There is something I’m very ashamed of.

Always have been.

It’s the fact that I never went to university.

Sure, I got my A-levels (nothing outstanding but ok), but as soon as I left school I needed to work to pay off mountain credit card bills I quickly managed to accumulate (entirely my own fault).

I thought I might go to Uni after a year, but then a year passed, and another… the debts mounted.

So I never went.

Whenever friends and colleagues talked about their university days, I desperately tried to steer them onto another topic in case they asked about my degree…

Then I’d have to say, “I didn’t go”, as if I wasn’t smart enough.

For many years I felt that there were huge gaps in my knowledge and automatically assumed that everyone else knew more than me.

Even when I climbed the ranks of an international publishing business to become a director, I had a sense of ‘imposter syndrome’ – that I didn’t really deserve it… that I might get caught out one day and sent back down the ladder to where I belonged.

Do you ever feel like that?

Do you have a nagging sense that you’re somehow less qualified, less deserving, less knowledgeable?

It’s one of the biggest factors that prevent many women (in particular) from creating their own courses.

They assume that they shouldn’t stick their heads above the parapet. That they’ll get shot down as soon as they try to tell other people what to do. That it’s not their place to stand tall in front of others and share what they know.

And it’s such a shame because there is no reason at all why you shouldn’t.

This is why I wrote a report all about overcoming this mental barrier, called How to Silence Your Inner Critic: Proven Ways to Banish Self-Limiting Beliefs, Gain Confidence & Start Living an Abundant Life.

If you haven’t seen it yet, then you can download it for FREE through this link.

Anyway, going back to my own imposter syndrome in the early 2000s…

Even though I was a company director I was still VERY shy about my past and felt like I was surrounded by people far more qualified than I’d ever be.

My sense of ‘not being good enough’ had been going on for so long, it had started to define me.

Then something happened to change all that…

In 2003, while on maternity leave, I started an information publishing business from my cramped London home.

It was the hardest – and best – decision I ever made, and here’s one reason why…

A revelation that changed everything

When I started publishing my products, I was incredibly nervous that I didn’t really know what I was doing… that it would all fall apart… and I’d be back to square one.

But that didn’t happen. Of course I faced set backs and hurdles but because I HAD to make it work I pushed through.

My tiny home business soon grew into an office-based business with staff.

I went on courses, attended seminars, and devoured books… feverishly educating myself in marketing, direct sales, social media and even accounts, planning and organisation – ANYTHING that could help me catch up with “the big boys”.

I started to train up ordinary people to share their knowledge and experiences in eBay, Amazon, Forex trading, investing, sports betting, email marketing, dress making, you name it!

And the business kept growing, year after year…

Eventually, I realised…

The proof was right there, in my 7-figure business…

…I really DID know what I was doing!

And I was doing it just as well as more educated people.

Even better actually.

That’s when it struck me…

My mental flaw… that misguided belief that I wasn’t good enough… had actually driven my success.

It pushed me to keep learning, trying new things, and improving myself.

From that day forth, I stopped being bothered when people talked about their university days, or their degrees and qualifications.

I could hold my head up.

Why it’s ok to admit your flaws

These days, my lack of university education is something I’m not ashamed to admit.

In fact, I even mention it in some of my sales promotions!

And the reason for this is, I don’t want to pretend I’m something I’m not.

I feel that it’s ok for me to share this ‘flaw’ because it will help potential customers see the real me.

And, hopefully, it will help other women feel that they don’t have to be afraid of stepping up to the plate and sharing what they know in a course…

Even if they dropped out of school…

Even if they didn’t go to university…

Even if they spent a decade out of work so that they could bring up their kids…

The same goes for you, too, if you decide to set up your own online course.

It’s OK to have flaws, vulnerabilities, and disadvantages…

It’s even OK to admit them to potential customers.

You don’t have to hide who you are, or pretend that you are someone you are not.

Sometimes it’s actually better in terms of sales if you let people see a bit more of the real you.

Because the truth is, people who buy courses want help from someone they like and trust, and who has been through some struggles and challenges.

“If you can do it,” they will think, “then so can I.”

Of course, you don’t have to admit all your flaws!

The beauty of course creation is that you get full control over what parts of your life, interests, and personality you share… and what parts you keep private.

So please don’t worry if you feel you have a lack of knowledge or confidence… or if you’re concerned about your age, race, class, weight, looks or ANY aspect of yourself that you think others judge harshly.

These things make you real, and human, and could become empowering, not disadvantageous.

What’s more, YOU get to choose what people know, and don’t know about you.

So look, I hope that my experience gives you some confidence, and dispels any idea that you have to act like a different person to impress your course customers.

And if you want to read more about imposter syndrome (and how to overcome it) then please do check out my report. How to Silence Your Inner Critic