Do you prepare to Win? VS Imposter Syndrome.
Do you prepare to win? ... It’s a question worth asking.
Recently I was nominated for a prestigious speaking award. And I wanted to win. I wanted to win badly. I mean, who doesn’t love winning?
Like all awards the nominees were wonderful. I was up against phenomenal talent but I still wanted to win. And more than wanted to win, I prepared to win. I acknowledged the wonder of being nominated. I was very grateful. I chose an awards outfit and I had a speech written.
I didn’t win and I was bitterly disappointed. Which is a normal human response when you want something badly. And yes there is always next year etc... However, the one thing I wanted to ensure was that IF I didn’t win, I wouldn't get on stage and utter the words…. ‘ I didn’t expect this’…OR.. ‘I don’t have any words prepared’ etc…
Because if you’re not preparing to win, what exactly are you preparing for?
You’ve worked hard. You’re nominated. You’re in the race. So why not prepare to win?
It doesn’t mean you will win. At whatever it is you're trying to win at. But my gosh, it’s a far more powerful stance when you believe you are worthy of winning and in fact, could win.
As high achievers we are no strangers to pressure, performance, or ambition. But here’s the truth most people won’t tell you, many are better prepared to work hard, overdeliver, and keep pushing…than they are to actually win.
Why?...Because Imposter Syndrome robs them of the ability to fully internalise success. It skews their view of competence. It convinces them that their wins are luck, timing, or someone else’s doing. And when that story takes hold, it becomes incredibly difficult to prepare to win or feel ‘ready’ or ‘deserving’ despite the fact THEY'VE EARNED IT.
And while preparing to win and celebrating wins is powerful, it’s not a magic fix.
BUT it is a tool, a very strategic and powerful one.
Preparation and celebration, when done with intention, helps you log the EVIDENCE. And evidence is what intercepts, redirects and rewires your internal narrative. It gives you something to stand on when the story in your head says, “You’re not good enough,” or “They’re going to find you out.”
When you acknowledge and celebrate your wins, without apology, you’re not just standing in your true worth and feeding your confidence. You’re activating your brain’s reward system. Feel-good neurotransmitters are released when you recognise achievement. That chemical reinforcement keeps you motivated, resilient, and forward-moving. Your brain wants more of it. And you benefit greatly.
Put simply: Reward drives better behaviours.
Cement the belief you're worthy. Celebrate the win. Repeat the pattern.
As Serena Williams once said:
QUOTE “I’ve always believed I could be the best. I just worked hard at it. And I still do.”
Notice how she started with the BELIEF not the Action?
That is because Serena Williams has never experienced Imposter Syndrome.
Why?... Because she has always believed SHE could achieve what she set her mind too and more than that, that she was worthy enough to achieve it. The action follows the belief and therefore she internalises her success and progress, she doesn’t deflect it away like those experiencing Imposter Syndrome.
In those experiencing Imposter Syndrome - the action is first, often multiple actions but the Positive BELIEF IS NOT THERE. You instead believe you’re an intellectual fraud despite evidence to the contrary.
Serena’s belief never came from wishful thinking. It came from an internal narrative anchored in self worth, preparation, repetition and internalising the evidence. She prepared to win. She internalised wins when they happened and she celebrated wins and success. This is the recipe for conquering Imposter Syndrome, we work on the belief and negative stories first, but in doing so we must reconnect with the evidence of our competence and success (your wins)
Here are 5 ways to set yourself up to win personally, professionally, and internally:
1. Know what winning looks like for you.
Not someone else’s definition. Yours. Define success on your own terms. Without clarity, you’ll keep chasing goals that don’t belong to you or that are driven by fear, and Imposter Syndrome thrives in that chaos.
2. Speak to yourself like someone worth believing in.
Your self-talk sets the tone. And in high-pressure environments, it often becomes the make or break factor. Evidence-based statements (not positive affirmations) help you redirect negative thought loops and bring your mind back to reality not insecurity. To win, your internal language must match your external ambition. I cover this extensively in Conquer Your Imposter™ available in print, kindle and audio
3. Create and collect evidence.
Keep a record of your achievements, big or small. This isn’t vanity, it’s strategy. Document wins, feedback, milestones. You’ll need this when Imposter Syndrome flares up and you need hard facts to ground yourself. This is a very simple but powerful step. It’s not a miraculous fix, but it is a key part of the process.
4. Strengthen your support system.
Surround yourself with people who lift you up, celebrate your wins, and challenge you in healthy ways. They make you feel good, they make you want to be even better, but more importantly they allow you to be who you truly are now.
5. Celebrate wins without apology.
You don’t have to dull your shine to make others comfortable. In fact, no one should be expecting you to do that. Your people will want to celebrate with you and for you. Imposter Syndrome tells you to play small in some way. Self worth says: You deserve this and Confidence says: You’ve done the work, own it. And if you notice someone not clapping for you, remember them, they are not your people. They’re showing you that. Believe them.
Please remember:
Winning isn’t just a result. And it’s not luck. It’s a readiness. It’s the belief, the systems and the strategy to know you’re not here by accident. You’re here because you’ve earned it. You’re here because you’re capable and competent. You’re here because you’re as ready as you’ll ever be and the rest you’ll learn as you go.
And you deserve to win.
So if you’re ready to truly conquer Imposter Syndrome, don’t keep hoping it will simply go away, hope in this case is not a strong strategy.
It’s time to prepare to win, so you can tell your Imposter feelings they’re no longer in charge.
You hold the power, not your Imposter Syndrome or the environment.
Are you prepared to win this week? Or have you won already?
Until next time.
