At some point, every freelancer has struggled with a crisis of confidence. For some, this ongoing battle has crippled their businesses. The symptoms of a crisis of confidence are not charging what you’re worth, having constant conflicts with worry and doubt, and a lack of satisfaction from your work. Takeaways: - Learn whether you are experiencing “Imposter Syndrome” - Understand the root of the crisis of confidence - Find some helpful tools to escape it Presented at WordCamp Birmingham, October 2016.

1. crisissurviving a of
confidence

2. Hi, I’m Nathan
From Birmingham, Alabama
Freelance Web Developer since 1995
iThemes Training Instructor since 2012
Business Coach for Freelance Web Developers
since 2013

3. Hi, I’m Nathan
I’m not an expert. I’m a learner.
My Qualification:
I’ve been doing this long enough
to have made all the common mistakes already.

4. Most freelancers have struggled with a
crisis of confidence.
For many, it’s an ongoing battle.

5. constant conflict with
worry and doubt
A Crisis of Confidence
Can Cripple Your Business

6. not charging
what you’re worth
A Crisis of Confidence
Can Cripple Your Business

7. allowing yourself
to be mistreated by clients
A Crisis of Confidence
Can Cripple Your Business

8. steals the joy and satisfaction
from your work
A Crisis of Confidence
Can Cripple Your Business

9. A documented psychological
phenomenon that affects high achievers
Impostor Syndrome

10. Impostor Syndrome
An inability to internalize your
accomplishments and a persistent fear
of being exposed as a fraud.
— Wikipedia

11. Do You Have
Impostor Syndrome?
A 10-question quiz…

12. Do You Have
Impostor Syndrome?
1. Are you ever worried people
may find out you’re not really as
capable as they think you are?

13. Do You Have
Impostor Syndrome?
2. Do you sometimes feel pressure
to know the answer to any
professional question someone
might ask you?

14. Do You Have
Impostor Syndrome?
3. Is it hard for you to accept
compliments about your work or
accomplishments?

15. Do You Have
Impostor Syndrome?
4. Do you secretly compare your
abilities to those around you and
feel like they’re better than you?

16. Do You Have
Impostor Syndrome?
5. Do you ever feel like the
reason things went well is
because you were just in the
right place at the right time or
knew the right people?

17. Do You Have
Impostor Syndrome?
6. Do you ever think that if you can
do it, anybody can?

18. Do You Have
Impostor Syndrome?
7. Do you agonize over even the
smallest flaws in your work?

19. Do You Have
Impostor Syndrome?
8. Do you become defensive when
you are given constructive criticism
because it makes you feel inept?

20. Do You Have
Impostor Syndrome?
9. When you have success, do you
privately feel like you’ve fooled
them again?

21. Do You Have
Impostor Syndrome?
10. Do you ever feel like you really
have no clue what you’re doing
and you’re afraid people will
find out?

22. Do You Have
Impostor Syndrome?
How many did you mark?

23. Web Developer’s
Impostor Syndrome

24. Web Developer’s
Impostor Syndrome
“I just chose the right theme.
Everything else was easy.”

25. Web Developer’s
Impostor Syndrome
“I just added a few plugins and
made them work… I didn’t really
do anything.”

26. Web Developer’s
Impostor Syndrome
“I just did a Google search and the
answer was right there.”

27. Web Developer’s
Impostor Syndrome
“I just ______________ …
Anyone could have done it.”

28. Web Developer’s
Impostor Syndrome
The iJust Problem
WHAT YOU KNOWWHAT YOUR CLIENT KNOWS
$ $ VALUE $ $

29. Where does it come from?

30. Where does it come from?
We tend to focus on the
people ahead of us.
We forget there
are people
behind us.

31. Where does it come from?
The people ahead
of you have the
same crisis of
confidence that
you have.

32. Where does it come from?
We have a crisis of
confidence when
we compare our
reality with a
persona.

33. How to Escape the Crisis
Four things to remember…

34. How to Escape the Crisis
Four things to remember…
No one is an expert at everything.
1. Be Realistic
• Most professions have specializations
• Web Development is no different

35. What
I Know
What I Think
Other People Know

36. What
I Know
What Other People Know

37. How to Escape the Crisis
Four things to remember…
No one is an expert at everything.
1. Be Realistic
• 3 types of freelance web developers
• Designers > Assemblers > Programmers
• Pick one and be great at it!

38. How to Escape the Crisis
Four things to remember…
Everyone is good at something.
2. Be Perceptive
• It’s easy to miss your area of greatest
proficiency because you do it naturally.

39. Unconscious
Incompetence
Conscious
Incompetence
Conscious
Competence
Unconscious
Competence
Four Stages of Competence
Blindspots Crisis Intuition*Proficiency
SOURCE: GORDON TRAINING INTERNATIONAL

40. How to Escape the Crisis
Four things to remember…
Everyone is good at something.
2. Be Perceptive
• Where will you focus?
• Do what you do best and then
find trustworthy partners for the rest.

41. How to Escape the Crisis
Four things to remember…
Pretending gets you nowhere.
3. Be Authentic
• Be honest about your deficits
• There is freedom in the phrase
“I don’t know (but I’ll find out)”

42. How to Escape the Crisis
Four things to remember…
Pretending gets you nowhere.
3. Be Authentic
• Surround yourself with friends that
will openly discuss their challenges.
• Authenticity breeds authenticity.

43. How to Escape the Crisis
Four things to remember…
We’re all in this together.
4. Be Helpful
• Reach out to people around you
on the escalator.
• Become a person it’s good to know.

44. How to Escape the Crisis
Four things to remember…
• Helping others will build your
confidence.
• Be humble as you help.
We’re all in this together.
4. Be Helpful

45. Be Realistic – No one is an expert at everything
Be Perceptive – Everyone is good at something
Be Authentic – Pretending gets you nowhere
Be Helpful – We’re all in this together
A Crisis of Confidence

46. Thanks!
Presentation Slides:
nathaningram.com/wcbham
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