I'm glad I have...

Prior to 2021, I had never heard of (at least that I can remember) the phrase “imposter syndrome”.

However, I quickly became acquainted with it once I decided to leave my staff pharmacist job at CVS and start my own business.

The only business course I took in undergrad was Macroeconomics (that’s back when I thought I wanted to be an accountant. That course made me quickly realize that was NOT God’s calling for my life.)

I didn’t get an MBA with my PharmD because I never imagined that I would be a business owner.

By definition, imposter syndrome is “the persistent inability to believe that one's success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one's own efforts or skills”.

And people who “suffer from imposter syndrome may be at increased risk of anxiety”. (my emphasis added).

Many people think imposter syndrome is bad.

But for me, I’m glad I have imposter syndrome.

I have, and probably always will have, imposter syndrome.

Why?

Because I’m doing something I’ve never done before.

And I will continue to push myself and what I think I can achieve.?

I started Tarheel PGx Consulting from scratch with no formal “education” or business degree.

I was not taught pharmacogenomics or nutrigenomics in pharmacy school.?

As long as I have imposter syndrome, it means I am doing something new and innovative.?

I am creating.

I am pushing myself to do something that is outside of my comfort zone.

I am not doing what everyone else is doing.

I am learning new skills every day, week, month and year.

Because I keep trying, I will have imposter syndrome.

I don’t want to suffer from imposter syndrome.

I want to embrace it.

Are you suffering from imposter syndrome or embracing it?

-Melissa