releasing the imposter: crossing the confidence gap from the non-technical world
TRANSCRIPT
RELEASING THE IMPOSTERCROSSING THE CONFIDENCE GAP FROM THE NON-TECHNICAL WORLD
By Andrea Goulet Co-Founder & CEO Corgibytes @andreagoulet
THE WHOLE PROBLEM WITH THE WORLD IS THAT FOOLS AND FANATICS ARE ALWAYS SO CERTAIN OF THEMSELVES, BUT WISER PEOPLE
SO FULL OF DOUBTS.@andreagoulet
-BERTRAND RUSSELL
IMPOSTER SYNDROME
@andreagoulet
Chronic self-doubt that overrides any feelings of success, even in the face of external proof.
High-achieving perfectionists are most susceptible.
source:h*ps://hbr.org/2008/05/overcoming-imposter-syndrome/
@andreagoulet
SOME DAY EVERYONE WILL FIND OUT I’M NOT _______
LIKE THEY THINK I AM.
THEY’LL FIND OUT I’M ACTUALLY _______just a marketer.
technical
@andreagoulet
“Andrea? She’s non-technical.” -my business partner on a prominent podcast
@andreagoulet
“I’m the CEO of a software company! Of course I’m technical!”
-angry me
@andreagoulet
“But that’s not how you introduced yourself to the new client yesterday. I just repeated what you said. Verbatim.”
-confused business partner
@andreagoulet
“Seriously? I said that?”-embarrassed me
@andreagoulet
“Seriously? I said that?”-embarrassed me
“Yeah. You did. Why?”-supportive partner
@andreagoulet
WHO DECIDES? A FAIRY GODMOTHER?
contacts
@andreagoulet
AS A SALESPERSON, I TURNED THIS…
query
cold call
prayers
@andreagoulet
…INTO THIS
message
personalnote email
contacts
fields
event name
month met
interest
biz cards
events
queries
templates
series
meeting requests
@andreagoulet
CLOSED LOTS OF DEALS
OUTSOLD OFFICEON VACATION
RESULTS?
#3 REP IN NATIONAFTER 6 MONTHS
@andreagoulet
WHAT SOFTWARE PRINCIPLES DID I LEARN IN SALES?
1. Agile - didn’t plan system. Test -> Learn -> Repeat 2. DRY- low tolerance for inefficiencies 3. Systems Thinking - Managing complexity and interdependencies 4. Database Scripting for advanced queries using Boolean logic 5. Loops - system repeated itself 6. Templates = Methods; Contacts = Parameter; Fields = Attributes 7. Object Oriented - Classes (ex: email is a subclass of message) 8. Variable Naming - had to name custom fields for correct insertion 9. Edge Cases -“a” before a field with a vowel 10. Testing - regularly ran test cases to ensure desired output.
@andreagoulet
GROWTH MINDSET
CONFIDENCE GAP
VULNERABILITY & SHAME
@andreagoulet
GROUNDED THEORY RESEARCHERDR. BRENÉ BROWN
GUILT
@andreagoulet
SHAME“I MADE A MISTAKE” “I AM A MISTAKE”
source:h*p://www.amazon.com/Daring-Greatly-Courage-Vulnerable-Transforms/dp/1592408419/
The intensely painful feeling or experience of believing that we are flawed and therefore unworthy of love and belonging.
Holding something we’ve done or failed to do up against our values and feeling psychological discomfort.
CORRELATED TO: DEPRESSION
ANXIETY VIOLENCE
ADDICTION BULLYING
EATING DISORDERS
GUILT
@andreagoulet
SHAMEINVERSELY CORRELATED TO:
DEPRESSION ANXIETY VIOLENCE
ADDICTION BULLYING
EATING DISORDERSsource:h*p://www.amazon.com/Daring-Greatly-Courage-Vulnerable-Transforms/dp/1592408419/
“PERFECTIONISM IS A SELF DESTRUCTIVE AND ADDICTIVE BELIEF SYSTEM THAT FUELS THIS PRIMARY THOUGHT: IF I LOOK PERFECT, AND DO EVERYTHING PERFECTLY, I CAN AVOID OR MINIMIZE THE PAINFUL FEELINGS OF SHAME,
JUDGMENT, AND BLAME.”
@andreagoulet
-BRENÉ BROWNsource:h*p://www.amazon.com/Daring-Greatly-Courage-Vulnerable-Transforms/dp/1592408419/
“HEALTHY STRIVING IS SELF-FOCUSED: "HOW CAN I IMPROVE?"
PERFECTIONISM IS OTHER-FOCUSED: "WHAT WILL THEY THINK?”
@andreagoulet
-BRENÉ BROWNsource:h*p://www.amazon.com/Daring-Greatly-Courage-Vulnerable-Transforms/dp/1592408419/
@andreagoulet
KATTY KAY & CLAIRE SHIPMANTHE CONFIDENCE GAP
@andreagoulet
WHEN ASKED: WHAT % OF QUALIFICATIONS DO YOU NEED TO MEET
TO APPLY FOR A JOB?
WOMENMEN
source:h*p://www.theatlanIc.com/magazine/archive/2014/05/the-confidence-gap/359815/
@andreagoulet
60%WOMENMEN
source:h*p://www.theatlanIc.com/magazine/archive/2014/05/the-confidence-gap/359815/
WHEN ASKED: WHAT % OF QUALIFICATIONS DO YOU NEED TO MEET
TO APPLY FOR A JOB?
@andreagoulet
60% 100%WOMENMEN
source:h*p://www.theatlanIc.com/magazine/archive/2014/05/the-confidence-gap/359815/
WHEN ASKED: WHAT % OF QUALIFICATIONS DO YOU NEED TO MEET
TO APPLY FOR A JOB?
@andreagouletDR. CAROL DWECKGROWTH MINDSET
FIXED MINDSET FAILURE = SHAME
SHORT TERM SUCCESS WON’T TRY NEW THINGS
STATIONARYOLD ME
@andreagoulet
GROWTH MINDSET FAILURE = GROWTH LONG TERM SUCCESS ALWAYS LEARNING
ADAPTABLENEW ME
source:h*ps://www.ted.com/talks/carol_dweck_the_power_of_believing_that_you_can_improve
Believing that your qualities are carved in stone—the fixed mindset—creates an
urgency to prove yourself over and over.
@andreagoulet
BE YOUR OWN FAIRY GODDAMMIT!
@andreagoulet
Am I technical or non-technical? BOTH.
QUESTIONS?
@andreagoulet
@andreagoulet
Contact Info@andreagoulet corgibytes.com