You’re Not Alone in This Battle
Ever feel like you’re just one mistake away from being “found out”?
Like no matter how much success you’ve had, deep down, you’re still questioning if you’re really the right person for the job?
That’s Imposter Syndrome, and guess what? You’re NOT alone.
Every great leader I know has been there.
But here’s the truth...
Imposter syndrome doesn’t mean you’re unqualified—it means you’re growing.
And the key to overcoming it isn’t faking confidence. It’s something WAY deeper.
It’s building the kind of character-driven leadership that makes you unshakable.
The Leadership Lie That’s Holding You Back
Somewhere along the way, we started believing that leadership was all about skills, titles, and results.
And while those things matter, they are NOT what create real confidence.
Think about when you learned to ride a bike...
Did your parents just hand you a two-wheeled bike and say, “Good luck”?
Of course not!
They started you on a tricycle—because you needed to build strength, coordination, and confidence before you could balance on two wheels.
And here’s the thing…
Leadership, success, and business growth work the same way.
But most people are trying to skip the tricycle and jump straight onto the two-wheeled bike with success.
Then, when they wobble (or fall), they think:
❌ “Maybe I’m not cut out for this.”
❌ “Maybe I’m a fraud.”
❌ “Maybe I should just quit.”
But falling doesn’t mean you’re failing.
It means you need a stronger foundation before you can truly balance.
That’s where The Tricycle Effect comes in.
The Tricycle Effect: A Framework for Leadership That Lasts
Most people are leading on a shaky foundation.
They focus on technical skills and people skills—but they forget the ONE thing that holds it all together…
👉 Character Skills.
Here’s how it works:
🚴 The Front Wheel (Character Skills) – This is your steering wheel. It’s your integrity, resilience, and mindset. Without it, you’re going nowhere.
🚴 The Back Left Wheel (People Skills) – Leadership is about influence, not control. You need to connect with people to create real impact.
🚴 The Back Right Wheel (Technical Skills) – Yes, expertise matters. But skills alone won’t make you successful if you don’t know how to lead yourself.
🪑 The Seat of Courage – This is what holds everything together. It’s the boldness to keep pedaling forward—even when you doubt yourself.
Here’s the truth:
Before you can coach others, before you can overcome imposter syndrome, before you can lead a team or grow a business, YOU have to lead yourself first.
And that starts with character-driven leadership.
The #1 Reason People Stay Stuck in Imposter Syndrome
I once had a gymnast who was working on a difficult skill.
I had been spotting her, but at this point, I was barely touching her. She was doing it herself.
So I asked her:
"Can’t you believe you can do this skill? I’m hardly spotting you anymore!"
And she looked at me and said:
"That would be a lie."
Wow.
She actually thought that believing in herself before she had "proven it" was lying to herself.
But here’s the thing...
She was already capable. She just hadn’t done it alone yet.
And that’s the key to overcoming imposter syndrome.
It’s not about proving yourself first.
It’s about trusting the process and stepping into confidence BEFORE you feel ready.
5 Steps to Overcome Imposter Syndrome and Lead with Character
Ready to step up and lead with confidence?
Here’s what you need to do TODAY:1. Add the Word "Yet" to Your Thinking
✅ “I can’t do this YET.”
👉 ACTION STEP:
- Write down 3 things you feel you can’t do.
- Add “yet” to each of them.
- Read them every morning for the next 7 days.
Watch how this tiny shift changes your confidence.
2. Trust the Process – Focus on Systems, Not Goals
Most people set big goals but don’t focus on the daily habits that actually make those goals happen.
👉 ACTION STEP:
- Identify one key habit that, if done consistently, would change everything.
- Focus on mastering that habit, not just the end goal.
- Example: Instead of saying, “I need to get 100 clients,” focus on “I will connect with 5 new people every day.”
If you trust the process, success takes care of itself.
3. Fail Forward – Every Fall is a Step Forward
🔥 John Maxwell said it best:
"The difference between average people and achieving people is their perception of and response to failure."
👉 ACTION STEP:
- Write down a recent failure.
- Instead of focusing on what went wrong, ask:
- What did I learn?
- How can I improve?
- What will I do differently next time?
By doing this, you’ll train your brain to see failure as growth instead of defeat.
4. Play Before Perfection
Somewhere along the way, we stopped playing.
As kids, we learned by playing, exploring, falling, and getting back up.
But as adults, we become so obsessed with getting things right that we stop experimenting, failing, and enjoying the process.
👉 ACTION STEP:
- Instead of asking, "Am I good at this?" ask, "Am I enjoying this?"
- Shift your focus from perfecting to playing, and watch your fear of failure disappear.
5. Find a Character Coach
The best athletes, CEOs, and leaders all have COACHES.
A Character Coach helps you:
✅ Strengthen your mindset
✅ Develop unshakable integrity
✅ Lead with confidence—no matter what
👉 ACTION STEP:
- Find a mentor, coach, or trusted leader who will challenge you to grow.
Success isn’t about going it alone.
It’s about learning from those who’ve already walked the path.
The Next Step – Will You Take It?
Right now, you have two choices.
❌ Stay stuck in imposter syndrome, doubting yourself, and waiting for "proof" that you’re good enough.
✅ Or step into character-driven leadership and start leading with confidence.
If you’re ready for real growth, I invite you to join the 90-Day Leadership Blueprint here:
https://optin.coach-ability.com/leadership-blueprint
🚀 Sign up today and start leading with confidence: [Insert Link]
Let’s make leadership more than a skill—let’s make it a legacy.
Because the world needs your leadership. And that’s the truth. 🚀
Trike On!
Coach Dane
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