Cold Pitching & Imposter Syndrome

As a freelancer in a new field, I experience imposter syndrome a lot. I also do a lot of cold pitching, which gives me even more negative feelings. I have to get over those feelings and pitch myself anyway, though. Today, I wanted to shed some light on this topic so you can build a better business despite imposter syndrome.

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In today’s episode, we’ll be chatting about cold pitching and imposter syndrome.

My Experience With Imposter Syndrome

I deal with imposter syndrome a ton. I got my BA and MA in Sociology from state schools here in Arkansas. When I am connecting with people who lead venture-backed startups with degrees from prestigious universities, I can feel small and inadequate. My imposter syndrome usually pops up, but I try to let it only be a pang in my stomach. I can’t let my fear stop me from connecting with bigger and better companies.

Related Listening: How I Got Into HR Tech Content Writing

Sometimes You Need To Send The Damn Email

The worst someone can say is no. They can’t say anything if you never ask. For me, I have to get out of my head and send the email anyway. Don’t be afraid to show your skills. You don’t know what the other person is thinking.

5 Types Of Imposter Syndrome

Let’s talk about the different types of imposter syndrome.

  • The Perfectionist: Perfectionists have incredibly high expectations for themselves, and they transfer it to other people. Perfectionist struggle because they feel like the work they do and the success that comes from it could have been done better.

  • The Superwoman/man: Superwomen struggle because they push themselves too far. They feel like a phony, so they compensate by working way too hard.

  • The Natural Genius: If you feel like you are a natural genius, things that take time will suck. You may feel like a phony because it took you a while to master something, but that’s how everyone is. You shouldn’t feel like an imposter because you take a while to learn.

  • The Soloist: Soloist suffer in silence because they feel like asking for help shows weakness and will reveal that they aren’t what they claim to be. Everyone needs help eventually, though.

  • The Expert: Expert struggle with imposter syndrome because they don’t want to be seen as inexperienced or unknowledgeable. You can’t know everything, but experts measure their competence based on what they know. Experts throw themselves into continually learning to cover up their imposter syndrome. Eventually, you need to chill and be okay with not knowing something, though.