The Confidence Lab Series

The Myth of Waiting Until You’re Ready: Why Confidence Comes After the Leap

"You don’t become confident and then take the leap. You take the leap, and confidence meets you in the air."

The Lie We Love: "I'll Start When I'm Ready"

We’ve all said it: "I’ll speak up when I feel more confident." "I’ll launch that idea when I’m ready." "I’ll go for the promotion when I feel more qualified."

But here’s the thing, readiness is a myth.

According to Harvard Business Review, men apply for jobs when they meet 60% of qualifications, while women wait until they meet 100%. This confidence gap isn’t about skill. It’s about permission. And most people are stuck waiting for a sign that rarely comes.

The Leap is the Confidence

Readiness is not a prerequisite, it’s a side effect. Every time you say yes before you’re 100% certain, you stretch the edges of your identity.

Think about it:

• You didn’t feel "ready" to move out, but you figured it out.

• You weren’t "ready" for your first job, but you found your rhythm.

• You didn’t feel ready to lead, but leadership found you anyway.

Confidence arrives when you do the scary thing. Not before.

Why We Wait

Let’s call it what it is: waiting for readiness is often a mask for fear. Fear of failure. Fear of judgment. Fear that our idea, our voice, or our story won’t be received the way we want.

But here’s a reality check: no amount of overthinking protects you from discomfort. It only delays your progress.

The Psychology of Taking Action

Neuroscience backs this up. Studies from the University of Cambridge show that action creates momentum and reduces anxiety faster than thinking alone. Once you take a small step, your brain adjusts and starts to reinforce the new identity:

• "I’m the kind of person who does this now."

• "I survived the risk, maybe I can go again."

This is how you build earned confidence, not by preparing forever, but by proving to yourself that you can figure it out along the way.

A South African Story: Building Anyway

Many great businesses and movements in Africa didn’t wait for perfect funding or full approval. They started in garages, kitchens, WhatsApp groups. What they had was conviction, not certainty.

You don’t need every duck in a row. You need a reason deep enough to keep walking when the results don’t show up fast.

Try This: The "Start Before You’re Ready" Challenge

• What’s one thing you’ve been postponing until you feel more confident?

• Break it into a 30-minute action this week.

• Do it. Reflect. Repeat.

Momentum builds belief. And belief builds real confidence.

The world doesn’t need more ready people. It needs more willing people. People who show up messy, in motion, full of heart.

Start before you’re ready. That’s where the real power lives.