It was a day I’d been dreaming about for months...

a consultation with a dream client, the kind that could open new doors and take my business to the next level. My pitch was ready, my notes were polished, and I’d rehearsed everything down to the pause before my big call-to-action.

But just as I sat down at my desk, the voice of doubt crept in: my imposter syndrome, aka my “back seat  driver.”

“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” it asked, as if it had been navigating my career all along. “What if they realize you’re just making it up as you go?”

This wasn’t the first time my back seat driver had decided to join me for a big moment. Over the years, it had become a master of bad timing, chiming in right when I was about to level up.

Coffee Spills and Chaos

As I reviewed my notes, trying to shake off the doubts, I knocked over my coffee, sending it cascading across my desk. My back seat driver seized the moment:

“See? You can’t even manage a cup of coffee. What makes you think you can manage this client?”

For a moment, I froze. The doubts started stacking up faster than I could wipe up the mess. But then, something shifted. I realized that my back seat driver wasn’t the one steering—I was.

I grabbed a fresh notebook, wrote three bold words at the top of the page—“I’ve Got This”—and decided that I wasn’t going to let spilled coffee (or self-doubt) derail me.

When the Pitch Went Off Script

The consultation started with every tech glitch imaginable. My screen froze, my voice cracked during the intro, and my slides didn’t load properly. My back seat driver, ever the opportunist, piped up again:

“This is a disaster. They’re probably wondering why they even agreed to this meeting.”

But here’s the thing—I’ve been in messy situations before, and I’ve always found my way through. I took a deep breath, smiled, and leaned into what I knew best: my story.

“Let me start over,” I said. “I’m Beth, the founder of Find Your North Star, LLC. I’ve spent years helping practitioners simplify the tech side of their businesses so they can focus on what they love most. And while I don’t always have the perfect pitch—or a steady coffee hand—I always show up 100% for my clients.”

The mood shifted. The client smiled, leaned in, and started asking questions. Suddenly, it wasn’t about the slides, the glitches, or the cracked voice—it was about the connection I was building with them.

From Chaos to Confidence

As I walked them through my process—sprinkling in success stories, practical strategies, and even a joke about my coffee spill—I could feel my back seat driver losing its grip. By the time I wrapped up, the client was nodding enthusiastically.

“We’ve been looking for someone who understands small businesses,” they said. “Let’s move forward.”

I ended the call, closed my laptop, and exhaled. I imagined my back seat driver sulking in the corner, realizing it wasn’t getting any credit for the win.

What My Back Seat Driver Taught Me

Here’s what I’ve learned: Imposter syndrome doesn’t just disappear—it’s always along for the ride. But you don’t have to let it drive. In fact, you don’t even have to listen to it.

If you’re wrestling with your own back seat driver, here are three things to remember:

1. Acknowledge it—but don’t hand over the keys.

• Self-doubt is natural. It shows you care about what you’re doing. But caring and questioning are two different things

1. Focus on your purpose.
1. When the doubts get loud, remind yourself why you started your business in the first place. For me, it’s about helping people navigate technology with ease and confidence.
2. Own your expertise.
1. You’ve earned your seat at the table. No one knows your journey better than you.

May You Always Find Your North Star

P.S. Your back seat driver will always have something to say, but here’s the truth: it doesn’t have the map for your journey—you do.

If you ever feel overwhelmed by the tech side of your business, I’m here to help you find clarity and confidence. Together, we’ll make sure your back seat driver stays buckled in, quiet, and out of the way while you steer your business toward success.

Your brilliance deserves to shine—because you’re exactly where you’re meant to be.

“You are the architect of your dreams, building success with resilience, shaping it with creativity, and driving it with unstoppable purpose. Trust your journey—your North Star is the GPS.” ~ Beth Schindele