(No flexing. No motivational BS. Just the raw reality people actually need.)๐
If youโve ever made even $1 from coding outside a 9โ5โฆ
this thread is your mic. ๐ค๐ฅ
Silent juniors who think theyโre the only impostors
are reading every word you write. ๐๐ญ๐
Reply using this exact template (copy โ fill โ send):
๐ฐ Platforms that paid me:
โ (Upwork, Fiverr, Toptal, Arc, Lemon.io, Contra, Twitter/X DMs, cold email, referrals, friend of a friend, etc.)
๐ถโ๐ซ๏ธ Imposter syndrome in 2025:
โ Still hits daily
โ Only when I raise rates or meet a new client
โ Sometimes, usually late at night
โ Rarely now
โ Never had it (respect ๐ซก)
๐ฅ One sentence I wish someone told me when I was terrified to send my first proposal:
โ โYour real sentence here โ keep it raw.โ
๐ฌ Now fill in your details
Copy โ paste โ answer honestly โ
๐ฐ Platforms that paid me:
โ (Upwork, Fiverr, Toptal, Arc, Lemon.io, Contra, Twitter/X DMs, cold email, referrals, friend-of-a-friend, etc.)
๐ถโ๐ซ๏ธ Imposter syndrome in 2025:
โ Still hits daily
โ Only when I raise my rates or meet a new client
โ Sometimes, usually late at night
โ Rarely these days
โ Never had it (respect ๐ซก)
๐ฅ One sentence I wish someone told me before sending my first proposal:
โ โYour real sentence here โ keep it raw.โ
Real examples (copy the vibe, not the words):
Platforms โ Fiverr + one repeat client from Reddit
Imposter โ Daily, especially when they call me โexpertโ
Truth โ โI started at $15/hr while following YouTube tutorials with the client on call.โ
๐ฐ Platforms โ Upwork โ Arc โ now mostly direct
๐ถโ๐ซ๏ธ Imposter โ Only before sending $8k+ invoices
๐ฅ Truth โ โHalf my career is just being the only one who answers emails on weekends.โ
No sugarcoating.
Just truth.๐
The dev whoโs about to give up tonight will read your comment and think:
โโฆwait, even THEY feel like this?โ๐ญ
Copy the template.
Fill it honestly.
Hit reply.
And if you donโt want to use the template, thatโs totally fine ๐just tell your story in your own words. Iโm listening.
Sometimes I catch myself thinking โthe competition is too bigโฆ why me? will anyone even pay me?โ๐
So your honesty might help someone who feels the same.
Weโre waiting for your line โ
Top comments (11)
This really hit me. Iโve been dealing with imposter syndrome a lot lately, the kind that sneaks up on you and makes you feel like youโre not โgood enough,โ even when youโre actually doing things and improving.
A few weeks ago I forced myself to start releasing some open-source stuff and writing blog posts. Honestly? I was super nervous. I kept thinking things like, โWhy would anyone care about this?โ or โWhat if people think itโs too basic?โ That little voice can be so loud sometimes.
But after putting a few things out there even tiny projects I realized most of us are just trying our best and figuring things out as we go. And the community has been a lot more supportive than I expected. Likeโฆ way more.
Iโm still learning, still doubting myself here and there, but at least now Iโm moving instead of just overthinking everything. Posts like this really help, so seriously, thanks for sharing it. ๐๐
You are trying your best, I really like your yellow energy๐๐, you are a perfectionist and energetic person, I am sure you will improve even if you think you know nothing. I'm sure here we use AI and no confidence. But even this is skill .๐๐๐คท๐ปโโ๏ธ Thank you for your nice comment i will support you ๐๐ป๐
Haha I just recently figured out thereโs actually a name for what Iโve been feeling โ imposter syndrome ๐คฆโโ๏ธ๐
Thanks again for the positive energy, it means a lot ๐๐
I didn't know either ๐๐คท๐ปโโ๏ธ๐คฃ AI suggested this name lmao
Love how real and supportive this thread is๐ โ seriously appreciate you putting this out there. Your honesty makes the whole space feel a lot less intimidating, and it shows how much you genuinely care about helping beginners. Iโm really inspired by the way you encourage people to share the truth instead of the polished version๐. Definitely got me interested and feeling more confident just reading your words!
๐
Thank you for your beautiful comment, I followed you to support you.๐ฅณ๐ I hope you progress and yes, the atmosphere here is scary and future. But we can do it . I'm sure ๐ฅบ๐คท๐ปโโ๏ธ
Thank you so much for your kind words and support, it truly means a lot to me. I really appreciate the follow and your positive energy ๐ฅฐ. Even if the atmosphere feels scary and uncertain, I believe with patience and effort we can move forward and grow. Letโs stay hopeful and keep doing our best.โโโโโ
Iโm basically on a roller coaster. Some days Iโm proud, other days I doubt everything. It depends on my energy level.
Looking back, I know the doubt slowed me down. I would have finished way more projects if I hadnโt second-guessed myself so much.
So now I do it differently: I pick a timeframe and I stick to it. No overthinking. Just doing my best until the time is up.
There's no need to be hard on yourself, we're human too and it's really hard, you have the right to be disappointed and doubt yourself, I'm the same way, sometimes I think I'll become Elon Musk, haha, sometimes I feel like I'm nothing without AI ๐๐คท๐ปโโ๏ธ๐ so keep going just keep going and I will support you ๐
Thank you for your kind words ๐
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