For many people, it's not unusual for work, identity, and worth to be intertwined. For children of immigrants specifically, there are a number of ways this can create unique struggles for you in your workplaces & in your careers. >>

1. As a minority in the workplace, who may be encouraged to be grateful to have "made it," so your imposter syndrome can make it hard to advocate for yourself in your career or in your business relationships for fear of "ruining a good thing" or seeming ungrateful.

2. You may struggle with perfectionist tendencies because anything less than perfect can feel like a failure. This can make it hard to try something new even if you're not good at it, accept criticism graciously, or show up w/ self compassion when you make a mistake in your work.

3. Because you were raised in an environment where social perception was emphasized, you may have a hard time with being truthful in the workplace about your life, current problems, or mental health struggles out of fear that it will make you look bad.

4. Because you've grown up in a household with a hierarchical order, where you're expected to respect & accommodate elders, you may struggle w/ saying no when a superior at work asks you to do something -- even if it's not in your purview or you don't have the bandwidth.

5. You may have been raised in a collectivist household or culture that prioritizes harmony in the group over the individual needs/wants. This can make it difficult to navigate workplaces that reward overt competitiveness or aggressiveness.

6. Because you have so often been compared to your peers by your parents/in your community, you find it difficult to support or champion a colleague who's doing good work in your workplace. Instead, you may feel jealousy or like it represents a personal failure on your part.

7. Growing up, you may have been modeled/taught that milestones & achievements are prioritized over joy & passion. This may encourage you to pursue what you're good at over what makes you happy, making it hard to put your hat in the ring for something new or take a risk at work.

8. You may have grown up w/ parents who only provided encouragement & verbal praise when you reached a milestone or achieved something. This dynamic can be replicated in your relationship w/ your boss, nurturing the belief that your worthiness is tied solely to what you produce.

9. As a child of immigrants, you may be used to hiding parts of your identity to seek belonging in your differing communities and cultures. At work, this can make it hard for you to show up authentically, take up space, or share your culture with colleagues.