1 | Bye, Imposter Syndrome: Why to Start Before You're Ready

Feeling stuck by imposter syndrome or afraid to start? This episode is your permission slip to show up messy, let go of perfection, and take that first brave step.

Why you'll love this episode:

• How to start before you’re ready (even if your mic is surrounded by couch cushions)
• Real talk on imposter syndrome and how to quiet that “who do you think you are?” voice
• Simple ways to build confidence and momentum when self-doubt tries to steal the show

🎙 Let’s connect:
What small step are you taking for yourself this week? I seriously want to know—DM me on Instagram @growingwildpodcast and tell me!

⬇️ Grab your free Small Step Bingo Card → Download here 

Let’s keep growing together!

✨ Follow along and say hi on Instagram: @growingwildpodcast
🎥 Watch full podcast episodes on YouTube
📚 Browse my book recommendations for mindset & self-growth
🌱 Want more support, tools, and resources? Start here: jamiecole.co

Episode Transcript

Jamie Cole (00:00):
Do you ever feel like life's one giant balancing
act and you're the circus freakjuggling flaming swords while
trying to look like you got yourcrap together?
Yeah, me too.
Today, I'm talking about takingthose first little steps to
whatever goal you have in mindand beating imposter syndrome.
You know, the fun little voicein your head that loves to ask,

(00:21):
who the heck do you think youare and why it's time to tell
that voice to take a freakingseat?
Because you don't have to beperfect for everyone else.
You just have to be good enoughfor yourself.
Welcome to Growing Wild, thepodcast where we embrace the

(00:42):
messy, beautiful chaos of lifeand figure out how to thrive in
it.
I'm Jamie Cole, a marketer bytrade, dreamer by heart, and
your host on this journey tofiguring it all out together.
This is the space where we'regoing to talk about real stuff,
like learning to be good enoughfor yourself, setting boundaries
without apologizing, doing thething you've been dreaming of,

(01:04):
and building a life that feelsauthentic, even if you have no
idea where to start.
Through mentorship, real talk,and a whole lot of trial and
error, I want to inspire you toshow up confidently, tap into
your creativity, and buildsomething that feels 100% you.
So if you're ready for thebest, most unapologetically real
version of yourself, grab yourcoffee, shot of tequila, or

(01:28):
whatever keeps you sane, andlet's grow.
Before we dive in, can we justacknowledge something?
Life is a lot.
Maybe you're clocking in 40hours a week and somehow also
expected to meal prep, cleanyour house, and get your steps
in.
Or maybe you're a mom whoseentire day revolves around

(01:51):
snacks, laundry, and negotiatingwith tiny dictators.
Or, you know, maybe you're justtrying to survive in this
weird, overstimulating world welive in.
Whatever your situation, I seeyou.
You're not alone.
And let's be real.
When you're juggling that much,the last thing that you're
thinking of is carving out timefor yourself.
But here's the deal.

(02:13):
If you don't make space foryou, who will?
And no, I'm not saying you needto find time.
Screw that phrase.
The time isn't hiding underyour couch cushions.
You have to make it.
Even if it's just five minutesa day to breathe and remember
who you really are outside ofall of the chaos, I could have
an entire another episode juston that.

(02:34):
And maybe I will.
The first thing I want to talkabout is the thing constantly
holding me back from my next bigidea, imposter syndrome, or as
I like to call it, the voice inmy brain living rent-free.
You know the one.
It whispers sweet nothingslike, you're not good enough, or
why would anybody take youseriously?

(02:55):
You're not qualified at this atall.
Cute, right?
No.
Here's the thing.
I've started so many projectsand business ventures over the
years, and every single time,that voice pops up.
It's like clockwork.
But you know what I'verealized?
That voice doesn't mean thatI'm not good enough.
It just means that I'm human.

(03:15):
For years, I thought I had toprove myself to everyone.
Friends, family, especiallyrandom strangers on Instagram.
But all that did was exhaustme, and honestly, it didn't even
work.
The only person I needed toprove myself to was me.
And once I started to realizethat, things started to shift.

(03:35):
Now, let me just pause righthere and say, I am not standing
on some mountaintop ofself-confidence yelling, I've
got it all together, because Idon't.
Not even close.
Half the time, I'm just wingingit, hoping for the best and
learning as I go.
So if you're listening,thinking she must have it all
figured out, let me save you thetrouble.
I don't, but I'm showing upanyway.

