Tag: imposter syndrome

Progress over perfection

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It just works. 

Whether you’re learning how to swim, 

Taking dance classes,

Or trying to make better content for your business.

Progress over perfection is the key to learning the best way forward for you.

Why? 

Because progress leaves you accountable to your goals. Progress is kind. Progress knows what it takes to get up the hill.

But perfection on the other hand…

Perfection only lets you do things once. Perfection doesn’t care about you. Perfection doesn’t want to see you grow and succeed. 

Progress over perfection.

One of the most interesting perspectives I’ve heard about imposter syndrome goes something like this.

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Say you’re a graphic designer, but you just started in the field and graphic design wasn’t what you majored in.

You feel like you don’t belong and you don’t deserve your title, even though you’re several months into your job already and everyone thinks you’re capable.

Even though you’re doing the job and living the career of a graphic designer, you don’t feel like you are one.

The perspective applies here: there’s something in your mind/body that is rejecting and battling with reality. 

That is imposter syndrome (or at least one way to think about imposter syndrome).

Fear Doesn’t Want to See You Succeed

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If there’s one thing I learned from working alongside both parents in a Chinese restaurant, it’s this. 

Do not fear fear. 

Do not trip up over something as invisible and manipulative as fear. 

Do not fall into a haze of doubt and uncertainty fuelled by fear. 

My parents packed up the little they had and moved to Canada when they were in their 20s. 

They were leaving their rural village in China for a foreign country where they couldn’t speak the language. 

They traded the familiar for the unfamiliar.

They left their routines, way of living, and their culture for something different.

They didn’t have a lot of money, but they worked day till night for years to make up for it. 

They didn’t know their “10 year plan” because they didn’t have one.

While I’m sure they were partially terrified in this part of their life, they still made it through.

The truth is, a lot of other people make it through their fears too. 

Many survive and live to tell their tale. 

Do not fear fear.

You have to be your biggest fan. Here’s why

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To every young designer or artist who holds doubt,


Be a fan of your own work.


Nobody else is going to hold more dedication for your work than you.


Nobody else is going to know your intentions more than you.


You’re allowed to feel insecure, but that’s when you have to be your own biggest fan.

Self-Doubt: I Have A Confession To Make

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I have a confession to make. 

Sometimes I don’t believe in my work even though I tell others they must believe in theirs. 

I feel like my work has to be validated through likes, interactions, and shares, even though I’m religious about writing regardless of external validation. 

Oftentimes, I feel like my work isn’t good enough.

My best guess to all of this is, we’re human.

It’s okay to experience doubt and insecurity from time to time. 

If you feel this, just know that you’re not alone. I’m right with you on the same boat. 

A Letter To Myself: Who Am I?

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What does imposter syndrome mean? 

I admit, I have trouble internalizing that I’m any sort of creative professional.

Despite going through 5 years of design school,

Despite maintaining a daily blog about creativity for 2+ years,

It doesn’t feel like anything substantial.

Even after hosting countless workshops for creatives with The Habit Factory,

And even these past few years where I’ve done nothing but social media marketing for my parent’s restaurant. 

There’s an unshakeable feeling that somewhere down the line, the hypothetical rug from under my feet will be pulled. 

There’s a part of me who asks, what are we doing?

And another part who says, let’s keep going because we’ve got something good. 

(I’m not asking for comfort or reassurance. I think I’ll find my answers in due time) 

Get Over Perfectionism: How to post your design work on social media without feeling self-conscious about it

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In 2017, I wanted to be an illustrator. I was drawing a lot in my sketchbook, and I was hearing a lot of people around me say they wanted to share more of their work on social media. The thought of posting my work on Instagram was always on my mind, however I couldn’t bring myself to do it because I was worried my work wasn’t good enough. 

Now let’s stop right there and break things down. There are a few simple questions to ask yourself when you’re having this seemingly mundane conversation in your head. 

If you’re stuck saying, “I’m worried my work isn’t good enough”—who exactly is saying that? Who exactly put that question into your mind? Good enough for who? 

If you’re someone who gets stuck at “my work isn’t good enough” and you want to change that, I hope you keep on reading. 

Let’s circle back to the 3 questions. Who exactly says your work isn’t good enough? Who is putting a line of insecurity through your head? Who are you trying to be good enough for? Who comes to mind? 

For a long time, the “person” who was giving me feelings of insecurity and doubt was a mix of my mom who always made a push for more, and some random uncle who made fun of my drawings one time when I was maybe 8.

My mom was constantly telling me that my work could be better.  That random uncle made me feel like my drawings were dumb. 

It took me 2 years later to sit down and answer these simple questions. I’ve made a mental switch since then. 

Again, who has told you in the past that your work isn’t good enough? Who puts the feeling of inadequacy through your mind? Who are you trying to be “good enough” for? 

If you’ve been telling yourself that your work isn’t good enough every time you’re about to hit that “Share” button on Instagram, Behance, your blog, or any other public space, I hope this helps. 

Dear Freelancers: the Market Doesn’t Need to Know Whether or Not You Went to Design School

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The market, your customers, doesn’t need to know whether or not you went to design school.

The market doesn’t wrestle with your imposter syndrome.

The market doesn’t care whether you’ve put 1 hour or 2 months into your work. 

The market needs someone that works for the market.

The market wants work that appeals to their tastes. 

The market wants a functional website that gets them the product they need in their lives. 

The market wants work that works for the market (and that has nothing to do with your insecurities). 

The market wants design that accomplishes something, whether that is building brand awareness, promoting a sale, or featuring a new product.

The market is constantly looking for better, and it could be that they’re looking for you.

Marketing Yourself

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if you’re better than the designer next door, why is it that they land more clients than you do?

The answer lies in awareness. Maybe their clients aren’t aware of any other options.

Also because setting up shop but not letting anyone walk through the doors does not help. This means creating your website but also sharing it to let people know you’re here.

If you want to be considered as a choice, you’ve got let other people know you’re available where they are.

How You See the World is Barely a Reflection of How Other People See Your World.

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This is a post about being worried about what other people are thinking about you.

I think it’s okay, even normal, to hold fear about your imperfections and insecurities.

I was the kid who used to hide her artwork from people watching as she drew, not because I thought my drawings were bad, but because I was worried what other people would think of them and me.

And then I started asking, why do I care so much?

It’s honestly a blur what happened the following years, but I think it’s safe to say that most people aren’t looking at us the way we fear they are.