Sometimes confidence can block your growth. If I had waited until I felt ready, I would still be standing on the sidelines.
I hear it all the time from clients:
“I’ll start once I feel more confident.”
“I’m not ready yet. I need more time.”
“I’ll do it when things calm down.”
The truth? Confidence is not the starting point. It’s the result of taking action.
The Story of Sarah
Sarah (name changed) was a talented marketing manager with a dream of moving into a leadership role.
She had the skills. She had the track record. But she kept telling herself she needed “just one more course” before applying.
After months of waiting for the right time, she finally decided to act even though she still felt nervous and unprepared.
She applied for a role she thought was “out of her league” and got it.
When I asked her what made the difference, she said:
> “I realized I was waiting for a feeling that was never going to come. I had to go first.”
The Data on Confidence
Psychology today reports that confidence grows fastest from action and not from waiting to feel ready.
In other words:
* Take action → build competence → gain confidence.
* Wait until you’re confident → stay stuck indefinitely.
The “Confidence Trap” is real and it keeps countless high achievers from stepping into their next level.
Why We Wait
We tell ourselves:
* “I need more experience.”
* “It’s not the right time.”
* “I’ll do it when things are perfect.”
But these are often just fear in disguise. This is the fear of failure, fear of judgment and fear of the unknown.
Breaking the Confidence Trap
Here’s what I teach my clients to do instead:
1. **Lower the Stakes** — Instead of aiming for perfection, aim for progress.
2. **Act Quickly** — The longer you think about it, the more reasons you’ll find not to do it.
3. **Stack Small Wins** — Each small success builds the confidence needed for bigger moves.
What This Means for You
You will never feel 100% ready for your biggest opportunities.
If you’re waiting for fear to disappear before you act, you’ll be waiting forever.
The confidence you want is on the other side of action.
If fear is holding you back from your next level, let’s dismantle it together. In our coaching program, we’ll create an action plan that builds your courage, one bold step at a time. Check it out under services.
If you would apply this information you have learned today, your life will never be the same again. Remember, ideas are worthless without action. It works if you work it. Till we meet again in the next post. Peace.
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