The two villains every creative knows too well

The Memo from the Desk

Every Friday, we host a Maker Division coaching call… and after nearly three years of showing up every week, I’ve noticed something: the same struggles keep coming back.

Sure we answer questions about folks getting stuck on the curriculum, and help people through some tricky situations with client work. But those aren’t the patterns I’m talking about.

It goes deeper than that.

What we creatives struggle with is rooted in trauma and reinforced in identity. It invades our relationships with money, clients, and our craft.

It’s a self-propelled, self-perpetuating cycle that, if we don’t break out of it, can cause procrastination… or even complete paralysis.

This cycle has two phases: Imposter Syndrome and Perfectionism.

Imposter syndrome is a deep-seated feeling of being out of place. That we’re not good enough, qualified enough, or experienced enough to be where we are… even if this is objectively untrue.

Imposter syndrome shows up as a sinking feeling…

• during a sales call with a new potential client
• as we write a big, scary price down in a proposal
• right before a client presentation
• when thinking about hiring a team
• while doom scrolling all the incredible work on Instagram

And perfectionism? It’s a strange belief that in order to get or do what we want, we have to meet a specific standard. And that standard? It’s often a moving target that’s impossible to hit (and sometimes impossible even to define).

Perfectionism appears when…

• we hesitate to try a new craft, or style, or personal project
• we save our best ideas for “when we’re ready”
• we think about sharing our work
• we consider delegating some of our work
• most of the times when we say or think the word “can’t”

It’s a vicious cycle because perfectionism and imposter syndrome are two sides of the same coin.

Perfectionism tries to stop us from moving forward because we aren’t good enough. And when we do move forward, imposter syndrome lets us know that perfectionism was right… and we should keep it a secret at all costs.

But why? Why does this happen?

I can promise you: It’s not actually about standards. Or experience. Or qualifications. Or certainty. Or achievements.

It’s about Safety.

These two terrible twins show up like knights in shining armor to protect us when we feel vulnerable. To safeguard our sense of self in the face of the unknown.

We can’t get hurt if we don’t try.

But if we don’t try… if we don’t put ourselves out there from time to time… If we don’t stretch ourselves just a little bit, or take one step out of our comfort zone… we won’t grow.

What shields us from pain of failure also shields us from the rewards of success (or diminishes its value).

It’s a sinister consequence of something designed to protect us.

This cycle doesn’t go away (I can tell you that from experience, hehe).

But here’s the good news: it doesn’t need to.

We simply need to notice it and reframe it.

Keep an ear out for those whispering thoughts:

• “your work is shit, you better not hit publish”
• “you’re not worth that price, no one is”
• “you aren’t ready for this”
• “you don’t belong”
• “you aren’t good enough… yet”

When they scream into life, and you feel like shying away… don’t.

Give those noble knights a hug. Let them know you don’t need them right now. That you’ll be alright.

Because it’s true: you’ll be OK. Even if you fail. Even if you miss the mark creatively. Even if you lose the proposal. Even if you get a nasty comment or email reply.

That’s how we grow. Not by defeating fear, but by befriending it. And moving forward anyway (that’s courage, btw).

Because confidence, growth, and mastery follow motion. Not the other way around.

I’ll leave you with one final vote of confidence. A quote that hangs in my office from the great poet Walt Whitman:

“I exist as I am, that is enough,”

Cheering you on,

Ben Burns

Co-Founder, Maker Division

P.S.If this hit home, you’re not alone. If you’re feeling stuck, or stalled, or held back by the cycle of perfectionism and imposter syndrome… we can help. I’d love to see you in the community and maybe even on a coaching call. Click here to join any time. Give it a shot with zero risk. If it's not for you, let us know within the first thirty days and you'll get every dollar back.

P.p.s. We're coming to Atlanta GA! We're headed south the weekend of Jan 16th and 17th, and we'd love you to join us! More details and jump on the interest list: click here.

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