Imposter Syndrome, Perfectionism, and Fear of Judgment: The 3 Biggest Mindset Blocks in Running a Small Business
Running a business is hard. Hard AF.
You’re juggling it all: working in the business and on the business, playing manager, accountant, sales staff, QA specialist, IT team, customer service rep… you do it all.
Oh yeah, and on top of that, you’re also supposed to do lead generation, so you can get customers and…stay in business. Which makes you the CMO…and the whole damn marketing team.
And that means you’ve got to make a holistic marketing strategy, create user personas, craft messaging that speaks to prospects and their pain points, build a small business website, develop social media posts, do the graphic design, check what’s working, engage with your followers, write emails……this is literally a never ending list.
And you probably didn't start your business because you wanted to do this stuff…unless you started a big bad marketing agency, of course. 😉
So, um, can we say overwhelmed? Stressed TF out? Koo-koo bananas?
With a mountain of to-dos all day every day, it’s no wonder that:
You live in constant fear that you’re not doing it right or not doing enough
You don’t get the shit done (or you feel like you don’t get shit done)
That little voice keeps whispering, “You don’t even know what you’re doing, and you’re never going to make it.”
Sometimes you just need a little break.
But sometimes you need an entire mindset shift.
A sigh of relief and acknowledgment that done is better than perfect.
And, that crossing something off your list (even if you add three more things in its place) is progress. And progress is enough.
So, before you can market your business with confidence, you’ve got to get out of your own way. You’ve got to start looking at things differently, and let the fears and scaries fade away.
Mindset fears like:
Imposter syndrome (“Who am I to do this?”)
Perfectionism (“It’s not perfect, so I can’t share it.”)
Fear of judgment (“What will people think of me?”)
These aren’t just woo-woo probs. They’re very real obstacles that keep entrepreneurs from hitting “publish,” promoting their offers, and showing up consistently. From making it big and building the success they’re dreaming of.
So, if you’re ready to build your business, get more customers now, and grow, let’s talk about real mind-setbacks business owners deal with, and how to get past them to create a bigger, badder business.
Let’s begin with the thing that makes it hard to start in the first place: imposter syndrome.
1. Imposter Syndrome: “Who Am I to Do This?”
This often shows up as:
Doubting your own expertise, even after wowing your customers, or years of industry experience
Believing you need to know everything about your industry or niche before you can put your business out there
Feeling like you’ll be “exposed” as a fraud when someone asks a question you’re not sure of, etc.
How to Overcome It
Just start. Take action. There’s nothing harder than starting. Once you do that, the momentum builds and your ‘I don’t know what I’m doing’ turns into a ‘I’m learning, I’m trying, I’m getting better.’ Work with a real client, publish your first post, or launch your first offer. Momentum quiets imposter syndrome faster than anything else.
Leverage social proof. If you’ve been managing your digital reputation, you can collect testimonials from happy clients. Seeing their words in black and white can help quiet the inner critic. Plus, it’s a lucrative weapon for your marketing anyway! People LOVE seeing that other people loved working with you.
Stay in your lane. Clarify what you do (and don’t do). You don’t need to know everything about everything in every area of your industry. Clarify your speciality (even if that is being clear that you’re a generalist) and lean on that in your messaging and approach.
Keep learning. Stay curious about your industry, but don’t expect to know it all. And, don’t forget that things are changing fast (it’s 2025 ya’ll.) No one expects you to know the answer to all of their questions on the spot. Saying, “let me get back to you” or “I’ll follow up to make sure I’m giving you the most accurate info,’” or “I have a colleague who specializes in exactly that, I’d be curious to get their expertise. Let me reach out and I’ll get back to you.” (Yes, even if your colleague is ChatGPT.)
Starting is hard. But sticking with it, that’s what takes courage.
If you’re feeling like an imposter, flip the script: the real imposters are usually the ones strutting around without a shred of self-awareness. The fact that you’re even questioning yourself is proof you’re operating from humility, not ego. And that’s a strength, not a weakness.
If you feel like an actual imposter at marketing your small business because you don’t know wtf you’re doing…that’s cool. We’re here to help.
Now, let’s talk about the next roadblock for small business owners. The desire to be PERFECT.
2. Perfectionism: “If It’s Not Perfect, I Can’t Share It”
This often shows up as:
Obsessing over every detail of a social post, email, or website before hitting publish (or in the case of Big Bad, reviewing a proposal 17 times before sharing it!)
Stalling launches because things “aren’t ready yet.” Okay, yes, if you don't have a concept, clear product or offer, you need to actually build the thing before you promote it.
BUT, by and large, when the thing hits like the 70-75% done mark, you’ve pretty much already done the thing, stop stressing dawg.Re-recording, re-writing, or re-designing endlessly. Give yourself a limit. After that, it’s diminishing returns.
How to Overcome It
Adopt “done is better than perfect.” Early social posts and podcasts don’t need to be flawless. If people like your message and what you’re all about, they’re gonna overlook a little bit of clunky background noise, or a few comas where there should have been semi colons. Do the thing, don’t make it perfect.
Iterate in public. Launch version 1. After that, keep improving. Start with an idea, start with something. The rest will work itself out over time. It’s small, consistent adjustments that lead to the big beautiful thing.
Know where to focus perfectionism. Websites and sales pages deserve polish. Social posts? Hit publish and move on.
Embrace imperfection. The “messy middle” is part of growth. People may actually connect more with your imperfections than your polished highlight reel.
Nothing can ever be perfect, so dont chase that.
💡 Pro tip: Consistency carries you until quality catches up.
Now that you’ve gotten past trying to be perfect at everything all the time, and you’re putting stuff out that’s good and not perfect, you might start to worry that the people are judging you about it.
3. Fear of Judgment: “What Will People Think of Me?”
Fear of judgment is primal. Rejection used to threaten survival; today it looks like low engagement, unsubscribes, or side-eye from anyone and everyone….which still stings, even from cyberspace.
This often shows up as:
Avoiding posts because family/friends might judge
Refreshing obsessively for likes/comments
Skipping promotion to “stay safe”
But listen, honey, safe doesn’t pay the bills.
Quiet, unannounced products don’t get noticed, and they sure as hell don’t build a following. Nobody remembers the bland, average-looking thing. Love it or hate it, people remember the bold, the loud, the Big Bad moves. So build yourself a brand worth remembering.
How to Overcome It
Shift into creator mode. Post your content, then log off. Engagement doesn’t define your worth. Real, sustainable business marketing (and most things) don't happen instantly. Build over time. Focus on steady growth, and data-driven iteration, and watch the success roll in.
Remember your why. You’re building a business to serve real people, not impress everyone. Not everyone will like you, and that’s fine. Be clear about who you are, what you’re doing, and why. Your people will find you.
Redefine success. One genuine client is worth more than 100 likes from people who will never buy. Period.
Adopt the lion mindset. A lion doesn’t lose sleep over the opinion of sheep.
Spoiler Alert: Letting go of external judgment often helps you stop judging yourself, too.
Overcome Imposter Syndrome and Grow Your Small Business
Imposter syndrome, perfectionism, and fear of judgment will never disappear completely. In fact, they evolve as you grow. New stage, new challenges, new fears. But your confidence and resilience grow with experience.
Your job right now: acknowledge the mindset blocks, name them, and move forward anyway.
Whether you’re starting out or hitting a new level, know this:
“You are allowed to be both a masterpiece and they work in progress, simultaneously”
Need a strategy to feel less like an imposter and more like you know what you’re doing? Let’s talk.
