Stop Waiting to Be Ready—Start Showing Up for Your Next Career Opportunity

You know, there are all these things I want to accomplish, but I’ve realized something: I’m not going to get anywhere if I’m not willing to be bad at them first—like, really bad. And the worst part? I’ve got to do it in front of other people. That’s the hard pill to swallow. It’s super uncomfortable, right? No one likes feeling like they don’t know what they’re doing, especially when others are watching.

But here’s the thing: there’s no shortcut around this. Every single person who’s ever been good at anything had to go through that awkward, “What am I even doing?” phase. We just don’t see that part when we’re looking at them now.

"You can choose courage, or you can choose comfort, but you cannot have both." Brené Brown

And she’s right. If I’m sitting around waiting to feel ready or perfect, I’ll be waiting forever. The truth is, I’ll never feel ready until I actually do the thing.

And honestly? That’s scary. I’ve definitely hesitated before. There have been times I’ve thought, “What if I fail?” or “What if I look dumb?” It’s human to feel that way. But the thing is, everyone who’s great at something now was once exactly where we are in something at some point. They all started off as beginners. They all struggled at some point, maybe even in front of people. But they kept going, they kept showing up, and that’s how they got better.

So, here’s where I’m at: I’ve decided to let myself be bad at a few new things. Yeah, I might mess up, I might look awkward, but that’s okay. Because every time I put myself out there, I’m getting closer to where I want to be.

One of my favorite quotes:

"What if I fall? Oh, but my darling, what if you fly?” ― Erin Hanson

It's easy to stay on the sidelines, but true growth and rewards come when we step up and actively get involved. The more we show up, the better we get. And one day, we’ll look back and realize that the thing we were scared to try is now something we’ve mastered.

Three ideas to help find the courage to push through new challenges:

1. Reframe Failure

Instead of fearing failure, think of it as part of the process. Everyone who's good at something was bad at it first. Mistakes just mean you're learning. So, when you mess up, remind yourself: it’s progress, not a setback.

2. Start Small, Go Public

Don’t jump into the deep end right away. Break your goal into smaller steps and practice them in front of others. Each small win builds confidence and gets you used to doing things where people can see.

3. Find Your People

Surround yourself with friends, mentors, or a group that gets it. People who support you when things feel awkward will keep you motivated. They’ll help remind you that growth is messy but worth it.

The more you show up and try, the closer you get to where you want to be.