FEATURES Imposter Syndrome
suggest that finding support in a group of
others often leads to a realization that in
fact, one is not stupid or inadequate, and that
engaging in the compensating behaviors of
denying one’s abilities, or flattering others to
gain acceptance, might be diminishing our true
selves. Also, if applicable, an honest eye in a
group setting that is supportive can replace the
old family group (if it was unsupportive) and
give people a new way to perceive their talents
and abilities.
• Dr. Yates’ lessons on framing competences
can help you understand how you categorize
your idea of competence. Are you a Soloist?
What would it mean for you to learn to expand
your idea of competence to include working
in a group or on a team project? Even if you
are not able to do this yet, being aware of how
you frame your competence currently, might
help you figure out new ways to frame it that
are more supportive and can open you up to
accepting competence on your own terms.
• Consider finding a skilled therapist to work
through your history and current challenges
with making.
• If you have a makerspace, consider running
a workshop on how to do things that seem
hardest for makers who are fearful. A
submission workshop for a local Maker Faire,
or an “anything goes share night” or even a
“fail night” can create space for people to learn
how to more confidently participate on smaller
and larger scales.
Hopefully this will help you to reframe
competence, realize that making mistakes is
part of learning, and that others sometimes
struggle, too. You are not alone as a maker — the
community is full of support (and we’ve got your
back here at Make: and online at makezine.com
too). Most importantly, remember why you make
(to make!) and enjoy the process of creation, of
sharing, and of seeing how what you create can
connect to others.
“What sort of
dierence would I
make if fear was
not a factor?”
Makerspace Artisan’s Asylum:
“Embrace failing!”
Massachusetts-based Artisan’s Asylum has
had some history addressing confidence
and failure in those coming to its space.
Director of Education Anne Wright references
one memorable instance that provided a
“teachable moment” during an outreach
program with non-profit Possible Project.
The program’s high school students, working
on their “Build Your Business” prototypes,
visited Artisan’s Asylum to get feedback and
mentorship on their projects from the wealth
of diverse making talent in the makerspace.
One student had mentioned feeling that “they
failed” at something, and Wright flagged it as
a worthy discussion point. Being able to teach
younger students that failure is normal and
an accepted part of the process of design and
fabrication was an important lesson for young
entrepreneurs. Wright says that Artisan’s
Asylum was a perfect place for it, being a group
that is diverse, supportive, and sees failure as a
critical part of the making process. In such an
environment, students can take those lessons
back to their schools and communities to
encourage a broader cultural change, too.
Wright is such a supporter of failure as a part
of making that she hopes to have a “Fail Wall”
in Artisan’s Asylum’s new space in the Allston
neighborhood of Boston (slated to open in
January, 2022). As one of their members,
Tim, had said to the students that day, “fail
early, fail fast, and fail often,” meaning that by
doing so, you can move on to the next steps in
your project.
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