If you battle imposter syndrome, you need to hear this 📣
For years I struggled with feeling like I needed to be something.
Successful.
Experienced.
Professional.
And while those are all great traits,
It did to me what it does to so many:
Change ourselves into an idea of what we ‘think’ we should be.
To fit into the box.
Play the right part.
And be what others expected of me.
A version of myself the world would approve of.
On the outside, everything was AWESOME.
On the inside, I was dying to just let go and be myself.
Which is much easier said than done.
After delivering over 1,000 presentations…
You’d think I’d have it all figured out by now.
Honestly?
I STILL run into imposter syndrome.
Constantly.
I still have moments before stepping on stage where I think:
➡ “Will they connect with the message?”
➡ “What if they think I’m just some kid?”
➡ “Is THIS group really going to buy into the whole confidence thing?”
I remember one presentation early in my career,
sitting in a quiet room…
waiting to speak…
To a group of 15 people.
My heart was pounding.
I kept running through every possible scenario in my head.
None of them good.
That fear didn’t magically disappear overnight.
It showed up again and again.
But over time, I learned how to handle it more effectively.
It wasn’t about eliminating the nerves, it was about building a better relationship with them.
That’s where real authenticity lives.
It’s in those moments when you choose to be yourself,
even when your inner voice tries to convince you that you’re not good enough.
So when you feel like an imposter, remember:
➤ You don’t need to be perfect to be powerful.
➤ You don’t need to know everything to add value.
➤ You just need to keep showing up, nerves and all.
It takes PRACTICE.
And it will NOT be perfect.
Authenticity is a muscle.
That means it needs to be trained often.
Practice sharing more of who you are with the world.
Share that idea.
Raise your hand in the meeting.
Be willing to talk about what you ACTUALLY think.
When you do, you will not only feel better about who you are the the role you play, you’ll also inspire others to do the same for themselves.
People need a role model of showing up as their best self.
That role model can be YOU.
So be the kind of person that shares the best of who you are.
Because at the end of the day,
It’s what people remember most.
Your friend,
Juan Bendana
Keynote Speaker | Author of Confident By Choice
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