The Imposter Superpower.

Embrace the Imposter Superpower: A Path to Creativity and Innovation

Welcome to Innovation Café! In today’s discussion, we hit a topic that matters deeply to inventors, creatives, and innovators alike: The Imposter Syndrome. But we’re not just talking about it as a challenge; we’re reframing it as a superpower—the Imposter Superpower—that fuels creativity and innovation.

What Is Imposter Syndrome?

Imposter syndrome is a psychological phenomenon where individuals doubt their accomplishments and fear being exposed as frauds, despite evidence of their competence. This isn’t purely a source of harm, however. This mindset can drive innovators to question norms, push boundaries, and achieve groundbreaking successes.

The Innovators Who Felt Like Imposters

Many of history’s greatest creators have grappled with imposter syndrome – and at the end of the grappling, their perceived inadequacies became the catalyst for world-changing innovations.

Albert Einstein

The father of modern physics once referred to himself as an “involuntary swindler,” doubting the esteem placed on his groundbreaking work. Einstein’s unconventional path—starting as a technical expert at a patent office—allowed him to think differently, leading to his revolutionary theories.

Maya Angelou

Despite her monumental success as an author and poet, Maya Angelou often feared being “found out.” Her reflections highlight the vulnerability that comes with making a living through intellectual and creative endeavors. This is a hallmark of many great creators, and manifests in different and unsettling ways.

Tina Fey

Tina Fey humorously describes imposter syndrome as vacillating between extreme egomania and crushing self-doubt. For Fey, and many others, this balance fuels the courage to take risks and venture into uncharted territory.

Sheryl Sandberg

Even at the pinnacle of her career, the former COO of Facebook admitted to feeling like a fraud. Her experience underscores the universality of these feelings among successful individuals.

Me!

I graduated Harvard Law magna. I graduated UCLA summa. I accumulated over 250 issued US patents. But if you think any of that cleared the decks of feeling like an imposter, You’ve Got Another Thing Comin‘. If you put any one of my patents in front of me, after getting a headache from translating it back to English from *whatever it is* that patent lawyers and examiners call English, I’d fill with self-doubt. It isn’t that creative. Anybody could have come up with it. I don’t have a PhD in that field, and I bet a PhD would rip my approach as wrong. You get the idea. But it is all noise. Conscious, rational Gary knows this. Insecure imposter syndrome Gary worries. You get the idea. With hundreds of issued patents in the rear view mirror, I still feel the string of anxiety every time I saw I’m an inventor. And that is how it should be. Why? Read on…..

Imposter Syndrome as a Catalyst for Innovation

Imposter syndrome drives innovation. Feeling like an outsider often compels individuals to:

Question established norms: If you don’t “know” something is impossible, you’re more likely to attempt it. You probably won’t even know you’re questioning established norms, because you’re not “expert” enough to know the norm.
Push boundaries: Stepping out of your comfort zone is essential for growth and discovery. More importantly, if you start outside of your comfort zone, there is no further travel required. You’re already there.
Embrace failure as progress: Thomas Edison’s famous quote, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work,” epitomizes this mindset. But let’s be honest: Nobody truly embraces failure. It always stings. But as I tell my kids, what matters isn’t how you fall. It is all about whether and how you get back up.

The Role of Neurodiversity in Innovation

Neurodiversity plays a critical role in creativity and invention. Many great innovators have exhibited traits associated with neurodiverse conditions. Remember Apple’s “Think Different” ads? Yes, that. If your brain is biochemically wired differently, you’re starting from a place of greater ease in thinking differently.

Thomas Edison and Nikola Tesla were thought to have ADHD, which may have contributed to their ability to hyperfocus and connect disparate ideas.
Albert Einstein, Elon Musk, and Bill Gates are often associated with traits on the autism spectrum, which can enhance pattern recognition and innovative thinking.

If everyone thought the same way, the world would stagnte. Neurodiversity gifts a rich variety of perspectives and ideas, driving progress forward.

Now to pull reality back into the conversation, there is no question that my ADHD has good and bad features. I don’t like getting sidetracked while walking to the restroom, spending hours on some tiny coding task because I *must* get it done, or being “Mr. Impulsivity”. At the same time, being able to hold different ideas in my head at once and connect them has been an amazing gift.

The Gallery of Imposters

History is filled with unconventional success stories—people who didn’t “fit the mold” but reshaped the world anyhow:

Mark Zuckerberg: A Harvard dropout who didn’t know it was impossible to manage Facebook’s vast data (Nerd street cred for me: I followed discussions about SQL scaling among Facebook programmers back in the day, and it was amazing to watch).
Steve Jobs: Lacking formal design training, he imagined and created revolutionary technologies and integrated novel designs with those technologies.
Hedy Lamarr: Known as an actress, she co-invented frequency hopping, a foundation of modern telecommunications.
John D. Rockefeller: With just 10 weeks of bookkeeping classes, he built the largest energy monopoly in history.
Jeff Bezos: Despite having no logistics background, he created Amazon, the epitome of logistical innovation.

Transforming Imposter Syndrome Into a Superpower

To embrace the imposter superpower, adopt these strategies:

Reframe Your Feelings: Recognize self-doubt as a sign of growth and boundary-pushing.
Seek Failure: Treat failure as an essential part of the creative process. As Edison said, failure is the path to success.
Think Differently: Like Apple’s iconic slogan, value your unique perspective. Neurodiversity and unconventional thinking are assets, not liabilities.
Trust Your Vision: Many innovators succeed because they ignore what others deem impossible.

Take-Away: Celebrate Your Inner Imposter

Feeling like an imposter isn’t a sign of inadequacy—it’s a hallmark of innovation. It means you’re exploring uncharted territories and challenging the status quo. So embrace your imposter superpower, and let it drive you to create, invent, and make a difference.

Here’s to you, fellow imposters. The world wouldn’t progress without you.

Postscript: The Gendered Lens of Imposter Syndrome

After creating this content, I realized it did not truly address the gender dynamics inherent in imposter syndrome. Studies have shown that imposter syndrome disproportionately affects women, particularly in male-dominated fields such as STEM, business, and academia. Societal expectations and stereotypes often place undue pressure on women to prove their competence while simultaneously discouraging self-promotion.

This disparity can exacerbate feelings of self-doubt and make it even harder for women to overcome imposter syndrome. However, it is crucial to recognize that these feelings are not a reflection of actual capability but of systemic inequities. By fostering inclusive environments, mentoring underrepresented groups, and celebrating diverse achievements, we can challenge these societal norms and empower everyone to embrace their imposter superpower.