Am I good enough? I’m an impostor! Do I even know what I am doing?
That is exactly what the person in this photo was thinking. I'm not sure how old this is, maybe 2013.
I remember going to my first event as a trainer. I was nervous and wondered if I would be the oldest, dumbest, and least successful. BLAH! Who puts these thoughts in my head?! I remember feeling nervous and like I did not deserve to be there. Like, who do I think I am?
All of that confidence I had gained to pursue a new career, start a business from nothing... seemed nowhere to be found some days! Well, I learned that I had a new confidence I had to earn.
A few years later I remember walking into The Dome in Chicago for my first StrongFirst certification and while I am certain I was nervous, I was more excited. I knew I had put in the work, I was prepared and I was ready to learn more.
And there it was… the new confidence I needed.
My confidence as a coach has always come from learning, practicing, and doing (coaching). It has never come from thinking I know everything, saying others don't know anything or because someone else told me I'm awesome.
If you struggle a bit with impostor syndrome like I did (I mean it's pretty common in fitness for sure, but in anything really)...
Learn, practice, and do.
And do your very best. Half axx won't cut it.
Pay attention to what you're really great at and make note of where you could be better. Work on both. I think I focused a lot for so long on what I wasn't good at.
Get help from someone who is where you wanna be. I've had some amazing business coaches and fitness coaches.
Always be humble and always learn.
Know your core values. Your internal operating system.