Don't let YOU be the reason you fail.

Many years ago, I worked for someone so awful, it spurred me to silly (but necessary) coping mechanism just to get by. I adjusted my schedule to minimize our overlap, I figured out which floor tiles were noisiest so I could frog-step past her cubicle unnoticed - I even scanned parking lots at nearby stores for her car before stopping to get groceries.

To say I felt beaten down was an understatement.

One day, I saw an email ad for a work-related training event that I was interested in. I thought, "she'll never approve it so why bother?" and deleted it. And in that moment, I saw something in myself that I had long feared: defeat.

From my earliest days as a working professional, I had seen people who would say "why bother", "don't try", "you'll only get hurt" and I wrote them off - swearing I'd never be like them. And for the better part of a decade, it was true.

But after years of putdowns and jibes; nasty comments and passive aggression, I saw that I was becoming exactly what I swore never to. So I dug in my heels, fetched the email out of the trash, and applied anyway. And you know what? I was right. She flat denied it.

But so what?

Imposter Syndrome

I wrote this article because of someone I know who is suffering from imposter syndrome to the point she doesn't feel like putting in a job application that she clearly qualifies for.

Her situation reminds me of that day and the many times I've struggled with imposter syndrome since. There are times I legit am not qualified and there are times that I am, but don't make the cut. And that's ok!

Because the important thing is to try. Let the barriers stand in your way. Let the bad market leave you in the "no" pile. Let it all come. Just don't let YOU be the reason you fail.