Hey Reader,
Have you ever caught yourself wondering how others might react if they really knew you?
I’m not talking about the polished version you present to the world; the successful entrepreneur, or the confident leader.
I mean the messy, imperfect parts of you that you work so hard to keep hidden.
I’ve worked with some really successful people and I realized they all share the same fear.
A fear that someone will discover you’re not as perfect as you appear. Or worse, that you don’t truly have it all together.
This thing about being “found out” has trapped many elite performers in a cycle of perfection, self-doubt, isolation, and underperformance.
But what if this fear could be your greatest tool for growth and ultraperformance?
Let me show you how.
🗯️ Michelangelo’s Real Struggles
You probably know Michelangelo, one of the greatest artists the world has ever known.
The man behind masterpieces like the Sistine Chapel ceiling, David, and the Pietà.
While painting the Sistine Chapel ceiling, legend has it that he wrestled constantly with self-doubt.
The scale of the work was overwhelming. He’d never even painted frescoes before, yet there he was, painting over 5,000 square feet of biblical stories for the world to judge.
And to top it off, he was working under intense scrutiny from Pope Julius II and his rivals.
He wrote about the physical toll: the neck pain, the headaches, and the frustration.
He even joked about how he couldn’t read or eat properly because of the awkward position he had to work in.
Frescoes were not his strength, and some accounts suggest he feared the task might overshadow his legacy as a sculptor since he didn’t consider himself a painter.
But he didn’t give in to the doubt or the pressure.
Instead, Michelangelo poured himself into the daunting task for four years, learning and adapting as he went.
He didn’t wait for the fear to fade.
He kept going until the ceiling became what we now revere as a symbol of artistic perfection.
But it wasn’t perfection, ease, or confidence that created that legacy.
It was his relentless resolve to face his fears, own his doubts, and show up anyway.
🧠 Hiding Comes at a Price
I get it.
You’re now performing under a spotlight.
So you think you have to be perfect, and people must not see your flaws.
But mindsets like this are exactly where fear thrives.
It starts with a little doubt, a whisper that you may not be as talented or deserving as everyone thinks.
So you work harder, trying to prove the voice wrong.
You achieve something big, but you still feel like it isn’t enough.
This fear keeps pushing you.
It has you saying “yes” to everything, avoiding difficult conversations, or anything that feels too risky.
You stay up late triple-checking details your team has already handled perfectly.
You hesitate to ask for advice because you feel it will make you look weak.
Over time, mental fatigue sets in.
You become more reactive and less creative.
Building genuine relationships feels like a lot of work because you’re constantly second-guessing how others perceive you.
You’re so busy protecting this flawless image that you miss opportunities to learn, grow, and truly connect.
Think about how much energy it takes.
The constant effort to look like you’ve got it all figured out, to be the one with all the answers.
What’s it all for?
❤️ Vulnerability Makes You Stronger
Imagine waking up every morning unbothered about having to appear perfect.
You walk into every room, meetings, networking events, even casual conversations as your real self.
Imagine how relaxing that’ll be, and how lighter you’ll feel.
When you embrace your perfect imperfections, you’d stop worrying about what others might think if they “found out,” and focus on your growth, relationships, purpose, and vision.
With little or no effort, you'll attract genuine connections because people don’t feel the pressure to be perfect around you either.
You face challenges not with fear, but with the confidence that trying, failing, and learning is all part of the process.
You’re openly admitting mistakes, and asking for help when you need it.
You stand tall in who you are, knowing that you’re enough.
You’re unapologetically you.
Isn’t that how freedom is meant to feel like?
🤲 Face Your Fears
What are you so afraid people will “find out”?
You can’t keep running away from it, and you don’t have to fight it either. You just have to look it in the eye and make it an ally.
You can start by practicing one of these steps:
- Write your fear as if it’s a story someone else is telling you. Describe it vividly, what it looks like, what it says, and how it makes you feel. Is it a skill you think you lack? A past failure? A weakness you worry is too visible? Then ask yourself: would you judge that person for their vulnerability, or respect their courage for sharing? This mindset will show you how irrational fear can be.
- Turn the fear into a mentor. What would your fear say if it had your best interest at heart? Instead of hiding from it, imagine it giving you advice. It definitely won’t tell you to keep walking on a tightrope of being found. It’ll demand you climb down that horse of perfection and live your truth.
- Find one small way to show your humanity today. Admit to a team member that you don’t have all the answers, or share a moment of doubt with a peer. Just start small. You’ll discover that vulnerability doesn’t repel people, it draws them even closer.
- Carry a moment of proof. Keep a mental or written reminder of the times you thought you’d fail but didn’t, the risks you’ve taken, and the challenges you’ve overcome that have led you to this point. Isn’t that proof enough to kill that fear, own your weakness, and keep creating a masterpiece from your strengths?
🎯 What’s Next for You?
What would it feel like to stop hiding and just embrace yourself completely?
What does that weakness even matter?
You’ve already proven you can build, achieve, and succeed.
I mean, look at you, and all these great feats you’ve accomplished.
So what if people find out you failed before?
How does that counter your successes?
Can’t you see that fear is putting you in a box?
The next level you’re chasing probably just needs more you.
No, not a perfect you.
But the real, messy, and humanly flawed you.
Like Leonard Cohen said, “There is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.”
It’s your imperfections that make your journey authentic and your success unique.
So let the fear go.
With appreciation,
Huw
P.S: If you’re tired of the exhausting struggle between external success and internal doubt, let’s talk. My elite mastermind concept is designed to help elite performers overcome impostor syndrome and become unfuckwithable. Just shoot me an email to get started.
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Huw Edwards
Founder & CEO, h3.xyz
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