Reinvention Road Trip

Everybody's talking about impostor syndrome.  It’s the new phrase we’re throwing around, right?  So, what's all this buzz about.  Impostor Syndrome is a feeling. Bottom line.  A feeling of being a fraud that if not checked, can drive you to make decisions that might hold you back.  

Hold you back from what...?  Pursuing your dream job, starting that blog for millennials, going after that new role in your department or moving to another country to open a little coffee shop.

Impostor Syndrome is a feeling that if gone unchecked can wreak some havoc on your life and have you doubting even the most logical or oblivious more. 

Turns out 70% of Americans suffer from Impostor Syndrome.  Today, I want to help you and hopefully save you some angst along the way.  I’ll share the 5 types of impostors and a few quick tip to overcoming this common feeling of intellectual self-doubt.

Dr. Valerie Young found these subgroups in her book The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women.

·       Perfectionist
·       Superwoman/Superman
·       The natural genius. 
·       Soloist
·       The Expert

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Imposter Syndrome

0:00 - Introduction Quotation

0:16 - Podcast Introduction

1:00 - Episode Introduction

2:18 - Jes’ 1st Encounter with Imposter Syndrome

4:15 - Feeling like a Fraud

5:12 - The Exit from GE

6:07 - Imposter Syndrome & The Five Types of Imposters

7:49 - The Perfectionist

8:28 - The Superman/woman

9:02 - The Natural Genius

9:45 - The Soloist

10:22 - The Expert

10:48 - Five Types Summary

11:58 - Tips for Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

12:09 - Get Honest

13:35 - Help from a Superstar Friend

16:01 - Focus on Facts not Feelings

17:31 - Know that Sometimes being an Outsider is Normal

19:14 - Know your Highlight Reel

22:16 - Fake it Until You Make It

23:08 - Do away with If-Then Statements

26:00 - Closing

28:35 Outro 

If you would like more information, you can find all things reinvention at JesAverhart.com where you can join the Reinvention Road Trip.

Mentioned Specifically in this Podcast:

The Secret Thoughts of Successful Women by Dr. Valerie Young 

Goal Digger Podcast by Jenna Kutcher

From Global Marketing Agency Executive to Founder and CEO of Wood Underwear; Terresa Zimmerman takes us behind-the-scenes on her journey to...take the leap!

So many of us are killin' the game in our professional careers and yet that little voice still nudges us to make a change, take the leap and chase our dreams. Terresa shares what led her to leave her global role in corporate America.  She explores who she confided in along the way and how she landed on men's underwear as her next challenge.

Terresa leaves us with her tips and takeaways to help you think through your next move.

Reinvention Road Trip Newsletter at: https://www.jesaverhart.com

Interview with Terresa Zimmerman

0:01 - Intro Quote

0:30 - Podcast Introduction

1:06 - Episode Introduction

1:32 - Guest Introduction

3:16 - Terresa’s Background

6:01 - The Many Pivot Points of Life

7:41 - Career as Progression of Depth

8:52 - Searching for How to Reinvent Self

9:48 - Landing on Men’s Underwear

12:20 - What gave you the push to launch Wood Underwear versus not try?

14:50 - Superstar Friend Appearance

16:21 - What is the hardest part of the reinvention choice for you?

18:39 - Living without the Background

20:24 - Two Truths and a Lie

22:15 - Truth - Jumping Before Thinking

24:42 - Truth - Necessity to Balance with Other Types of People

25:41 - Lie - “If I can, I should.”

28:36 - Extra Gems - “Power in No” “There’s Greatness in Being Still” 

29:24 - Bonus Takeaways

29:45 - TED Talk on Gratitude

30:17 - Take a Mind Break

31:26 Outro 

We would like to give our thanks to Terresa Zimmerman for participating in Today’s Episode.

Terresa Zimmerman is the Founder & CEO of Wood Underwear 

If you would like more information, you can find all things reinvention at JesAverhart.com where you can join the Reinvention Road Trip. 

Mentioned Specifically in this Podcast:

TED Talk on Gratitude by David Steindl-Rast

As you know, I’m obsessed with the Road to REINVENTION.  As a Mom, Storyteller, and member of a Badass Girl Tribe – I use my flaws and lessons to fuel each incredible life chapter!

Here’s my theory…  In order to really embrace your reinvention…you need to have a handle on your origin story. If we’re lucky, we’ll all go through many reinventions in our lifetime… but there’s likely one story that started it all.  It defined how you moved, who you were and where your biases of thought, interests and religion came from.  Before launching my coaching practice and building the curriculum for the reinvention roadmap…I dug in and got to work privately so I could come to terms with how I move and why.  

Here a little peek into my origin story…

I grew up in a small town in Ohio – It actually didn’t even classify as a town or city.  There were only 200 people in Evansport – so it technically classifies as a village.   Evansport (while small) has a really interesting history.  It was once an important river port, a booming canal town back in its heyday moving flour and grains around the Midwest; but when the railroads were built they won the transportation wars. Evansport, sadly was on the losing side.  It instead reinvented itself into a sleepy, quiet almost forgotten little place that hosted my childhood. 

Here’s the deal, I have a complex background like many of us.  First, I’m biracial.  My mom had me while she was stationed in Germany during her time in the military.  She is white and my dad was black.  My dad honored my mom’s wishes and removed himself from my life, which is a pretty incredible story that just came full circle.  But that’s for another time. 

After 8 ½ years of serving in the Army, my mom moved me back to her hometown of Evansport when I was three so she could be close to family and settle in to civilian life.  So, here I am in this little town; and the only chocolate drop in the blondie you might say. It really didn’t hit me until I was a little bit older that I was different and living in a whole town that didn’t look like me.  

Here’s the thing…back in the late 70’s early 80’s my family makeup was definitely uncommon and would have sparked a lot of gossip and whispers.  BUT….my grandparents were successful business owners; in fact we’d call them Serial Entrepreneurs today.  Because of their success and influence in the community and throughout NW  Ohio, they were very respected – especially my grandpa.  The idea that this influential, highly-respected white man, thought his black granddaughter was EVERYTHING…was sort of a signal that everyone around him should think I was everything too.   Just by being a member of this family…I had sort of a halo effect; and I was sheltered from the gossip that was certainly happening at dinner tables.  

It wasn’t until one day when I was standing in the full length mirror that was screwed into the back of my bedroom door that it really hit me.  I was maybe 6 or 7 and I had on those little short shorts with the stripe down the side and a white shirt.  I looked in the mirror and for the first time actually looked at my skin as if I wasn’t living in it.  I can remember what I had on because I was thinking about how dark my skin was next to my white top.   I looked at my little afro, my nearly burnt black ears from the Summer sun and examined the dark brown lines on the palms of my hands.  On this day, that I saw what everyone else saw - a little Black girl...