All Brain Surgeons are Imposters...So Are Plumbers, and Working Writers
When you realize no one cares about your 'expertise,' you're free to ACT
If I told you that most brain surgeons, cosmetologists, and plumbers were useless… you’d scoff at me.
“Have you lost your freaking mind, Baz? You’re the useless one!”
And you might be correct.
Let me explain
Undoubtedly, the above professionals are the best in the business at their jobs. They probably studied and worked hard to achieve the goals that earned them their current positions. However…
If you asked your plumber to knit you a scarf, they’d feel like an imposter.
If you asked your brain surgeon to give your Ferrari a tune-up, she’d most likely feel like an imposter
Why?
Because no matter how good they might be at doing what they get paid to do well, whether it’s diagnosing a case of pediatric tonsillitis, drilling into a human skull to relieve a subdural hematoma, or giving me my oh-so-stylish buzz cut every three weeks… all feel like imposters when venturing into the land of the unfamiliar.
No one is immune to Imposter Syndrome
Not long ago, I finished a 12-page Special Report to accompany a workshop planned for July. It’s been sitting in my private article garden for a few weeks, awaiting final pruning before being transplanted into the public garden.
Although I’ve been writing and publishing for years, I still felt paralyzed about releasing my work to the public. It happens every single time.
What’s the treatment for Imposter Syndrome?
1 - The first option is always to do nothing. But, by doing nothing, nothing changes. You’ll still feel the paralysis and the lack of confidence. The imposter syndrome will overtake you and prevent you from moving forward. To switch metaphors, you’ll be treading water, and you’ll be exhausted and then slowly sink.
2 - The second and only remaining option is to ACT. Unless you act despite feeling like an imposter, you will succumb to option number 1.
My ACTion Plan
I mentioned earlier that my Special Report (an Internet marketing term for a 10-20 page PDF) will accompany the first of my monthly online workshops for working writers — Sales Pages in 60 Minutes.
The hesitation to release it into the public space on Gumroad, even after earning over $4,000 from Gumroad alone over the years with similar products, was as palpable as my rapid pulse.🚑
Imposter syndrome originates from fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of failure, fear of success, fear of who-knows-what. IT’S ALSO COMPLETELY NATURAL.
I swallowed hard and did it anyway. I wrote the sales page (for a report on writing a sales page—a bit of added pressure), an article supporting it, a few entries on Notes, and went on about my business.
That’s the plan—end of treatment.
Advance to Go and collect $200 (a reference to Monopoly for those old enough to remember board games).
Take it from Ayo Awosika, who earns $1.5 Million Writing
In a recent interview with Kristina God, Ayo shared that he reinvented himself via writing. He had no official training, had been in jail, was newly divorced, and had a daughter to support.
He wrote every day and still writes every day in a coffee shop. His writing, digital products, courses, and mentoring programs consistently earn him $1.5 million annually in revenue.
Ayo agrees that working writers can’t afford to allow imposter syndrome to consume them. In Ayo’s words:
“No one cares about your qualifications or expertise. They care if you’re giving them quality information they can use.”
Let your energy be focused there like a laser
When you feel like an imposter or a pretender, ACT.
Swallow hard and do it anyway. 😎
Barry Baz Morris is a retired doctor and full-time writer. He also writes on Medium and Substack markets digital products on Gumroad. His M-F micro-newsletter contains three links to articles about growing your audience and improving your writing and engagement.
This is perfect timing because it's something I'm going through (again). But you're right. Action is the only way through it!