Why Imposter Syndrome stops B2B Creators in their tracks

imposter syndrome
READ TIME – 2 minutes

Imposter syndrome is something almost everyone faces at some point. 

Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting out, that creeping feeling of not being “good enough” can strike at any time. 

The good news? You’re not alone, and there are ways to overcome it. 

I asked some B2B creators about their strategies in dealing with imposter syndrome and I got some valuable insights from them that I want to share with you. 

1. Everyone starts somewhere: embrace the learning process

The first step in overcoming imposter syndrome is realizing that everyone, no matter how successful, starts from scratch. 

When you look at someone who seems like they have it all together, remember that they had to begin somewhere too. 

Chris Cunningham mentions how when they first started ClickUp, they had no idea what they were doing. But they kept moving forward every single day. 

Success is a product of the learning process, not expertise from day one. 

Alex Llull shared that this shift in mindset helps him fight imposter syndrome:

Alex Llull – Influencer Marketing & Growth @ lempire

Two things help me fight imposter syndrome when it hits (because it does—no one’s immune). The first is putting less pressure on myself to be an “expert.”

When you position yourself as an expert, everything you say feels like it has to be right.

That’s self-imposed pres~sure.

Instead, I position myself as a learner.

Whenever I write content or go on a podcast, I shift the angle from “Do it like this” to “Here’s how I did it and what I learned.”

The information stays the same, but the mindset changes everything.

The second thing I do is remind myself of a Sivers quote:

Obvious to you, amazing to others.

Don’t hold back from sharing something just because you think it’s obvious.

There’s always someone one step behind you on the journey who will find your insights valuable.

Shifting from an “expert” mindset to a “learner” mindset allows you to share what you know without feeling the pressure of perfection. 

James Carbary uses a great analogy to compare content creation to having lunch with a friend.

He explains that when meeting a friend for lunch, he’s eager to hear about their life and equally excited to share his own experiences and what he’s been learning.

For him, creating content is the same: it’s about learning from others while sharing his own insights.

This approach makes content creation feel less like a chore and more like an engaging, two-way conversation.

James Carbary – Founder of Creator House & Sweet Fish

When I’m having lunch with a friend, I’m not comparing myself to the other people that my friend went to lunch with that week. I just wanna share what I’m learning with a friend. And so, when I show up on LinkedIn, that’s how I’m thinking about it. I wanna learn from other people and I wanna share what I’m learning. And that usually keeps me out of imposter syndrome.

Neal O’Grady also mentioned a cool idea about this: 

Neal O’Grady 🍉 – Demand Curve

Overall I think people need to just do and not think about it too much. Eric Partaker has an exercise where he asks his clients if their self doubts would hold up in court. You feel you don’t have anything valuable to share, well would that hold up in court? Or would the evidence of your years of experience refute that?

Instead of trying to prove yourself, start by sharing your journey, insights, and lessons learned. 

You don’t need to be perfect; you need to be growing.

2. Take action: confidence grows with effort

While it’s important to embrace learning, nothing combats imposter syndrome quite like action. 

I love how Nick Broekema put this:

Nick Broekema – Lead Generation through LinkedIn Content Design

The best way for me to kick imposter syndrome to the curb is by taking immediate and consistent action. It gives me less time to overthink about stuff that isn’t happening yet. Inaction breeds insecurity. Action breeds confidence.

Taking consistent steps forward—no matter how small—builds momentum. 

Dave Gerhardt emphasizes the importance of showing up despite the doubts:

Dave Gerhardt – Founder & CEO Exit Five

You just need to suck it up and show up. It’s hard. Everyone goes through imposter syndrome. At all levels I’ve seen it from top CEOs down to the intern. But you just have to acknowledge the feeling and move on and keep shipping. Now: is imposter syndrome because you haven’t done your research? Do you not actually know the subject matter? Maybe you are not an expert in that niche and you need to take a different angle – like to be the curator vs. the expert.

But what does it look like to keep going, especially when you’re feeling uncertain?

Here are 3 practical steps Logan Lyles shared:

Logan Lyles – Director of Growth at Business Builders

  1. Batch content creation: Especially as a podcast host, I find that when I group my interview recordings multiple in one day or several over the course of 2 days, then I’m able to get into a much better “flow.

The conversations often feel like they have a better rhythm, plus I’m often better able to pull from one interview and either add context to a guest’s response or ask a better follow up question in the moment. 

  1. Collaborate with others: Whether you’re creating podcast episodes, video content or some other form of content, collaborating with other creators is often helpful to quiet the voice of imposter syndrome, spark your creativity and just be a lot of fun. 

This doesn’t even have to be a formal collaboration (though it could be with a one-off livestream with someone else). 

It could just be getting a few others together on Zoom to bounce a few ideas off one another. 

  1. Make it easy to capture content ideas: Whether you create a Google Doc, Apple Note, Notion page or some other easy way to jot down quick notes, I’ve found it unbelievably helpful to always have quick access to a content ideas “dumping ground.” 

