Recently I signed for celebrity speakers, it’s been on my bucket list for sometime and I guess having an agent has always signified progress and success in the industry I work in. However it brings up some other stuff too.
It’s been an interesting journey for someone who started our writing books. As an introverted author I loved nothing more than tucking myself away in a countryside retreat by myself absorbed in the art of writing. Being on stage in front of hundreds of people was something I’d not anticipated. I also hadn’t realised just how much I’d enjoy it. Don’t get me wrong, as an introvert I still need that time by myself to refuel but the joy I get from speaking outweighs this.
Seeing the impact it has for people, sharing their stories in person over lunch breaks at conferences. The impact a one to many format gains and the instant gratification of being clapped if I’m honest too! When you write books it takes ages, you never know who’s reading them and unless they get in touch you’ve no idea if it’s made an impact so speaking has quickly become a major part of my business. IT took a few years to get comfortable and a lot of practice to hone the skill but to now be confident on stage and making an impact is certainly my happy place. If I needed the validation that it’s going well, this certainly is that so I’m celebrating – but I’m also feeling the heat!
Listed as an Imposter Syndrome expert alongside ‘real celebrities’ (who incidentally are also just normal humans well known for what they do) certainly brings up the Imposterism which is ironic really! Many of you will know if you’re experts in your own field the pressure this can put on us to know all the answers or need to prove ourselves in some way to gain the ‘expert’ tag. The irony is that we gain the expert tag because we’ve already done that work!
I’m all about keeping things real in these blogs so I thought it might also be nice to know the ‘Imposter Syndrome Expert’ feels a little like an imposter when looking at her listing alongside these big names 😊 but she also knows she has the tools to back herself and take the space that’s being offered up. You can learn these tools too in my workshops and coaching programmes.
It’s a common experience when we get a new job, a promotion or get out of our comfort zone and this process below is probably one many of us have experienced. The good news is as we move through this process those feelings of imposterism diminish as our confidence grows.
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