by Courtney Bloom, on Jun 13, 2025 12:17:04 PM
Impostor syndrome doesn’t announce itself with a warning. It whispers quietly, telling you you're not ready, not smart enough, or just plain lucky. It tells you to stay silent when you should speak up, to stay put when you should step forward. According to Chief Confidence Ignitor Meshell Baker, who has spoken at several of Women In Trucking’s Accelerate! Conferences, overcoming this voice isn’t about perfection or pretending. It’s about learning how to become the version of yourself who already believes you belong.
“There is no impossible,” Baker says. “It’s actually: I am possible.”
That shift in thinking is where the work begins. Impostor syndrome thrives when women ignore their inner truth and look outside themselves for validation. In fact, 72% of women surveyed said they struggle with feelings of self-doubt and inadequacy, despite clear accomplishments. The solution? Stop outsourcing your self-worth. Baker teaches that confidence is not something you either have or don’t have. It’s a habit that must be trained, strengthened, and fed consistently over time.
Confidence is a Muscle, Not a Trait
Confidence doesn’t show up at the perfect moment. It shows up when you’ve practiced believing in yourself through discomfort. “Confidence is only grown in the uncomfort zone,” Baker explains. When women stop asking for permission and start stepping into big dreams, they challenge the inner critic that says they are not enough. That critic will always try to remind you of what you’re not. But it’s your job to remind yourself of everything you are.
To begin building that kind of confidence, Baker recommends setting a “Big Hairy Audacious Goal,” or what she calls a BHAG. It should make you nervous and excited at the same time. Visualize it, write it down and speak it as if it’s already done. The brain, she explains, cannot tell the difference between a vivid memory and a clearly imagined future. When you rehearse success, your mind begins to accept it as your reality.
“You spend more time in your head than you will in any place else on this planet in your life,” Baker says. “So, if the conversation in your head isn’t positive, you’ll live a miserable life.”
Training the brain to work in your favor begins with consistent, intentional input. This includes affirmations, positive self-talk, visualization, and surrounding yourself with supportive people who challenge you to rise. Confidence is a result of these small, repeated actions. It becomes your default when fear tries to take over.
Rewrite the Inner Narrative
Baker states that confidence is not about arrogance or ignoring reality. It’s about choosing which version of reality you want to feed. “Mentality is reality,” she says. “Everything in life is an outcome of thinking.” Most people repeat the same thoughts every day, and 70% of those are automatically negative. That’s why impostor syndrome doesn’t disappear on its own. It has to be starved of attention and replaced with a more empowering internal story.
A powerful exercise Baker recommends is writing out your goals in past tense. Imagine it’s the end of the year and you’re celebrating everything you’ve achieved. Doing this daily rewires your mind to believe in your ability to create that outcome.
Just as important is reframing failure. Setbacks, rejections, and mistakes are not signs you’re unworthy. They’re necessary for building character. Confidence comes from being able to weather storms and still believe in your worth.
“No one has the power to dictate how you feel unless you give it to them,” says Baker.
To reclaim that power, women must learn to separate facts from feelings. When doubt creeps in, look back at your accomplishments. Write down your wins, your growth, and your results. Use them as proof that you’re capable. Ask yourself, “what have I already done that proves I can do this next thing?” Build a habit of acknowledging your successes instead of brushing them off.
The Path Forward Starts with Courage
Ultimately, ditching impostor syndrome is about identity. It’s about deciding who you want to become and walking in that direction even when it’s uncomfortable. “Create goals and dreams tied to who you’re becoming,” Baker advises. “Once you become something, you can’t not do it.”
This mindset shift is transformational. Instead of asking what you can get, ask who you need to become to live the life you want. Confidence, resilience, and joy all flow from that clarity. With practice, the internal voice of fear becomes quieter, and the voice of self-trust grows louder.
Baker’s own journey is a testament to what’s possible when you stop letting fear lead. Her story is full of challenges from corporate exits and personal trials to moments of profound self-discovery. But through it all, she has kept her focus on what she could control: her mindset, her mission, and her message.
“You must say who you are before anyone else can say,” she says.
Impostor syndrome might never fully disappear. But it can be overpowered by the voice that says, “I belong here. I am ready. I am already becoming her.”
To view the webinar featuring Meshell Baker, WIT members can visit the On-Demand Webinars page.
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