I have frequently explained to people that I am a fraud. I've had 3 very satisfying careers from which I was neither qualified or prepared in any formal way; non-profit program management, child advocacy at the state level, national policy in the White House, and residential architecture. The lesson Learned has been that if something needs to be done, and no one better "qualified" is doing it... plunge in. you will almost certainly be gathering a whole new set of skills, and work relationships that will help you in the future.
I really related to this article, and it was eye-opening to get the perspective of a male doctor-turned-lawyer. I'm a female doctor, early-mid career, and often do see more Imposter Phenomenon amongst my female colleagues. It also seemed to feel like a doctor issue. So to read about a male experiencing it in a law career, despite having a medical career first, really helps drive home the fact that this isn't about medicine. I like how you point out that to a degree, people in "important-sounding jobs" are faking it (or feel like they are), and that it's the system factors that compensate for that, rather than everyone else being super-human. Seeing it as an issue outside of medicine helps me detach my Imposter Phenomenon from my identity as a doctor. It was also neat to read that self-directed CBT was helpful for you - I'm now much more motivated to open the CBT book I bought a year ago that has been sitting on my bookshelf gathering dust. Thanks for the article!
I have frequently explained to people that I am a fraud. I've had 3 very satisfying careers from which I was neither qualified or prepared in any formal way; non-profit program management, child advocacy at the state level, national policy in the White House, and residential architecture. The lesson Learned has been that if something needs to be done, and no one better "qualified" is doing it... plunge in. you will almost certainly be gathering a whole new set of skills, and work relationships that will help you in the future.
That seems like very wise advice to me.
I really related to this article, and it was eye-opening to get the perspective of a male doctor-turned-lawyer. I'm a female doctor, early-mid career, and often do see more Imposter Phenomenon amongst my female colleagues. It also seemed to feel like a doctor issue. So to read about a male experiencing it in a law career, despite having a medical career first, really helps drive home the fact that this isn't about medicine. I like how you point out that to a degree, people in "important-sounding jobs" are faking it (or feel like they are), and that it's the system factors that compensate for that, rather than everyone else being super-human. Seeing it as an issue outside of medicine helps me detach my Imposter Phenomenon from my identity as a doctor. It was also neat to read that self-directed CBT was helpful for you - I'm now much more motivated to open the CBT book I bought a year ago that has been sitting on my bookshelf gathering dust. Thanks for the article!
What a wonderful response! Thanks so much for writing this. I’m so glad you found it useful.