coaches“ people to tame the beast inside, overcome adversity, push through pain, you know all that usual stuff.

But I am a mess.

I am not practicing what I preach.

I was gorging on junk. I let my emotions get the best of me. I consumed a ton of zero-value content through doom-scrolling on Instagram.

What. The Holy Hell. Was I Doing?

If you were wondering, this is what burnout talk sounds like.

You mess up ONCE, you don’t do the ONE thing that is gonna “launch you into the skies“ for ONE weekend, after grinding for days with no break,

Yeah, the shame spiral begins. And in it you drown.

You are not alone.

I see countless others, myself included (duh!) go through this.

And the worst part is, when you talk about this, it’s like it’s not even a real problem.

Or at least, that’s what the losers say.

they don’t see it because they never had to deal with this.

they never put in the work,

they complain, give excuses, run away from what needs to be done.

they do everything BUT grind.

Which is what you do. Which is what you ALL do.

And trust me, I know how it feels like to be all alone in the grind. Still feel that way.

Alex Hormozi said it right.

Click HERE to watch the full clip. 

And by God, don’t start doom-scrolling after watching.

Motivation is toxic too. Learned that the hard way.

So, no matter where you are at, what you are dealing with,

If someone doesn’t acknowledge your feelings, f*ck them.

Just don’t be the one who does that to You.

Now, let’s pivot to something that hits even harder. A silent saboteur that lurks in the minds of even the most successful women in tech.

Imposter Syndrome.

Ever feel like you’re one mistake away from being exposed as a fraud? Like all your accomplishments are just a fluke? Yeah, that’s imposter syndrome talking.

It whispers lies.

Tells you that your success is due to luck, not skill.

That any moment now, someone will see through the facade and realize you’re not as competent as you appear.

And it’s draining. This constant self-doubt and fear of being found out. It holds you back from taking risks, from fully stepping into your potential.

But the thing is, you’re not alone in this. And it’s not your fault.

This is a real issue that so many of us face, especially in high-pressure fields like tech.

What the Hell IS It?

Imposter Syndrome (IS) is a psychological pattern where people doubt their accomplishments and have a constant fear of being exposed as a fraud, despite evident success and competence.

It's like having an annoying little voice in your head constantly whispering,

"You’re not good enough, and soon everyone will know."

You don’t want that in your head! Nobody does. As if there isn’t enough shit to deal with already.

But it creeps in sometimes. Lots of times.

So how do we “diagnose“ ourselves of this thing?

There are a few signs that we could watch out for. Nod, if you can relate.

1. You doubt your abilities and feeling like you’re not good enough even though you know you are. (Nodding here.)

2. You believe that your achievements are due to luck, timing, or other external actors rather than your own skills. (Mmm…yeah that might be me.)

3. You got an ongoing fear that others will find out you are not as capable as you appear. (totally.)

4. You overwork or over-prepare to ensure that no one finds out you’re a “fraud.” (oh boy.)

5. You disregard the value of your successes and accolades. (ah hell yeah!)

So, what’s the big deal? Why should you care about some nagging voice in your head?

Here’s why.

Imagine you’re walking home after a long day.

Your phone buzzes, and it’s a text saying the file you sent is all messed up.

You know you double-checked it a drillion times before sending it over.

Deep down, you’re sure the client made the mistake, but here you are, second-guessing yourself.

Or you’re sitting down for dinner, but instead of enjoying your meal, your mind is racing.

Replaying the day’s events,

Wondering if you’ve done enough,

Wondering if YOU are enough.

That’s imposter syndrome in action.

Or maybe you were offered a speaking engagement or a leadership role, but you turned it down.

Why cuz you thought, “What if I mess up? What if I’m not good enough?” 

That’s imposter syndrome robbing you of growth opportunities.

Recognizing the impact of this thing is crucial.

It’s not just about feeling insecure—it’s about how these feelings can take a toll on every aspect of your life.

But here’s the good news.

Understanding the problem is the first step towards finding a solution.

Now, let's talk about solutions. Real, practical solutions that you can start using right now.

No fancy fad tech, no buzzwords. Just actionable steps.

Enter AI and biohacking.

Before you roll your eyes, hear me out.

AI isn’t just for self-driving cars and chatbots.

It can be your personal coach, your accountability partner, and your biggest cheerleader all in one.

And biohacking?

It's about leveraging the latest science to optimize your life, not turning yourself into a cyborg.

Imagine having a tool that can help you reframe those negative thoughts, track your progress, and keep you on the path to crushing imposter syndrome.

That’s where AI steps in.

Let’s get into some actionable tips You Can Use RIGHT NOW with ChatGPT.

1. No Room For Neg.

Start by asking ChatGPT to help you reframe your thoughts.

Here's a simple prompt to get you started:

"Hey ChatGPT, I just received some criticism at work, and now I'm doubting my abilities.

Can you help me reframe this situation in a more positive light?"

Copy-paste this. Give it a little context. Hit Enter.

Imagine you are taking to a super smart hippie you met on the street who doesn’t know shit about you.

This will help you see constructive feedback as an opportunity for growth rather than a confirmation of your worst fears.

2. Ready. Set. Goal.

Imposter syndrome often makes us set unrealistic goals to prove our worth. Use ChatGPT to set realistic, achievable goals.

"ChatGPT, I’m struggling with setting realistic goals for my project.

Can you help me break down my tasks into manageable steps?"

Again, it doesn’t know what the hell you’re working on. Tell it.

By breaking tasks into smaller, more achievable steps, you can build confidence with each completed task.

3. You’re frickin’ amazing. Own it.

We often forget to celebrate our wins.

Ask ChatGPT to help you reflect on your successes:

"ChatGPT, can you help me list out my recent accomplishments to remind myself of what I’ve achieved?"

Reflecting on your successes can reinforce the reality of your competence and achievements.

By the way, keep all your convos in ONE chat. 

When I was starting out, I used to start a new chat everytime I used ChatGPT.

It was like talking to a baby.

As if it completely forgot everything I poured my heart and soul into saying.

But I was the problem. Lemme tell you why in 20 seconds.

Think of it this way. If you tell your bestie about an issue, she gives you tips, you like ‘em, everyone’s happy.

When you go to her next time with a problem, she hears you out.

Why?

Cuz she knows you. 

You wouldn’t expect a Karen who you’ve never talked to (or breathed the same air as) to know about your shit.

Same goes here.

So, Keep it in ONE chat, girls. You happy, AI happy.

Remember, this isn’t about changing who you are.

It's about leveraging tools to help you become the best version of yourself.

Imposter syndrome is a tough beast to tame, but you’re tougher.

Because sometimes, all it takes is a little sass talk from a circuit brain to conquer the world.

We’re all in it together, clapping for ourselves in that empty auditorium until it’s filled with cheers.

Until next time,

I’m Rooting For You From Afar.

Your Lone Wolf Cheerleader,

Karthik