(03:57):
And if I can, so can you.
Being good enough isn't aboutarriving at some magical finish
line.
It's about taking one step at atime.
Even if you don't know exactlywhere the path leads, it's
messy, it's imperfect, andhonestly, that's the point.
So, are we ready for storytime?
Earlier I mentioned that I'vestarted many projects and then I

(04:19):
get discouraged before I cancomplete them.
Well, this podcast was one ofthose projects.
And it took some work and amajor mind shift to to get it to
the point where it is now.
And if I had waited until thesituation was perfect and felt
like I had it all together, Iwouldn't even be recording this
first episode right now.
And when I tell you I dwelledon perfection, I could not be

(04:41):
more serious.
And let me tell you why.
Because if you're going to havea podcast, you need podcast
cover art.
And if you're going to havecover art, you need a logo.
And if you have a logo, youneed brand image.
And there's so many fonts andthere's so many colors and I
could have spent yearsperfecting it.
And I spent way more time thanI'm proud of, honestly.
But then also, do I need awebsite?

(05:02):
Do I need an email address?
Of course, I'm going to need anInstagram handle and a
Pinterest.
And how will I advertise thefact that I have a podcast?
I need more social media and amarketing plan and all the
things.
But did I?
Do I?
Now, what about sound quality?
I'm going to need a differentsetup.
Do I need a microphone?
Well, to be honest, right nowI'm talking into a microphone

(05:23):
surrounded by my couch cushionsbecause I'm thinking that's
probably my best bet at acousticquality.
Now, at this point, I wasexhausted before I even started.
And then the imposter syndromekicked in.
So why was I doing this?
Who is going to listen to me?
Why do I think my story orwhatever I have to say is even
good enough to help anyone?
And then I really thought aboutit.

(05:45):
Well, if it helps me, isn'tthat enough?
If I can get my thoughts out ofmy head, that's kind of like
journaling.
And journaling helps people.
So maybe that will be enough.
And that's when it really cametogether.
Yes, that is enough.
And that's what this is allabout.
And that's what my point reallyis.
I didn't need a perfect logobecause if I'm being honest, I'm

(06:07):
going to end up changing it.
And that's okay because we allchange.
And being authentic isn't aboutbeing perfect.
Being me is more important.
So I finished the logo withminimal perfectionism and I'm
recording the episode right now.
And if you're listening to it,that means I published it and

(06:28):
you're my hero.
But even if my husband is theonly one who actually listens to
this, hey babe, that's okaytoo.
Because my words are out there,out of my mind, and I can start
working on episode two.
So how can all of this helpyou?
Well, here's my challenge.
Start small, like laughablysmall.
Take five minutes today to dosomething for yourself.

(06:51):
Journal down a random thought,scribble a doodle, or go hide in
the bathroom and record a voicerecording with your next big
idea.
Hey, I'm not judging.
Whatever it is, just start.
Because here's the truth.
No one else is going to show upfor you.
Not in the way that you can.
And those small steps, they addup.
They're the start of youbecoming the person that you're

(07:12):
meant to be.
And the best part?
You don't have to have it allfigured out to begin.
As an added bonus, I'm going toshare with you a fun little
printable that I made formyself.
It's called the Small StepBingo Card, and it's full of
tiny little actions that you cantake to push yourself to the
next step.
Keep it next to you at home orat work.

(07:34):
Heck, hang it on your fridgebecause it's pretty dang cute if
I do say so myself.
And when you get a bingo, gotreat yourself to an ice cream
cone or whatever tickles yourfancy because you freaking
deserve it.
You can find that download inthe show notes of this episode
or on my Instagram.
All right, well, I guess that'sit for today.
If this message hit home, or ifyou're also trying to figure

(07:57):
out how to kick impostersyndrome to the curb, let me
know.
I'd love to hear what smallstep you're taking to show up
for yourself.
You can find me on Instagram atjamiecole.growingwild, where
I'm sharing more tips, laughs,and messy moments from my wild
journey.
And hey, if you know someonewho needs to hear this, send it

(08:17):
their way.
Let's build a community ofpeople who are done with the
perfectionism game and ready togrow, flaws and all.
And remember, you don't have tobe perfect.
You don't have to have it allfigured out.
You just have to keep going.
Thanks for hanging out with metoday.
And until next time, stay wild.