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The Career Bulletin by Career Kickstart

Feeling Like a Fraud? It Means You're Leveling Up

Published about 1 year ago • 1 min read

Hi Reader,

We’re excited to welcome you back to the Career Bulletin (formerly The Weekly Dispatch), your trusted space for sharp career insights, practical tools, and thoughtful guidance. Every other week, we’ll bring you strategies to help you grow with intention, navigate transitions, and build a career that truly fits. Let’s start with something that tends to arise just when you’re growing into the next version of your professional self.

Stretching Into the Next Level of Your Career

Imposter syndrome often strikes during moments of career expansion; a promotion, a new leadership role, a transition into unfamiliar territory. It whispers that you’re not ready, that others are more capable, and that any success you’ve had is luck.

But here’s the reframe: imposter syndrome usually doesn’t show up when you’re stagnant; it shows up when you’re stretching.

What you’re feeling isn’t fraudulence. It’s friction. It’s your internal systems catching up to your external success.

A helpful framework here is the Career Lattice: the idea that growth isn't always linear. Sometimes we grow diagonally, or sideways, or into complexity before we rise. Feeling off-balance isn’t failure; it’s the natural tension of stepping into a new shape.

Instead of asking “Why do I feel this way?” try asking: “What am I learning right now that I couldn’t have learned six months ago?”

You’re not behind. You’re building new ground.

Get grounded guidance for your next career move:

If you’re navigating a pivot, promotion, or moment of uncertainty, our LEAP Career Coaching Program is designed to help you reclaim clarity and confidence. You don’t have to navigate this stretch alone.

Thanks for tuning in to the Career Bulletin.

Stay focused, stay hopeful, and keep building a career that works for you.
​ — Your Career Coach

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The Career Bulletin by Career Kickstart

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