When Imposter Syndrome Shows Up Anyway

Sometimes, imposter syndrome doesn’t knock.

It doesn’t ask if now is a good time. It doesn’t care how good life looks from the outside. It doesn’t wait for permission.

It just shows up.

I live an amazing life. I know that. I don’t say it casually, and I don’t take it lightly.

I have a beautiful wife and wonderful kids. A home that still feels surreal some days.Friends who show up, who listen, who care.A career

I once dreamed about—working alongside people at ARTISAN who inspire me daily and trust me to help build something meaningful. I survived cancer when I statistically shouldn’t be here. And somehow, a small but impactful voice through 3 Beards Media—something that started as an afterthought and grew into a platform that’s created community, stories, and real change.

And yet…Weeks like this still happen.

Weeks when I feel inadequate. Weeks where I feel like I don’t belong in the rooms I’m sitting in.Weeks where self-doubt creeps in so quietly that I don’t notice until I’m sitting in my office, fighting tears, wondering when someone will finally realize I don’t deserve to be here.

Afraid that I’ll be “found out.”Afraid that I’m somehow a fraud.

So why does this happen?

What Imposter Syndrome Actually Is

Imposter syndrome isn’t about lack of ability. It’s about fear.

Fear that your success is temporary. Fear that you were lucky, not capable. Fear that expectations will eventually outpace you.

Fear that the version of you people believe in isn’t real.

For high-achieving, purpose-driven people, imposter syndrome often comes from:

• Growth without pause – When life keeps moving forward, you don’t stop to process how far you’ve come.

• High standards – You don’t measure yourself against “good enough,” you measure yourself against what’s possible.

• Leadership – When others rely on you, the pressure to not fail them grows heavier.

• Survivorship – When you beat odds—career-wise, health-wise, life-wise—you sometimes wonder why you.

• Comparison – Especially when surrounded by people you admire and respect.

Imposter syndrome doesn’t mean you’re unqualified. It often means you care deeply.

The Evidence We Ignore When Doubt Gets Loud

Here’s the part imposter syndrome doesn’t want me to remember.

My Career

The people I admire and respect didn’t give me my role by accident. They didn’t hand it to me out of kindness. They trusted me with it because I earned it.

I’ve met every challenge put in front of me. I’ve delivered results. I continue to help lead an effort that’s building something special. The people around me inspire me—and they choose to work with me, not around me.

That matters.

My Family

My wife and my family have watched me face challenges head-on—over and over again. They’ve seen the setbacks, the stress, the exhaustion. And they’ve seen me push through.

They’ve told me countless times how proud they are—not just of what I do, but of who I am. They see the work when I don’t.

My Health

I was given a 5% chance of survival.

Five percent.

I’m still here.

Standing. Working. Creating. Loving. Leading.

That alone is proof that resilience lives in me, whether I acknowledge it or not.

3 Beards Media

What started as an idea with no expectations became something real.

In five years:

• Multiple podcasts launched

• Consistent performance for sponsors

• Over $15,000 raised for charities

• A growing community built on conversation, humor, vulnerability, and connection

That doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because of effort, consistency, and belief—even when confidence wavers.

So, Why Do Weeks Like This Still Happen?

Because imposter syndrome doesn’t care about resumes or receipts.

It feeds on exhaustion. It shows up when momentum slows. It sneaks in when you’re quiet long enough to hear your own thoughts.

And sometimes, it’s not a sign that something is wrong.

Sometimes it’s a sign that you’re stretching. That you’re growing.That you’re operating at a level where self-reflection is unavoidable.

The problem isn’t that imposter syndrome appears. The problem is believing it.

What I’m Learning to Hold Onto

• Feeling doubt doesn’t erase my accomplishments.

• Being emotional doesn’t make me weak.

• Needing reassurance doesn’t mean I’m failing.

• Confidence isn’t the absence of fear—it’s continuing despite it.

Weeks like this don’t mean I don’t belong. They mean I’m human.

And maybe the most important reminder of all:

If I were truly a fraud…I wouldn’t care this much.

If You’re Reading This and Feel the Same

You’re not broken. You’re not alone. And you’re not behind.

Sometimes the strongest people are the ones quietly questioning themselves while still showing up every day.

This week was heavy. Next week might be lighter.

And either way—I’m still here.