The Secret Everyone Shares

You got promoted and your first thought was: "They will figure out I do not deserve this." You got a compliment and instantly wondered what the person wanted. You succeeded, and instead of celebrating, you thought: "I just got lucky."

This is imposter syndrome — the nagging belief that you are less capable than others think, and that your wins come from luck or timing rather than real ability. Despite the name, it is not a clinical diagnosis.

The irony is that it hits high achievers hardest. The more you accomplish, the more chances you have to feel like a fraud. The people who never worry about it are often the ones who should.