Over the next few months, I’m going to revisit some of the topics that I did very early on in this podcast because I believe they’re incredibly important to discuss. And if there’s one topic that I work on the most with my coaching clients, it’s imposter syndrome.
No matter how smart, hardworking, or experienced you are, there’s still that little voice in your head saying, “Who do you think you are?”
If you’ve ever felt like you’re just “lucky” to have your job or that one day, people will figure out you don’t really know what you’re doing, you’re not alone. This feeling has a name—imposter syndrome—and it’s way more common than you think.
It’s that sneaky doubt that makes you question if you’re actually good at what you do, even when all the evidence says you are. It shows up when you hesitate to raise your rates when you overwork to prove yourself, and when you second-guess decisions you’re more than qualified to make.
And let’s be honest—being both an accountant and a mom makes this even harder. You’re balancing deadlines, clients, and endless emails while also managing school drop-offs, homework, and everything else that comes with being a mom.
Some days, it can feel like you’re not doing enough in either role. You might look around and think, “Everyone else seems to have it all figured out. Why can’t I?”
What makes imposter syndrome even trickier is that it doesn’t just show up once and go away forever. You might have dealt with it before, though you moved past it, and then suddenly, it pops up again when you’re taking on a big project or making an important career decision.
Maybe you finally felt confident in your role, but then you got a new client, a new boss, or a new opportunity, and suddenly, the doubt crept back in. It’s frustrating because you know you’ve worked hard, but somehow, that doesn’t stop the nagging feeling that you don’t belong.
The truth is, most people feel this way at some point, even the ones who look the most confident. Imposter syndrome doesn’t care about how many degrees, certifications, or years of experience you have—it just likes to whisper in your ear that you don’t belong.
But here’s something important to remember: Just because you think something doesn’t make it true. Your brain is really good at focusing on what you “don’t” know instead of everything you “do” know.
What would happen if you finally stopped doubting yourself and just owned how good you are at what you do? How different would your career and your life feel if you trusted yourself as much as other people already trusted you?
Imposter syndrome can make you work twice as hard for half the confidence. But what if it didn’t have to be that way?
This week, I’m going to discuss why imposter syndrome is so common among accountant moms and how to overcome imposter syndrome.
Why imposter syndrome is so common among accountant moms
As I mentioned before, this is one of the most popular topics that I work on with my coaching clients. And it’s the one that is so powerful to overcome.
There are so many different ways that imposter syndrome shows up in our lives, but basically, it’s that nagging feeling that you don’t really deserve your success, no matter how much you’ve accomplished. Even when you have the skills, experience, and results to prove you’re good at what you do, there’s still a little voice whispering, “You don’t really belong here.”
This is a struggle for many accountants, but for accountant moms, this feeling can be even stronger. You’re expected to keep up with the demands of a high-pressure career while also being fully present as a mom. It’s like you’re constantly juggling, hoping none of the balls drop, but still feeling like you’re not doing enough.
A big reason accountant moms struggle with imposter syndrome is the perfectionism that’s baked into both accounting and motherhood. At work, we’re trained to be exact, catch mistakes, and make sure everything balances. At home, there’s this unspoken pressure to be the perfect mom who never forgets a permission slip, always makes healthy meals, and is endlessly patient.
No matter how much you do, it’s easy to feel like you’re falling short somewhere. If work is going well, you might feel guilty about missing time with your kids. If you’re spending extra time with your family, you might worry about not keeping up with your workload.
It’s like no matter what you choose, there’s a voice in your head saying, “You should be doing more.”
That’s why imposter syndrome often shows up as overworking. You push yourself harder, take on more than you need to, and stay up late fixing things that were probably fine the first time. But no matter how much effort you put in, you never quite feel like it’s enough.
It also shows up in hesitation. You might second-guess yourself, hold back from asking for a raise, or turn down opportunities because, deep down, you’re afraid someone will realize you’re not as capable as they think. Instead of stepping into your success, you shrink yourself, just in case.
And then there’s the endless comparing. It’s so easy to look around at other working moms and wonder how they make it all look effortless. You assume they have it figured out while you’re just barely keeping your head above water. But the truth is, most of them feel the same way—you’re just not seeing it.
Imposter syndrome can make you question yourself at every turn. But the good news is, once you start to see it for what it is, you can take back control.
