Imposter Syndrome creeps up when you doubt your abilities and start feeling like a fraud in some aspect of your life. This affects many people, destroying their self worth. Connor Miller is well acquainted with Imposter Syndrome, but he also recognizes its characteristics as a signal that you are actually moving forward in life.
At the root of Imposter Syndrome lies fear. And Connor believes that fear can be fuel. Most people never take action, especially when it comes to starting a business, because they overthink getting started. Instead of convincing themselves they can achieve whatever they put their mind to, they allow the fear of failure to prevent them from taking action. “My solution to this is to come up with something that you can do immediately to help that feeling go away. It might be as simple as reassuring yourself that there isn’t any truth in your statement and that it’s actually coming from a place of fear,” says Connor Miller.
When Connor and his father co-founded the freight brokerage and transportation company, ArdentX, he saw the outdated practices their competitors were still clinging to. Convinced he could do better, Connor spent his entire twenties in build mode as he turned ArdentX into one of the highest growth companies in Jacksonville. They’ve grown so fast by not focusing only on innovation and tech, as others do. Instead, Connor invests in people, covering the difficult freight that other carriers and brokers won’t, building regional networks to keep carriers engaged, and taking risks to support customers. Connor has learned that both the hero and coward experience fear. But only the hero turns his fear into fire.
Connor has overcome tremendous adversity to get to where he is today. At age 17, he became addicted to heroin. From 2011 to 2015, he was arrested five times, spent 22 months behind bars, and went to 6 different rehabs. He got clean in 2015 and met his wife Grace. This time in his life gave him the resilience he needed to face anything. “Today I have a beautiful family, including my wife Grace and my son Brodie. Huge thanks to my wife, who has supported me through everything and been my rock, even at my lowest moments. She believed in me when I was nothing,” says Connor Miller.
Connor has developed a way of thinking that turns problems into opportunities. This has helped him take control over his Imposter Syndrome, as he looks forward to better things.
