Don’t give in to the “impostor syndrome.”

The impostor syndrome will keep you from performing at your best. It will fill you with low self-esteem and self-doubt. Kick this syndrome out the door and you will excel.

1. Recognize the impostor syndrome.
   This syndrome refers to feeling like a fraud like you’re going to embarrass yourself any minute now. Common symptoms include shying away from opportunities and having low self-confidence. Don’t give in to it! It is merely social conditioning, not reality, that makes you feel as if you are not capable enough, not qualified enough, or even not intelligent enough.

2. Jump at opportunities.
   Take opportunities as they come, and even if you fail, realize that it is not because you lack the ability to succeed. The circumstances may have just been unfortunate.

3. Reward yourself when you succeed.
   Praise yourself when you do succeed! Don’t attribute your successes to mere luck—recognize that you achieved them through hard work.

4. Fake it till you make it.
   Of course, it is not easy to fight the impostor syndrome, so a good tactic is to just fake it. Force a smile on your face, and after a while, you will begin to feel cheerful and confident.