Caroline Flanagan - Be The First People of Colour, Imposter Syndrome and the Struggle to Succeed in a White World.

Copyright Caroline Flanagan 2021

Published by Known Publishing LTD, 2021.

The right of Caroline Flanagan to be identified as the Author of her work has been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

ISBN 978-1-913717-32-2

No part of this book may be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic or electronic process, or in the form of a phonographic recording, nor may it be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted or otherwise be copied for public or private use, other than for fair use as brief quotations embodied in articles and reviews, without prior written permission of the author.

www.get-known.co.uk

For my boys

Dylan, Noah,
Luca and Maxwell

CONTENTS

THIS BOOK IS FOR

T his is a book for high potential people of colour who are striving to succeed in a white world.

You know you have the potential to achieve more, but there are internal and external barriers standing in your way. These barriers create a unique form of Imposter Syndrome that has been holding you back for too long.

You are fed up of feeling excluded because of who you are and you want to be valued and included.

You are tired of being judged by the colour of your skin and you want to be recognised and respected.

Youre exhausted by self-doubt and the feeling you cant compete and you want to create the results you know youre capable of.

Like me, you wish the experience of being a person of colour in a white world were different. You wish it were equal, inclusive and fair and that you could feel like you belong and can get ahead. But right now, it isnt. And as long as this continues to be the case, its up to you to break down the barriers and do all you can to achieve the success you deserve.

This book is your call to action.

THIS BOOK WILL

T his book will empower you to own your identity so you can show up as the valuable person you are. I am not here to offer you tips and tricks. This is not a quick fix. This book offers proven solutions that have worked for me and have transformed the lives and careers of my clients. In particular, the powerful tool I share in this book will:

• give you lasting confidence in who you are and the unique value you bring
• give you instant courage in the moments when you are afraid to take action
• give you a process to help you get unstuck
• motivate you to seize opportunities
• encourage you to step out of your comfort zone; and
• inspire you to achieve your potential.

I wrote this book to help you transcend the lack of diversity, inclusion and the various types of racism which are keeping you down, and to help you turn your Imposter Syndrome to your advantage so that instead of being the barrier that holds you back, it becomes the engine that propels you forward.

As a result of doing the work recommended in this book, you will have a better relationship with yourself and you will show up to challenges differently. Youll stop feeling like a victim of circumstances waiting for an unjust system to change and so start to feel more in control. Youll feel more empowered, motivated and confident because youll have the exact tools you need to succeed.

MEET CAROLINE FLANAGAN

C aroline Flanagan is proud to call herself an imposter. Its what generates her power and what drives her to succeed.

Against the odds, she made it from a council estate in Birmingham to being the only black student in an all-white school twice. She went on to be one of a tiny minority of students of colour at Cambridge University, one of a sprinkling of students of colour at law school and one of the only people of colour in the room at two of the worlds most prestigious law firms.

She is an international keynote speaker, certified coach, author of two books, podcast host and recognised expert on Imposter Syndrome. Carolines mission is to help people of colour to stand out and be valued for who they are so that they can fulfil more of their potential and achieve the success they deserve.

Caroline works with some of the worlds largest law firms, banks and global organisations to help support and retain their minority talent. Whether she is speaking as an expert on Imposter Syndrome on a physical stage or a virtual one, she is still often one of the only people of colour in the room.

What really lights her up is seeing the transformation her coaching clients go through as they break down the barriers they face as people of colour and achieve their potential.

Ever keen to push the boundaries of her comfort zone, she has taught sailing, bushwalking and netball in Australia; been swimming with dolphins and whale sharks; climbed mountains and trekked through the Amazon rainforest with her then 1-year-old son Noah on her back.

She never shies away from a challenge and has ice dived in Sweden, sky dived to raise money for MIND, and ran the Amsterdam half marathon to welcome her 40th with a bang and raise money for Cancer Research. In 2020, Caroline completed the navy-seals style physical endurance test known as the Goggins challenge.

Caroline is the proud mother of four incredible boys, a fact that surprises and inspires her every single day.

Ways to connect with Caroline:

PROLOGUE

I m standing at the front of the room, and as usual, Im feeling anxious. The room is hot and stuffy and quickly filling up with lawyers. Although Im feeling thirsty, I cant allow myself to drink because of the adrenalin racing around my body. If I pick up a glass now the water will swirl, and everyone will see how nervous I am.

My name is Caroline Flanagan

Minutes later, my nerves are forgotten, Im feeling calmer and my talk is in full swing. Ive set the stage, grabbed the audiences attention with a powerful start, and Im at that bit in the talk where I share my story and open up my soul to the audience. I tell them all about my experience as a woman of colour making her way through a white world.

With 10 years experience as a speaker, Ive shared my story many times before. Ive said, black people and lady of the jungle and people like us; Ive talked openly about racism and prejudice and identity in front of thousands of people, but it never gets easier to stand on the stage and share your Imposter Syndrome and the moments when youve felt most alone. And each time the irony is never lost on me: nine times out of ten, Im still one of the only black faces in the room.

I scan the audience and Im happy to see most of them leaning forward with focused eyes, which tells me theyre engaged. Some have crossed their arms, but when I make eye contact, they smile. I pause and take it all in: the size and demographic of the audience, the energy levels in the room, the inquisitive expressions on their faces while they try to deduce whether todays talk is going to be a waste of time or not. Most of them hate public speaking and wouldnt dare to stand up on stage and be in my shoes right now. But that doesnt stop them judging, having high expectations. And why shouldnt they? Time is precious after all.