We have a tendency to wait until we’re “ready”.

Wait until we’re a better writer.

Wait until we’re a better speaker.

Wait until we have more experience leading.

Wait until we know more. 

We often wait because we feel we lack the knowledge or skills – we’re not very confident in our abilities.

A big misconception many of us have is that we need to build our confidence in order to do X.

There is so much content out there on how to increase your confidence to move forward. This isn’t “wrong” or “bad” per se, there’s value in trying to reframe your thoughts and beliefs to increase your confidence.

But much of it misses (or at the very least, glosses over) a critical point: 

Confidence is a result, not a prerequisite.  

We build confidence by doing.

When we do or engage in something we’ve never done before and witness that we’re still in one piece at the end of it, our confidence increases. 

If we’ve never done something before, our brain has no reference point to prove that we can and that it’s safe to do so. This creates fear.  

The only way to mitigate that fear is to give our brains a reference point that we can. 

Now, if you want to be a better speaker that doesn’t mean taking on a keynote speech right away. But it does mean taking tiny steps – stretching your comfort zone incrementally – to give your brain new reference points (i.e. a small podcast interview or work presentation). 

That’s why confidence is a result, not a prerequisite. It comes from doing.  

So begin before you’re ready. Knock over the smallest domino in front of you. Give your brain some new reference points.