You're 40-60, "overqualified," and quietly wondering if you're a fraud.
Let me tell you something: that feeling means you're doing something extraordinary.
I felt it for five years at Shell.
"I got lucky. I'm not actually that good."
What I Didn't Realize at the Time
I'd already built PGA TOUR Network and co-founded Chief Outsiders.
I joined Shell as a total outsider to oil and gas, started SURGE Ventures, invested in 60 energy-tech startups, and built one of the largest networks in energy technology.
Then I left at 47 and built Eleox and InspirePlay — 150K YouTube subscribers in 12 months.
And I still felt like a fraud every single time.
"The feeling didn't mean I was failing. It meant I was in new water."
The Truth About Imposter Syndrome
70% of people experience it. Including the people you'd never suspect:
- Maya Angelou: "I have written eleven books, but each time I think, 'Uh oh, they're going to find out now.'"
- Mike Cannon-Brookes (Atlassian co-CEO): attended board meetings at his $1.6B company writing down acronyms to Google later.
If you're feeling like an imposter right now, you're not broken.
You're a corporate refugee with 20 years of expertise doing something most people never dare to try.
Reframe It
The system is rigged — not you.
Your experience is your advantage. The discomfort is just the tax on doing something new.
"Your title changed. Your value didn't."
Stop questioning your worth. Start building something you control.
Join 1,000+ Corporate Refugees and tell your story: theretern.com/newsletter
The work is serious. The life doesn't have to be.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have a tee time to keep.
Kirk Coburn is the founder of The ReTern and category creator of the fractional executive movement. He introduced the term "Fractional CMO" to the market in 2009 when he co-founded Chief Outsiders, which has since served 2,000+ clients. When he's not helping corporate refugees build fractional practices, he's usually on the golf course by 2 PM.
