“Pat Flynn is a fraud.”

It’s happening, yet again.  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ Issue #63 | November 7th, 2023 Hi, it's Pat! It’s happening again — that voice inside my head that says, “Pat, you’re a fraud. You aren’t qualified to do this. You’re not good enough.” If you’ve ever said something like this about yourself, you know how paralyzing this kind of self-talk can be. It has stopped me in my tracks before. But over the years, I’ve learned not only how to deal with imposter syndrome but also how to flip it on its head to propel me forward. If you’re going through imposter syndrome right now, this email will help you out of it. If you’re not dealing with it, then my question to you is: are you actually pushing yourself hard enough? I’ll explain what I mean below — either way, it’s time to get unstuck. Let’s do this thing… QUOTE OF THE WEEK “I have written 11 books but each time I think ‘Uh-oh, they’re going to find out now. I’ve run a game on everybody and they’re going to find me out.‘” – Maya Angelou THE STORY I’m currently in the middle of writing my fourth book, and here I am once again, thinking I’m a complete fraud. Maybe it’s so hard because I’m not as qualified as I thought I was to write about this topic. I know that’s not true, but at the same time… what if it is? These are the kinds of conversations I have with myself, and chances are you’ve had similar conversations with yourself, too. Ever since 2008, when I published my first blog post, imposter syndrome has been a part of my life. I was supposed to be an architect, not an entrepreneur, so anything other than what I went to school for (in my mind) fit into the category of things I don’t think I’m qualified to teach. In 2009, I actually spent $8,000 to hire a team of developers to build a custom course management platform on my architecture exam prep website (out-of-the-box solutions didn’t exist back then). I was excited to take what worked in my ebook and put it into video course format online. I estimated that my new course, which was $99, would make nearly $750k dollars within a year. In the end, I made… Nothing. I didn’t launch it. I kept doubting myself, even though the thing was built. I don’t know what’s worse: getting in my own way during the ideation phase or after everything is built. Over the years, I’ve learned three things that help me through imposter syndrome that I wanted to share with you today: First, imposter syndrome often hits hardest when you're on the verge of growth. It's a sign that you're pushing boundaries and stepping out of your comfort zone. That discomfort isn't a signal that you're doing something wrong; it's evidence that you're challenging your own status quo. Second, the importance of community cannot be overstated. When I shared my feelings with peers, I discovered that many of them experienced similar doubts. Knowing I wasn’t alone made a huge difference. It provided a sense of solidarity that’s been invaluable. Opening up about these fears takes courage, but every time I’ve done so, I’ve been met with understanding and support — not judgment. Third, there’s power in action. Each step I take in project development, no matter how small, is a step away from imposter syndrome and toward confidence. By focusing on the actions I can take rather than the insecurities that hold me back, I create momentum. That momentum builds, and soon enough, I find myself doing the things I once doubted I could do. Remember, it’s not about feeling qualified; it's about being willing to show up, do the work, and improve along the way. Your qualifications grow with your experiences. As for my fourth book, yes, I'm still grappling with self-doubt, but I’m also still writing. At the end of the day, the only surefire way to fail is to let those doubts stop me from trying. I’m sharing this because I know imposter syndrome can be isolating, and I want you to know that if you're feeling it, you’re not alone. More importantly, you're not incapable. You’ve got this. Let’s keep pushing through the doubts together. SPONSORED CONTENT = = ​ SPI NEWS AND EVENTS Our November networking event … is tomorrow! Join us on Wednesday, November 8 at 11:00 a.m. PT / 2:00 p.m. ET for a free, action-packed hour of connection. Meet other, like-minded entrepreneurs, share your business, voice your struggles, and get a taste of what SPI’s communities are all about. Space is limited, so [save your spot now!](​ Why wait to start making the most of 2024? Join us on November 29 at 10:00 a.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. ET to participate live in the 2024 Refocus Challenge. Rethink priorities, reevaluate work habits, and create mental clarity and space for the goals that really matter. 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