This Might Get Creative -With Brand Strategist & Creative Director Svenja Lyon

Why Imposter Syndrome Shows Up in High Performers—and How to Reframe ItSvenja Lyon talks with Lawrence D. Eichen, Esq., an attorney, professional speaker, and negotiation coach, about imposter syndrome: where it can come from, how it affects capable people, and what can help quiet the self-doubt.Drawing on his experience moving from computer programming into law, Lawrence shares how imposter feelings followed him through law school and his legal career—even as he achieved strong results. Together, Svenja and Lawrence explore how early messages can shape our beliefs about competence, why achievements are easy to dismiss, and how taking imperfect action can build confidence over time.In this episodeLawrence’s unexpected transition from computer programming to lawWhy the uncertainty of law school challenged his need for clear answersHow childhood messages can affect the way we interpret successCommon signs of imposter syndrome, including perfectionism, procrastination, indecision, and fear of being exposedWhy “fake it till you make it” may reinforce the feeling of being an imposterA more empowering alternative: “I’ll handle it”How avoiding help—or relying too heavily on others—can stem from self-doubtWhy imperfect action can help build confidence and reduce fearHow writing down accomplishments can make your progress easier to recognizeThe difference between imposter syndrome and overconfidenceWhy comparing yourself to social media highlights can keep you focused on “the gap”Practical takeawaysSeparate the feeling of being an imposter from the facts of what you’ve accomplished.Focus on your gains rather than comparing yourself with an ideal version of yourself or someone else.Keep a written list of your achievements to revisit when self-doubt appears.Notice the messages behind your fears and challenge the ones that no longer fit.Try replacing “I have to fake it” with “I’ll handle it.”Take one imperfect step instead of waiting until you feel completely ready.Timestamps00:00 – What imposter syndrome sounds like in high achievers02:00 – Lawrence’s move from programming to law03:30 – How law school intensified his self-doubt05:10 – The fear of being exposed despite professional success06:10 – Childhood messages and the habit of minimizing achievements08:08 – Why one success can feel like it never counts09:08 – Imposter syndrome as a “bug” in your mental operating system10:35 – The stress and anxiety behind the fear of being found out12:58 – Exploring where self-doubt can begin18:13 – Updating old messages and beliefs21:54 – Recognizing common symptoms and coping behaviors23:20 – Why “fake it till you make it” can reinforce the problem24:15 – Using “I’ll handle it” as a more empowering message25:40 – The fear of asking for help28:11 – Why mistakes can feel like a threat to your identity31:08 – Imperfect action as a way to reduce fear33:50 – Letting your accomplishments count as evidence37:26 – Writing down your achievements39:51 – Lawrence’s imposter syndrome while speaking about imposter syndrome42:20 – The “emergency brake” metaphor43:56 – Discussing the opposite problem: overconfidence without preparation46:22 – Lawrence’s practical tips for dealing with imposter syndrome49:44 – Svenja’s advice about social media comparisons51:38 – How to contact LawrenceContact LawrenceEmail: [email protected]: firstclassspeaking.com

Danielle McDougald didn't plan on starting a business. She was home with a newborn during her husband's first deployment when a friend needed help with admin and social media in the early days of COVID, and that favor turned into The Virtual Helping Hand. Danielle talks with Svenja about building a fully remote business around military moves, the exact social media strategy she uses with clients, and the year she finally started telling her own followers what she did for work.●      Why Danielle kept her business separate from her personal social media for three years, and what changed in 2023●      The three content pillars she builds every client's social strategy around●      How Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook each reward completely different posting habits●      Why an unedited, imperfect video outperformed all of her polished content●      The affirmation practice she used to build the confidence to call herself a business owner Connect with Danielle:●      Website: www.thevirtualhelpinghand.com●      Email: [email protected]●      Social: @virtualhelpinghand on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedInSUPPORT THE CHANNELA few tools I use and recommend. Some links are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.●      Flodesk (email marketing): flodesk.com/c/LYONCREATIVES●      HoneyBook (client management): share.honeybook.com/svenja7629354Audio editing by Mike at Nielsen Audio Solutions (https://www.nielsenaudiosolutions.com/).Think your brand could use some work? Take the free Brand Audit Scorecard at lyoncreatives.com/brand-audit-scorecard and find out where you stand.Listen: https://thismightgetcreative.riverside.com/

