Imposter Syndrome Isn’t a Sign You’re Failing, It’s a Sign You’re Growing
Jackie Carroll is a career, mental health, and well-being coach who helps individuals and teams achieve fulfillment and success. She is the host of Coaching Corners with Jackie Carroll on YouTube and a passionate advocate for personal growth and purpose-driven living.
After my virtual reality start-up collapsed, I wasn’t sure who I was anymore. I hadn’t yet become a coach. I wasn’t in business anymore. I had no clients, no clear plan, and I felt completely untethered. I’d gone from pitching bold, world-changing ideas to sitting in my kitchen, second-guessing everything.
What now? Who am I now?
During that period, the space between the dream that failed and the path that hadn’t yet begun was quiet, disorienting, and deeply vulnerable.
And that’s when imposter syndrome crept in.
The most vulnerable space is the in-between
Imposter syndrome doesn’t always show up when you’re in the spotlight; it often arrives when the lights go off. When you’re sitting with your uncertainty, asking:
“What if I’m not cut out for this?”
“Am I just chasing another idea to prove I’m not a failure?”
“Who am I to tell anyone else how to build a career, when mine just fell apart?”
I was considering becoming a career and mindset coach, but I felt like a fraud before I even began. I hadn’t “made it.” I didn’t have a complete client list. I didn’t even have a website I loved. I kept thinking, 'I’m not there yet, so maybe I don’t deserve to start.'
That’s the lie of imposter syndrome that unless your confidence is bulletproof and your branding is flawless, you’re not allowed to begin.
What shifted everything
The turning point didn’t come from a big win. It came during a quiet moment in a session, where I was the client. My coach asked:
“What if people don’t need you to be perfect? What if they need you to be real?”
I sat with that for a long time, and slowly, it unraveled the tight knot I’d been carrying.
Because the truth was: failing didn’t make me an imposter. It made me human. It gave me the empathy, resilience, and perspective I never could have faked. And the version of me who was rebuilding after loss, that’s the version that could serve others with depth and integrity.
That was the day I stopped waiting to be “ready” and started choosing to be honest.
What I know about imposter syndrome now
If you’re in that in-between place, where you’ve left something behind, but haven’t yet claimed your next chapter, you are not alone. That’s when imposter syndrome gets loudest. But it’s also when the most growth happens. Here’s what I’ve learned:
Imposter syndrome is a growth signal, not a red flag. You feel it because you’re expanding. It’s uncomfortable, but that doesn’t mean it’s wrong.
You’re allowed to be in process. The idea that you must have it all figured out before helping others is false. Authentic leadership is born in the messy middle.
Everyone feels it, especially the people who care.
I’ve seen this again and again with my client,s brilliant people returning from burnout, professionals pivoting after layoffs, creatives rebuilding after rejection. That inner whisper of “Who do you think you are?” shows up for all of them, and it’s always lying.
Three ways to move through it
Here are three tools I use and now share with clients:
1. Name it
That voice in your head whispering, “You’re not good enough”? That’s not the real you; that’s fear. That’s old conditioning. So call it what it is: “This is imposter syndrome, not the truth.”
When you name it, you create space between yourself and the story. And in that space, you reclaim your power.
2. Collect real evidence
Imposter syndrome feeds on forgetfulness. So keep a “wins” folder, save kind emails, glowing feedback, meaningful messages, and testimonials. Write down moments you’re proud of.
When self-doubt shows up, you’ll have proof. And evidence is powerful. It reminds you of who you are.
3. Normalize the feeling
You’re not alone in experiencing imposter syndrome. I’ve coached professionals at every level, from new graduates to senior executives and CEOs, and one of the most common things I hear is, “I feel like a fraud.”
Feeling like an imposter doesn’t mean something is wrong with you; it means you’re growing. Growth is inherently uncomfortable. However, when we acknowledge the discomfort and bring it into the light, it begins to lose its power.
Let’s normalize that stretch. It’s a sign you’re on the right path.
You’re not faking it, you’re becoming it
Imposter syndrome doesn’t mean you’re failing or a fraud. It means you are becoming someone you haven’t fully met yet, and that’s a process, not a performance.
So if you’re standing in that uncertain space, wondering if you’re good enough, let me say this:
You are.
You don’t need to have it all figured out.
You just need to keep showing up with heart.
And if no one’s said it today: I’m proud of you. For being here. For asking the hard questions. For choosing growth, even when it’s uncomfortable.
You’re not behind, you’re becoming exactly who you are meant to be at the time you're meant to be it.
Jackie Carroll, Career, Mental Health & Well-being Coach
Jackie Carroll is a career, mental health, and well-being coach specialising in helping high-performing people and teams achieve fulfillment and success. As the host of Coaching Corners with Jackie Carroll on YouTube, she inspires audiences to align their careers with their values and reach their potential. With expertise in personal growth and team development, Jackie offers actionable insights to empower individuals and organisations. Her mission: Inspiring growth and purpose in every journey.