5 ways to stop letting imposter syndrome run the show
If you’ve been dealing with imposter syndrome, you might feel like it’s just part of who you are—that it’s something you’ll always have to manage. But that’s not true.
While it may never disappear completely, it can stop running the show. The key is learning how to shift the way you think and respond when self-doubt shows up. Here are five practical ways to do just that.
Way #1: Recognize that your thoughts aren’t facts
Imposter syndrome doesn’t go away by just snapping your fingers, but it can be changed—especially when you start recognizing that those self-doubting thoughts aren’t actually true. They’re just thoughts.
When you hear yourself thinking, “I’m not good enough” or “I don’t really know what I’m doing,” pause and ask yourself—what proof do I have that this is true? Most of the time, your brain is just repeating an old story that’s based in fear, not fact.
The truth is that you likely have way more evidence that you are capable, but your brain is simply ignoring it.
Way #2: Understand how your brain works against you
Your brain isn’t trying to be mean—it’s just wired with a negativity bias. It tends to focus on what’s missing or what could go wrong because that’s how it thinks it’s keeping you safe. But that also means it clings to unhelpful, familiar thoughts.
For example, my brain still tells me I’m not a good writer—even though I’ve written and published a book that accountants have said helped them tremendously. Just because your brain offers a thought doesn’t make it true.
When you catch yourself thinking, “I’m not doing enough,” ask yourself, “Says who?” What if, instead of chasing perfection, you decided you were already enough?
Way #3: Redefine how you measure success
One of the biggest traps of imposter syndrome is perfectionism. If you’re only allowing yourself to feel successful when everything is flawless, you’ll always feel like you’re falling short.
Instead, shift your focus to progress and consistency. You don’t have to be perfect—you just have to keep showing up.
One tool that helps is keeping a “success log.” Every time you finish a project, solve a tough problem, or just make it through a challenging day, write it down. Keep a journal or even a simple note on your phone.
When self-doubt creeps in, you’ll have proof right in front of you that you’re doing better than you think.
Way #4: Trust yourself through the hard moments
Just because something feels hard doesn’t mean you’re failing. In fact, hard moments are usually signs that you’re growing.
Think about a time when you doubted yourself but pushed through anyway. Maybe it was a presentation you nailed, or a client you handled with professionalism even when you were nervous.
The more you can connect to those memories, the easier it becomes to trust yourself in new situations. You’re not meant to know everything about accounting—or motherhood.
You’re meant to show up, be willing to learn, and ask for support when needed.
Way #5: Talk to yourself like someone you love
Self-compassion is one of the most powerful ways to quiet imposter syndrome. Pay attention to that inner voice—would you say those same things to your best friend? To your child? If not, then you don’t deserve to say them to yourself either.
One helpful exercise is to take a piece of paper and divide it in half. On the left side, write down the thoughts you’re saying to yourself. On the right side, write down what you would say to someone you love.
Now, read the kinder version out loud. That’s the voice you deserve to hear more often.
Practicing this regularly helps rewire your brain to stop defaulting to self-doubt.
Here’s the truth—imposter syndrome won’t disappear overnight, but it can lose its grip. The more you challenge it, the quieter it gets. And the more you trust yourself, the less power it has over you.
The bottom line is that you don’t have to be perfect, know everything, or do it all on your own to be successful. Self-doubt is a habit of thinking—not a reflection of your worth. You are already enough, just as you are.
So let me ask you—what would change if you actually believed that? And what kind of example would that set for your kids if they saw you believing in yourself, too?
Questions to consider
Question: Where in my life do I feel like I’m not doing enough, even when I am?
Take a moment to think about the areas where you’re constantly questioning yourself. Is it at work when you hesitate to speak up in meetings? Is it at home when you feel guilty about not being available 24/7? Recognizing where imposter syndrome is showing up is the first step to challenging it.
Question: What would I do differently if I fully believed in myself?
If self-doubt wasn’t holding you back, how would you show up in your career and your personal life? Would you apply for that promotion, raise your rates, or take on a leadership role? Would you stop overworking just to prove yourself? Imagining what life could look like without imposter syndrome helps you see what’s possible when you trust yourself.
Question: Who am I comparing myself to, and is that helping me?
We often compare our worst moments to someone else’s highlight reel. Maybe you look at another accountant and think she has it all figured out, or you see a mom who seems effortlessly put together. But is that comparison pushing you forward, or is it just making you feel like you’re not enough? Letting go of comparison makes space for you to grow in your own way.