The One Where I Tweeted About Imposter Syndrome
/ 4 min read
On Tuesday, I tweeted about imposter syndrome.
How do other #devdiscuss peeps deal with imposter syndrome?
— Shannon Crabill (@shannon_crabill) September 27, 2017
I didn’t expect my Tweet to catch on, but it did. My phone has been blowing up with new comments, likes and retweets. It seems a lot of people can relate which makes me feel less alone in the world.
For me, imposter syndrome hits on occasion. I’ve briefly written about it before. Some days, I’m confidence, I’m ready to tackle anything that comes my way. No one can stop me! Other days, like on Tuesday it’s the opposite. Intense feelings of doubt in my coding skills come from nowhere. Am I really a developer? I can code, yes, and I’ve been doing so for most of my professional career, but am I really a developer?
[caption id=“attachment_131” align=“alignnone” width=“525”]
Imposter by Robin Zebrowski[/caption]
It can be a crippling mindset to be in.
Which is why the responses, advice, resources, etc I have gotten over the past few days have been encouraging. I’m getting out of the imposter syndrome funk and am moving forward. Heck, any other day, I would have talked myself out of write this post. I would have thought myself not good enough of a writer / blogger to put together this post. Yet. Here it is!
I put this post together as a resource / inspiration board for myself and whoever else may need it. My favorite Tweets / takeaways are included below, but I encourage keeping the conversation going.
Remember you're only an impostor if you don't do anything, so keep pushing. Also that most people feel the exact same way as you.
— Joseph Carter-Brown (@abrowncreates) September 27, 2017
Embrace it. It's a sign that you haven't stopped learning, which is the only real way to fail in tech. Do sth simple if you need a boost.
— Fragged Bear (@FraggedBear) September 27, 2017
Push through, learn all you can, know your limitations and try to break through
— Aubrey Fletcher (@airwalkerx) September 27, 2017
By identifying & leaning on my own strengths & by pointing out and leveraging the strengths of others. I believe in the power of teams.
— Erin Weigel (@endesignonline) September 27, 2017
Don't assume that the voice in your head is accurately representing what others are thinking. Trust their actions and words over your fears.
— Carolyn Van Slyck (@carolynvs) September 27, 2017
Remember I am entitled to be a beginner, and I am empowered to be wrong.
— Nick (@thundermaverick) September 27, 2017
I find that honest self-reflection/evaluation helps keep me from the other end of the spectrum too: cocky know-it-all jerk.#devdiscuss
— Tim Chase (@gumnos) September 27, 2017
"Everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you." - Steve Jobs #DevDiscuss https://t.co/cKlK8yYv75
— Dereck Curry ?? (@DereckCurry) September 27, 2017
Write lots of code, read lots of code, don’t fear failing.
— Eric J. Gruber (@ericjgruber) September 27, 2017
Accept its inevitability, take a deep breath, and push forward. I've learned to let go of trying to be perfect. I just need to be good enough. Do quality work and keep learning. #devdiscuss https://t.co/xHEbmm6K6f
— Kelly Vaughn (@mrskellyvaughn) September 27, 2017
How do you deal with imposter syndrome?