EVERYONE’S BETTER THAN ME…EXCEPT THEY’RE NOT
Let’s start with a feeling.
You're in a meeting, presenting your latest idea. Everyone’s nodding. Some are even smiling. And yet, your brain whispers: “They haven’t figured out you’re a fraud yet.”
Sound familiar?
Welcome to imposter syndrome – the uninvited plus-one in the creative industry. Whether you’re designing, writing, filming, strategising or pitching, it loves to show up. And not quietly, either. It tends to arrive dressed as comparison, self-doubt, and an urgent need to ask ten people if your idea is “actually okay.”
The highlight reel trap
We work in a world that celebrates shiny outcomes. The award-winning campaign. The viral moment. The pitch that landed. And so, we scroll through social media or sit in brainstorms thinking: “They’re brilliant. I’m barely keeping it together.”
But remember – you’re seeing everyone else’s highlight reel and comparing it to your behind-the-scenes bloopers.
Reassurance isn’t a strategy
It’s tempting to seek constant validation. “Is this good?” “Are you sure?” “No really, are you sure?” But relying on reassurance only feeds the beast. The more we chase it, the more we reinforce the idea that our instincts can’t be trusted.
Here’s the truth: if you’re in the room, you’re meant to be. You got hired, booked, invited, promoted, or published for a reason. You didn’t just sneak in through the side door with a fake name tag.
How to fight back (with flair)
1. Name it.
Call it what it is: imposter syndrome. The moment you say, “Oh hey, it’s you again,” you take away some of its power.
2. Keep a ‘wins’ folder.
Save that nice client email. Screenshot the praise. Bookmark the work you’re proud of. Revisit it on the tough days.
3. Create, even when it’s messy.
Your work doesn’t have to be perfect to be valuable. Progress > perfection, always.
4. Surround yourself with real people.
Find peers who share the struggle and talk about it. You'll discover everyone feels this way sometimes—even the ones who look like they’ve got it all figured out.
5. Back yourself.
Your voice, your style, your ideas—they matter. Being bold isn’t the absence of doubt; it’s choosing to act anyway.
So the next time your inner critic pipes up with, “Who let me in here?”—just smile and say:
“I did.”
And I’m staying.
Want to talk to someone who gets it? At BloomWood, we work with creatives every day—helping turn self-doubt into self-belief, and ideas into impact.