Gwendolyn Young built Your Virtual Admin Expert after a lupus diagnosis forced her to rethink what a sustainable business could look like. She talks with Svenja about starting from a makeshift website with zero virtual assistant experience, landing her first client six months in, and the systems that kept her operations running even through unplanned hospital stays. They get into the moment she finally hired help, what she got wrong the first time, and how her brand had to catch up to the level of work she was already delivering. It's a conversation about building a business around your life instead of the other way around.In this episode:Why a lupus diagnosis became the foundation for how Gwendolyn structures her businessThe systems and scheduling automations that keep client work moving when she can't show upWhat finally pushed her to hire her first team member, and what she got wrong at firstHow her brand evolved once her marketing finally matched the caliber of her workConnect with Gwendolyn:Website: yourvirtualadminexpert.comSocial: @yourvirtualadminexpert (all platforms)SUPPORT THE CHANNELA few tools I use and recommend. Some links are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Flodesk (email marketing): flodesk.com/c/LYONCREATIVESHoneyBook (client management): share.honeybook.com/svenja7629354Audio editing by Mike at Nielsen Audio Solutions.Think your brand could use some work? Take the free Brand Audit Scorecard at lyoncreatives.com/brand-audit-scorecard and find out where you stand.Listen: https://thismightgetcreative.riverside.com/

Stephanie Ohannesian spent four years producing events for NBC Universal without a single day off, until her body shut down and she landed in the ER. That crisis became Triage Coaching and Consulting, a burnout and stress mitigation company built on a bold idea: most of the stress patterns running your life were never yours to begin with. With a master's degree in decision-making sciences and social cognition, Stephanie breaks down the science of burnout, the warning signs we all ignore, and why building a brand is the most personal thing you will ever do.In this episode we talk about:The red flags Stephanie ignored for four years, and why your body signals stress long before your brain admits itInherited stress patterns: how survival responses get passed down through generations and quietly run your business decisionsThe 2:1 breathing technique that tells your nervous system you're safe before a high-stakes meetingHow one clear sentence ("we rewire your stress circuitry") did what ten minutes of explaining never couldWhy 95 percent of buying decisions happen subconsciously, and what that means for your website and your brandStephanie's two-column exercise for calling out imposter syndrome on paperListener offer: Stephanie is giving away her Low Road Audit, a free 90-minute session on where you stand emotionally with your brand and identity, to the first five to seven listeners who email Triage and mention This Might Get Creative. Connect with Stephanie:Website: triagebalancedlife.comPodcast: The Raw OnionInstagram: triage_globalLinkedIn: Stephanie OhannesianSUPPORT THE CHANNEL:This episode is sponsored by Flodesk. Get 25% off your first year: flodesk.com/c/LYONCREATIVESRun your client pipeline with HoneyBook: https://share.honeybook.com/svenja7629354Think your brand could use some work? Take the free Brand Audit Scorecard at lyoncreatives.com/brand-audit-scorecard and find out where you stand.

Caroline Benefield wrote a cozy fantasy series, won best manuscript at a writing conference, and had agents asking for more. Then she realized writing was healing her, not building her career. She founded Southern Grit Digital, a marketing consultancy for women-led businesses, and leaned into the part of her brain she'd ignored for years: data and testing. In this episode she talks about knowing when to walk away from something you're good at, and the testing strategies that pulled a $4,000 return out of a $300 ad spend.In this episode we get into:•       Why being good at something is not the same as wanting to build a career on it•       How creative work can heal you without needing to be monetized•       Turbo A/B testing: changing one element every five to seven days for the most data on the smallest budget•       How to segment an email list for real A/B test results instead of a straight split down the middle•       Why your identity is allowed to shift, and why grieving the old version of you helps you move forwardConnect with Caroline:•       Website: southerngritdigital.com•       Instagram: @southerngritdigital•       LinkedIn: Caroline WeeksSUPPORT THE CHANNELA few tools I use and recommend. Some links are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.•       Flodesk (email marketing): flodesk.com/c/LYONCREATIVES•       HoneyBook (client management): share.honeybook.com/svenja7629354Audio editing by Mike at Nielsen Audio Solutions. Think your brand could use some work? Take the free Brand Audit Scorecard at lyoncreatives.com/brand-audit-scorecard and find out where you stand.Listen: https://thismightgetcreative.riverside.com/