Imposter syndrome

How to beat it

SmartLess: On the Road is a documentary that follows actors Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, and Sean Hayes on the live tour of their podcast in 2022. Halfway through the first episode, we’re behind them as they walk into Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., to prepare for the first show.

We see the empty seats and the vastness of the concert hall.

“You’re telling me there’s going to be a person in each of these seats?” Bateman says to one of the crew off-camera.

We cut to Arnett, who’s walking through the first section toward the stage where Bateman is standing. “Dude, what have we done?” He says, “This is crazy.”

Then he turns and looks directly at us.

“I think we made a huge mistake.”

It’s a small interaction, and they’re half joking, but regardless, I find it reassuring.

Because I think that if three incredibly successful actors who have one of the most popular podcasts on the planet can experience imposter syndrome and these stinging moments of self-doubt, then it’s okay that I feel it, too.

Right?

I feel it most when I start a new project at work or sit down to write. That’s when I have to get the ideas and thinking from inside my head onto the page. And whether it’s a marketing budget or a 300-word blog post, the process is always painful. Knowing what to do and how to do it well isn’t ever as obvious as I assumed it would be by now, 15+ years into my career. So I’ll sit there for a while staring at the blank screen, cursing at my lack of ability while I twist the ends of my mustache and run my hands through my hair until I’ve finally had enough and I walk away.

The benefit of experiencing this almost every day for years is that I’ve learned the only way to get through it is simple: you have to get the damn thing done.

Which is why I always sit back down and try again.