Hey Rollers,
Last week, I found myself sharing the stage (ok, technically the same event) with Mo Gawdat and Dr. Tara Swart at the Mind Matters Summit in Cape Town.
And if you want to know what lights up imposter syndrome like a Christmas tree? It’s thinking that people are comparing you to the global CEOs, ex-Google execs, neuroscientists, and bestselling authors they’ve just seen.
It’s humbling, intimidating, and energising all at once.
What I realised, though, is that standing in the gap between who they are and who I am is exactly where the opportunity lives.
Because in that gap:
I’m not expected to know what they know.
I can bring what I know in a way they can’t.
And I can be relatable in ways the experts sometimes can’t reach.
That’s where the real power is.
Originality doesn’t always mean novelty. You don’t need an entirely new message. You just need to be the messenger in your own voice, with your own story.
For me, that event was exposure therapy in the best way, at the best time. I stepped into the discomfort of comparison, only to be reminded that the audience doesn’t need “another neuroscientist” or “Mo Gawdat”. They need someone willing to stand up, bring their story, and connect in a way only they can.
So the next time you feel like you don’t belong in the room, don’t shrink back. Lean in. The gaps aren’t proof you’re not enough, they’re proof you’ve got something different to add.
Until next week.
Keep rolling.
Justin 👊
Take Action in 3 Minutes:
Think of a situation where you’ve felt like an imposter lately.
👉 Write down one reason you don’t belong.
👉 Now flip it: what unique angle, story, or strength do you bring that no one else can?
That’s your gap. What is one action you can take this week to lean into it?