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Utah Code Camp
Spring 2014
Bressain Dinkelman
yes, you
belong here
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who am i?
Bressain
Dinkelman
www.dinkelburt.com
@dinkelburt
+BressainDinkelman
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DISCLAIMER
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DISCLAIMER
I am not a psychologist
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DISCLAIMER
Use at your own risk
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why are
!
!
here?
YOU
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impostor
syndrome?
What is
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how can i
help myself
and others?
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Awareness
Spread
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what is
impostor
syndrome?
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"[it's] a psychological
phenomenon in which people
are unable to internalize their
accomplishments […] those
with the syndrome remain
convinced that they are
frauds and do not deserve the
success they have achieved"
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FAILURE
FAILURE
SUCCESS
SUCCESS
SUCCESS SUCCESS
FAILURE
SUCCESS
SUCCESS
SUCCESS
SUCCESS
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“i got lucky”
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“i'm not smart”
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“i'm not a good
developer”
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“i'm a phony”
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“i don't belong here”
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No content
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what's
got
to do with
it?
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50%
social
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what makes us
so susceptible?
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impostor
syndrome is an
!
!
problem
intellectual
field
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we praise &
celebrate
intelligent
developers!
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“We are looking
for a rockstar
front-end
developer to
join our team.”
“Come work with a team of
AlphaGeeks, Git Ninjas, and
Linux Jedis!”
“…looking for a JavaScript and jQuery guru…”
“Startup
Superhero/
Ninja
Internship”
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we surround
ourselves with
smart people
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open source
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social media
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mindset
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how
doesimpostor
affect developers?
syndrome
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Afraid to
speak upor
share ideas
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no
contribute
desire to
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afraid
to apply to
new jobs
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burnout
Due To
Keeping
up
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thanks
bressain,
now i'm sad
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overcoming
impostor
syndrome
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first step:
education
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great resources
Julie Pagano talk
Ruby Rogues podcast
Scott Hanselman post
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Acknowledge Some
important
truths
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you
!
!
at evaluating
you
SUCK
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impostor syndrome
may never
fully go away
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pro
crasti
nation
bad
tech
skills
!=
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Create a
support system
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avoid
negative people
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reconnect
with
spiritual side
your
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step away
from the
trees
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stop
& acknowledge
real
success
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learn
don't
from Failure
dwell on it
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everything
!
experiment
is an
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watch the
self-deprecating
jokes
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your
are human
intellectual heroes
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measure
yourself
against
yourself
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cliché
phrase
incoming:
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fake it
make it
’til you
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do the things
holding
you back
That are
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track
measurable
progress
x
x
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help others
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pretty sure i
don't have
impostor
syndrome
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How
Do I
someone
has
know
impostor
syndrome?
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regularly
Skills or Experiences
Disclaimsor
Understatestheir
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not
willing
for
to take
credit
roles in projects
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self-
deprecating
humor
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what things
can i
actually do
to help?
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hacker school
user's manual
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No feigning surprise
No “well actually”
No backseat driving
No subtle sexism or
other isms
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recognize
success
and call out
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give
start
permissionto
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don't
they need
to avoid
be
the
Negative Person
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be proactive
when
offering help
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with
Great Power
great
responsibility
comes
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we're all
impostors
to some
degree
(and that’s OK)
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move
burning out
Forwardwithout
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please
talk about
this
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help yourself
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help others
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do i
belong
here?
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YES!
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questions?
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• It’s Dangerous to Go Alone: Battling the Invisible
Monsters in Tech - Julie Pagano
• http://juliepagano.com/blog/2013/11/02/it-s-dangerous-to-go-alone-battling-
the-invisible-monsters-in-tech/
• I’m a Phony. Are You? - Scott Hanselman
• http://www.hanselman.com/blog/ImAPhonyAreYou.aspx
• Impostor Syndrome with Tim Chevalier - Ruby
Rogues Podcast
• http://rubyrogues.com/107-rr-impostor-syndrome-with-tim-chevalier/
• Impostor syndrome - Geek Feminism Wiki
• http://geekfeminism.wikia.com/wiki/Impostor_syndrome
• Hacker School User’s Manual - Social rules
• https://www.hackerschool.com/manual#sec-environment
!78