This Is Often the Only Thing Preventing You from Learning

“In many cases, you'll find the only thing preventing you from learning is your ego. No one enjoys feeling foolish, but attempting something new requires that you climb down from your perch and struggle as a beginner. You must ask questions that reveal your ignorance or attempt skills that make you look uncoordinated. Learning demands the willingness to live in a brief state of discomfort. You must believe that looking like a fool for an hour will not ruin your reputation for life." - James Clear ??

FACT: Most people don’t ask questions; they pretend like they know things. ??

WHY:? Because they think if they ask questions, they look dumb. ??

TRUTH: The better the question, the better the result. ??

I get it—I’ve been there. For years, I believed that success meant showing up with all the answers. I’d spend late nights researching and memorizing, hoping that I could seem like the “expert” the next day, even though I felt I wasn’t.?

This desire to appear knowledgeable was my internal need to gain approval and acceptance, which kept me stuck. ??

?? I said “yes” only to opportunities I knew I’d succeed in, staying in my comfort zone. My world was small because I only engaged in spaces where I felt safe.

? The truth is, the most growth doesn’t come from knowing everything; it comes from being open enough to ask, “What don’t I know here?”? “What can others teach me?”? or “What am I learning from this?” even in the face of a perceived failure.?

Once I started to let go of that need to appear fully in control of knowing it all, I opened myself up to powerful insights that would’ve otherwise stayed hidden. ??

I began seeking out rooms with people who had knowledge, experience, and perspectives beyond my own. These were spaces where I wasn’t the one “in charge” but the one asking questions, listening deeply, and gaining insights that would change the way I worked and lived.

In these rooms, I learned that power isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about being in the right places, with the right people, and absorbing as much as possible. ??

The humility of not knowing everything opened doors I hadn’t even considered before. ??

People wanted to work with me because I was willing to say, “I don’t have all the answers—what can we come up with together?” ??

I saw that asking genuine questions was a strength, not a weakness. Through listening, I gained the insights and tools that a formal education, or no amount of late-night cramming could’ve provided.

Today, because I embraced the power of asking, listening, and connecting, I’ve achieved things I once only dreamed of. ??

I’ve built a thriving business, stood on stages sharing my story, led high-performing teams, and connected with some of the best minds in my industry.

All of this was possible not because I knew everything but because I was willing to step into rooms where I didn’t have to. ??

?? By letting go of the need to be the “smartest in the room,” I’ve been able to grow, succeed, and help others do the same in ways I never could have alone.

?? There’s a second part to this breakthrough in my journey, and I’ll share it and teach it to you in the next Empowerment Exchange.?

But, until then, will you join me in “not being a know-it-all all” and step into a life of growth, connection, fulfillment, and fun? ??

???Comment below and share your thoughts, because I have an invitation for you if you’re ready to join me! ??

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