The author distinguishes between impostor syndrome and genuine strategic issues that cause self-doubt. Impostor syndrome involves feeling like a fraud despite objective achievements, as illustrated by personal experiences with AI articles and conference invitations. In these instances, the brain invents explanations for perceived shortcomings. However, not all feelings of inadequacy stem from impostor syndrome. For example, being a bad runner doesn't mean one has impostor syndrome; it might simply mean a lack of talent or incorrect training methods. Giving advice like "work harder" or "keep going" for issues that are strategic, not confidence-related, can be counterproductive. An engineering approach suggests critically analyzing one's strategy rather than solely focusing on boosting confidence. This involves questioning if the time invested is yielding results and considering alternative strategies. It's crucial to differentiate between true impostor syndrome and doubts that signal a flawed approach. Sometimes, perseverance is the answer, but other times, a strategic change is necessary. Learning to make this distinction is the challenging but important part of personal growth.