Content ideas often strike when you’re not at a spot to create content at the moment. 

So, if you have a dedicated way to easily capture those ideas, when you have time dedicated to creating content, you won’t spend as much time staring at a blinking cursor—which never helps impostor syndrome!

Amanda Bagley talks about how she analyzes what generated engagement and uses that as a guide when she feels stuck.

Amanda Bagley – Account Executive @Sequel.io

When imposter syndrome strikes, I start by identifying the root cause. Is it because my last post didn’t perform as expected? Often, it’s about trial and error; if I feel stuck, it’s usually due to a loss of creative spark. I analyze what has generated real engagement (not just impressions) and use that as a guide. It’s all about finding self-motivation in the act of self-expression.

The key takeaway is this: don’t let perfectionism stop you from acting.

3. Give yourself a break when you need it

The final step to overcoming imposter syndrome is to realize that you don’t have to hustle nonstop. Chelsea Castle talks about the importance of giving yourself a break when you need it. She says that consistency isn’t a goal for her when it comes to her personal content.

Chelsea Castle – Head of Content + Brand at Close

Whenever I have those feelings of self-doubt and feeling like an imposter, yelling at myself, “suck it up, you have to be consistent!” is not helpful. I need to give myself grace. I need to remind myself why I’m doing what I’m doing to begin with.

I’ve also found that consistent creation is not the end all be all — it’s entirely possible (I have the stats to prove it, and I’ve seen others share this recently as well) to continue building your brand AND give yourself a break from posting.

That rest and grace is helpful when you’re in moments of doubt. Introspection is a powerful tool. I believe feelings are guideposts. They’re signals that indicate something you care about. 

I’ve learned this from Susan Post. Her exact quote is something like, “I encourage people to see their emotions as data, not directives. Think of them as one data point among many to consider as you move forward.

She regularly acknowledges that self-doubt is a natural feeling, even among the most successful people. Rather than forcing consistency, she embraces rest and introspection, seeing emotions as useful signals to guide her actions.

Chelsea Castle – Head of Content + Brand at Close

What is this feeling telling me? What happened recently to increase these feelings of self-doubt? And what action do I want or need to take from here? Sometimes I’ll journal – writing is thinking, and personally this is how I’ve always operated. Writing is catharsis for me in those moments, which can be a powerful practice for creators, too!

Burnout often exacerbates imposter syndrome. Amanda Bagley almost quit content creation when she lost access to a professional studio. However, by getting creative and changing her mindset, she found joy in the process again. She explains,

Amanda Bagley – Account Executive @Sequel.io

My journey with content creation is unique. I began with the advantage of a full studio setup—great lighting, a top-notch microphone, and a professional camera—which made it easier to build confidence on camera. There was no script or direction, just me finding my rhythm.

But when I lost access to that studio, I almost gave up.

Why stop when it brings me joy? So, I got creative with my shooting locations and didn’t hide the fact that I was no longer with AudiencePlus. I shot videos at my friend’s restaurant with props like a bunch of lemons (get it?).

Ultimately, my philosophy is simple: keep going without being attached to outcomes. If I’m enjoying the process, that’s all that matters.

Sometimes, taking a break to reflect can offer more clarity than powering through.

Chelsea Castle keeps a folder of “wins and humblings” to remind herself of her past successes whenever self-doubt creeps in. Revisiting moments of praise or proud accomplishments can provide the boost you need to move forward. 

Chelsea Castle – Head of Content + Brand at Close

It’s nice to consult the “wins” in my modern-day desktop folder during these moments of self-doubt. Even if it’s just a quote from one person saying they liked your content and felt seen — sometimes that’s all it takes.

Ultimately, overcoming imposter syndrome doesn’t mean never experiencing self-doubt—it means learning to move through it. 

Key takeaways for you

Here’s what to keep in mind if you are dealing with imposter syndrome. 

  1. Imposter syndrome is universal: Almost everyone, regardless of their experience level, faces imposter syndrome. Acknowledging that it’s common is the first step in overcoming it.
  2. Adopt a learner’s mindset: Instead of positioning yourself as an expert, focus on being a learner. Sharing what you’ve learned helps reduce the pressure of needing to be perfect and encourages growth over perfection.
  3. Take consistent action: Inaction breeds insecurity, while taking action, even small steps, builds confidence. Moving forward consistently is key to combating self-doubt.
  4. Use practical techniques: Batch content creation, collaborate with others, and create easy systems for capturing ideas to keep imposter syndrome at bay.
  5. Learn from engagement: When feeling stuck, analyze what has generated engagement in the past. It helps reignite creativity and guide future content creation.
  6. Give yourself a break: Consistency isn’t everything. Taking breaks, reflecting, and practicing introspection can provide clarity and help reduce burnout.

Overcoming imposter syndrome isn’t about eliminating self-doubt; it’s about managing it by taking action, learning continuously, and giving yourself grace. Confidence will follow.