12 Ways to Beat Imposter Syndrome in Your First 18 Months as an Entrepreneur
- Brainz Magazine
- Aug 4
- 4 min read
Written by Gaelle Mokoy, Marketing and Branding Coach
Gaelle Mokoy is a well-known marketing and branding expert who has worked with brands internationally. Gaelle Mokoy Coaching first started in 2018 to support small to medium businesses in the UK and has since expended into consulting with businesses across the globe.
Do you ever feel like you’re faking it in your business, like one day everyone will realise you don’t know what you’re doing? That feeling has a name: imposter syndrome. And trust me, you’re not alone. Especially in your first 18 months as an entrepreneur, it’s common to question your abilities, downplay your achievements, and secretly wonder if you’re cut out for this. But here’s the truth: you absolutely are. These twelve strategies will help you navigate imposter syndrome, enabling you to show up in your business with confidence, clarity, and courage.
What is imposter syndrome, and why does it hit new entrepreneurs so hard?
Imposter syndrome is that inner voice telling you you’re not good enough, smart enough, or experienced enough to be doing what you’re doing, despite real evidence to the contrary. For new entrepreneurs, it’s amplified by the unknowns: inconsistent income, lack of structure, constant comparison, and the steep learning curve. Your mind starts playing tricks, and before long, you’re questioning the very thing you were once so excited to build.
The 5 types of imposter syndrome in entrepreneurship:
The perfectionist: You believe everything must be flawless or you’ve failed.
The expert: You feel you must know everything before you begin.
The natural genius: If it takes effort, you assume you’re not good enough.
The soloist: You avoid asking for help, thinking you should do it all alone.
The superwoman: You tie your worth to how much you do, often at the cost of your wellbeing.
If any of these feel familiar, you’re not broken, you’re building. Let’s get into how you can shift.
1. Acknowledge your wins
Document even the smallest wins: a client message, a new follower, a finished task. You’re making progress, even if it’s not glamorous. Keeping track of the small wins makes the big wins feel even bigger and better. It helps not to give up.
2. Be kind to yourself
You’re learning a completely new way of living and working. Give yourself the same grace you’d give someone else starting from scratch. Remember that you wouldn’t talk to a family member or friend as harshly as you are speaking to yourself.
3. Set grounded goals
Don’t aim to “blow up” in 3 months. Create realistic, aligned goals based on growth, not pressure. This is where S.M.A.R.T. goals come into play, because if it seems unrealistic, it probably is.
4. Track what triggers your doubt
Is it when you’re on Instagram? After a sales call? Get curious, not critical. Your triggers are messengers, and once you know the messenger, you’ll know how to deal with the message.
5. Rewire your thoughts
Replace “I’m not qualified” with “I’m learning and growing.” Your business needs your belief before anyone else’s. Rewiring your thoughts also rewires how you see your losses, because they become lessons you learn from.
6. Normalize failure
Every entrepreneur makes mistakes. The difference is in what you do next: learn, tweak, move forward. Learn to be agile. The more mistakes you make, the more you are trying, which means you’re getting closer to getting it right.
7. Play to your strengths
You don’t have to do it all. Focus on what you do well and build from there. Delegate or learn the rest later. No man is an island, and we do need to learn to rely on other people’s strengths to do well in business.
8. Do one brave thing a week
Post the video. Send the pitch. Speak up in the room. Confidence is built through action. Each week, learn to step out of your comfort zone. The more you do it, the better you’ll become at it, and the less scary it will be.
9. Ask for feedback
Not from everyone, just those you trust. Real feedback from aligned people helps ground your perspective. Not everyone will know what to say or how to say it to you, so make sure you seek guidance from the right people, like a coach (Hello, hi) or a mentor, to support your business growth.
10. Prioritise your wellbeing
Imposter syndrome thrives when you’re burnt out. Sleep, eat, rest, breathe. You can’t grow if you’re depleted. Burnout is real and experienced by many entrepreneurs. So, take that 15-minute break, go on that walk, and spend time with family and friends. It will revitalise you, and you’ll work more effectively because of it.
11. Keep a progress log
Create a folder or journal where you record wins, testimonials, and moments of growth. It’s your receipt. This is social proof. The more you have, the more you can share, the more confident you will be, and you can kick imposter syndrome out the window.
12. Celebrate out loud
Share your wins with your community. Visibility creates validation, and validation rewires your belief. The more you see and hear that you are doing well, the more you’ll believe it. Because at the end of the day, that is what imposter syndrome is: a lack of belief that you can succeed.
Ready to move past imposter syndrome and into your power?
The initial stages of business are intense, but they’re also sacred. You’re not just building a brand; you’re building belief in yourself. If you want support navigating the inner blocks while growing a magnetic, purpose-led brand, book a clarity call with me.
You’re not an imposter. You’re an entrepreneur in progress, and that’s more than enough.
Read more from Gaelle Mokoy
Gaelle Mokoy, Marketing and Branding Coach
Gaelle Mokoy is a Marketing and Branding Coach dedicated to helping entrepreneurs build purpose-driven, profitable brands.
After navigating three sectors and overcoming the pressure to conform, she developed powerful frameworks to help women build brands that reflect who they truly are, not just what they sell. Today, she is the founder of Gaelle Mokoy Coaching, where she mentors entrepreneurs to embrace their voice, refine their message, and grow with integrity. Her work blends marketing psychology, strategic communication, and deep ancestral wisdom to help clients build legacy-aligned businesses. Gaelle’s mission: No voice left unheard.
