Jun 29

Jun 29 Episode #115: Imposter Syndrome

Welcome back! Grace and Alvina discuss imposter syndrome for the second time, including techniques to counter it.

The book friends are sad to report today that they don’t have any NEW Patreon members to announce this week! If you enjoy listening to this podcast, please help support it by becoming a patron and receive all kinds of fun perks. There are still notebooks available that have artwork by Grace and a favorite quote from Alvina’s mom: ‘If it is to be, it is up to me.”

“How have you been?”

Grace: Hazel ends school soon which means Grace will be back to juggling work and family life a bit more. She recently got together with some of her colleagues in person for the first time since the pandemic. Grace, Lisa Yee, Mike Curato, and Jarrett Krosoczka celebrated Curato’s LAMBDA literary award for his new book, Flamer!

Alvina also had published a book up for the LAMBDA award, CAMP by L.C. Rosen.

Alvina recently did some indoor dinning in NYC. She went to a place where it was a “Carte blanche” menu. “Carte blanche” by definition means: “complete freedom to act as one wishes or thinks best,” so you are basically giving the chef free rein to serve you what he wishes and it will rely on what fresh ingredients are available for that evening, many of which will be flown in from Japan and Europe.

Imposter Syndrome

Definition by Dr. Pauline Rose Clance: an internal experience of intellectual phoniness in people who believe that they are not intelligent, capable, or creative, despite high levels of achievement. The book friends have talked about IS before (Episode #19) but want to address it again to normalize it. It is the opposite of the Dunning -Kruger Effect.

Grace and Alvina discuss imposter syndrome as it pops up in their lives as minorities, women, artists, and also possibly as part of their DNA.

Some ways to overcome IS:

Make a list of the reasons why you are just as qualified as any.
Say your name out loud daily affirmations.
Own your accomplishments.
Visualize your success.

Grace and Alvina share some of their own ways to combat imposter syndrome when it comes to work and living their daily lives.

Fortune Cookie Segment: A trip down memory lane!

“What was the moment in our careers, when our imposter syndrome went away for just a moment and we felt that we were going to make it in our careers?”

Find out how these books were a part of their “wow I’ve made it!” moments!

Gratefuls:

Alvina is grateful for jigsaw puzzles and all the joy they can bring! Grace is grateful that her flowers are blooming especially the poppy’s! She is grateful for this podcast as someone eased her fears about the gap in her published books, “Don’t worry, you have a podcast, no one will forget about you.”

Patron grateful from Deborah: “I’m grateful for the teachers, students, and parents who worked together against all odds. I’m grateful to be able to teach in person again and most of all, for seeing the children flourish.”

Thank you!

Thank you for tuning in! Thank you to Hachette Audio, Little Brown Books for Young Readers, and Alex at Pacyworks Studio. Be sure to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts and tell a friend about us. (Use the hashtag #bookfriendsforever.)