Imposter Syndrome vs. Progress: Showing Up is the Real Win

Here’s the truth most developers don’t admit: nobody starts ready.

There’s a moment every developer faces. You’re staring at a blank screen, the cursor blinking at you like it’s taunting, “What are you even doing here?” Maybe you’ve felt this while debugging a complex Laravel API, or while joining a hackathon so late you’re practically walking into a finished race. Wherever it hits you, imposter syndrome has a way of creeping in, whispering that you’re not good enough, smart enough, or ready enough.

I felt it recently when I joined the Google Chrome Built-in AI Challenge. Most participants had weeks of headway, fully fleshed-out ideas, and working prototypes. Meanwhile, I was 13 days late, wrestling with Chrome’s new AI Translation API, and wondering if I’d bitten off more than I could chew. But instead of letting the doubt consume me, I told myself, “You don’t have to win. You just have to show up.”

That mindset was the game-changer. I stopped worrying about catching up with everyone else and started focusing on the basics. First, I figured out the API—messy at first, but step by step, it started to make sense. Then came the user interface, which felt overwhelming because I wanted it to be perfect. After a few drafts that looked like they belonged in 2007, I finally created something simple, intuitive, and functional. By the time I submitted Webpage Genie, I realized that I wasn’t just proud of the result—I was proud of showing up and figuring it out along the way.

Here’s the truth most developers don’t admit: nobody starts ready. That senior dev you look up to? They’ve felt imposter syndrome, too. The difference is, they didn’t let it stop them. They took the awkward first steps, asked questions, and learned from their mistakes. Progress in tech—and in life—isn’t about always knowing what to do. It’s about taking action, even when you’re unsure.

One thing I’ve learned as a UK-Nigerian developer is that showing up matters. Whether it’s debugging a stubborn many-to-many relationship in Laravel, fixing a broken GraphQL mutation, or learning how to implement cutting-edge AI features for the first time, the process is never smooth. But every time you push through that discomfort, you grow.

The next time you feel imposter syndrome creeping in, remember this: nobody’s judging you as harshly as you think. Your team? They want you to succeed. The dev community? It thrives on collaboration, not perfection. And you? You’re capable of so much more than you give yourself credit for.

This week, don’t wait to feel ready. Jump into the project you’ve been hesitating on. Commit the imperfect code. Ask the “dumb” question. Progress isn’t about being flawless—it’s about showing up and moving forward, one step at a time.

Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this: nobody belongs in the room more than you do.