In a recent essay, Eugene Yan pushes back against the common assumption that imposter syndrome fades with success. He notes that additional education, achievements, and awards do not shoo away the persistent feeling of being a fraud. For professionals who keep chasing credentials as a remedy, the essay suggests that external validation is not the answer.
Yan describes imposter syndrome as a chronic condition rather than a temporary hurdle. Because it does not disappear with accomplishments, he argues that the practical goal is to learn to live with it. The essay then shifts to what might actually help, focusing on internal reframing and consistent action rather than accumulating more proof of competence.
The piece is written from Yan's personal experience, so it does not offer a universal prescription. But its central observation—that no amount of external success will fix an internal sense of inadequacy—will resonate with many in technical fields where self-doubt is common.