What I Got from Tasting Boldness (Part 1)

As someone who has spent most of my life on the shy side, I can confidently say this—boldness is worth it.?

Every time I’ve dared to step outside my comfort zone, I’ve realized just how much I was holding myself back. One of those moments happened during a research project in school.

My team and I, procurement students at the time, had chosen to study Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) for our project. We selected a well-known company in Ghana, gathered data online, and wrote our report without ever setting foot in the company.?

Big mistake!

Our lecturer later announced that our final submission had to include official stamps from the companies we visited for our research project.?

That’s when panic set in.?

This wasn’t just any company where you could walk in freely; you needed an appointment!?

To make things worse, my teammates all had valid reasons why they couldn’t go. Since I frequently used that route home, they pleaded with me to visit the company on our behalf.

Me? The one who couldn’t even present in class without shaking? Absolutely not!

But somehow, after much persuasion, I found myself saying yes.

On the day of my visit, I wasn’t even sure where to start. I only knew the general location, but not the exact building. After navigating my way there, I finally reached the company’s premises.

Security Guard: “What’s your mission here?”

I nervously explained my purpose. After several questions and hesitant glances, he finally gave me a visitors tag and let me in.?

I walked up to the front desk receptionist, heart pounding.

Me: “Good afternoon. My name is Matilda. I’m a student researching FMCG, and my school requires an official stamp to verify my visit. Here’s my letter from the university. I’d like to speak with the Procurement Manager.”

She skimmed through the letter and shook her head.

Receptionist: “You need an appointment to see the Procurement Manager. Leave the letter. We’ll schedule a day for you to come back.”

Well, that was expected. On a normal day, I would have nodded, thanked her, and left. But something in me refused to accept that answer. I wasn’t going to leave empty-handed.

Me: “Oh no, I can’t just leave. This is very urgent. I came from far away, and I need to submit my work in a few days. It won’t take much time, I promise. Is there anyone in the department who might be able to assist me other than the manager?”

She raised an eyebrow, sighed, then laughed slightly.

Receptionist: “Alright, wait here. Let me see if I can get you someone to speak with.”

I sat there, half-proud of myself, half-preparing for rejection. Even if I didn’t get the stamp, at least I had tried, right?

A few minutes later, an intern from the procurement department approached me.

Intern: “You need information for your research?”

Me: “Yes, I just need to ask a few questions and get a stamp to verify my visit.”

He nodded, and I started asking him my questions. But after a few minutes, he paused and shook his head.

Intern: “Honestly, I don’t think I can answer these well enough. But wait here, let me try getting you a meeting with our Demand Planning Manager.”

I straightened up. A manager? That was exactly the level of insight I needed, but I’d been told earlier that a meeting required an appointment. I hadn’t expected them to actually make it happen on the spot.

A few minutes later, I was ushered into the manager’s office.

I greeted him, and he responded warmly before looking at me with curiosity.

Manager: “So, do you know someone here or have you been here before?”

Me: “No, sir. This is my first time here.”

He smiled.

Manager: “That’s impressive. Usually, people come in through referrals or appointments. Very few just walk in and ask for what they want.”

I was trying to keep my composure, but inside, I was laughing. If only you knew how long I debated even stepping through those gates!

For the next 20 minutes, we had the most insightful conversation. He answered all my questions, shared valuable industry knowledge, and before I could even ask, he handed me an envelope.

Manager: “Here’s the company’s envelope with an official stamp you need. If your lecturer needs verification, she can call me directly. Also, take this—it’s a little something from us.”

I got a whooping pack of products from the company!

I left that building floating. Not only did I get what I came for, but I also walked away with extra knowledge, resources, and a major confidence boost.

And to think, I almost let fear stop me.

I look back at that day and wonder: What else have I missed out on because of fear?

To those who naturally exude confidence—I commend you. It’s a superpower. And to those who, like me, have struggled with shyness—I encourage you.

There’s so much waiting for you on the other side of fear. All it takes is one bold step.

Are you willing to take it?

Stay tuned for Part 2, where I share another experience that reinforced this lesson.