Why you don’t need to feel ready to take action
Confidence is one of the BIGGEST lies we tell ourselves.
We convince ourselves that we need to feel confident before taking action… that somehow, once we feel ready, we’ll finally step into the life we want.
But here’s the truth... confidence doesn’t come before action, it comes because of action.
If you’ve been waiting for the perfect moment to feel ready, this is it. The perfect time is now.
You don’t need confidence to start.
You need to start to build confidence.
1. Confidence is a byproduct, not a pre-requisite
Think about anything you’ve ever gotten good at… driving a car, speaking in public, learning a new skill.
Were you confident the first time you tried?
Probably not. In fact, you were probably shit scared!
You built confidence by doing it repeatedly, even when it felt uncomfortable, even when you sucked!
The same applies to everything in life.
You don’t become confident before you start the business… you become confident by starting it.. sucking at it, and pushing through.
You don’t become confident before you speak up… you become confident by speaking up…even if your voice is shaky.
You don’t become confident before you take risks… you become confident by taking them.
The Science…
Studies in behavioural psychology show that confidence is developed through mastery experiences ie…taking action, gaining small wins, and proving to yourself that you can do it (Bandura, 1997).
Stop waiting for confidence. It will come when you get started
2. Action triggers competence, which triggers confidence
The real equation is simple.
Action → Competence → Confidence
The more you do something, the better you get. The better you get, the more confident you feel.
Sounds like that baked beans fart song…
But waiting until you feel ready is a guaranteed way to stay stuck forever. Instead, shift how you think about it…"I need to feel confident before I start." → "I will start, and confidence will follow."
A Harvard Business Review study found that confidence grows exponentially once people take action, even if they doubt themselves in the beginning. The hardest part is the first step… but it’s also the most transformative.
You don’t need confidence to take action. You need action to build confidence.
3. The power of taking messy action
Perfectionism is just fear in disguise. Now don’t get me wrong… I am an absolute perfectionist. And I have to pull myself up on this ALL THE TIME.
Because the problem is, if you’re waiting for the perfect plan, the perfect moment, or the perfect skills, you’ll never start.
Instead, embrace messy action. Done is better than perfect. Yes you might have to post something ugly. Yes there could be a spelling mistake. Yes your speech might not be the best thing you’ve ever written.
Launch the project before you have every detail figured out. Show up even when you doubt yourself.
Confidence isn’t about knowing you’ll succeed. It’s about knowing you can handle whatever happens… even if you fail.
Research from Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck explains that people with a growth mindset…who embrace imperfection and learn through action, are significantly more likely to succeed than those who wait for readiness.
Messy action beats perfect inaction. Every single time.
4. Normalize fear… Then do it anyway
Fear and self-doubt don’t mean you’re not ready. They mean you’re human. Yes I know… being scared isn’t the greatest feeling, but surprisingly, you can kind of learn to love it.
The people you admire, who seem fearless? They too have doubts and moments where they’re scared. They too have imposter syndrome.
The difference? They take action despite it.
Whenever fear creeps in, ask yourself…
What’s the worst that can happen?
Will I regret not doing this?
What if I succeed?
Fear shrinks in the face of action. The more you prove to yourself that you can handle discomfort, the less fear will control you. and then, you can actually start to recognize fear for what it really is… a sign of growth. (Unless you’re being chased by a bear then it’s actually just fear)
A study published in The Journal of Anxiety Disorders found that exposure to fear-inducing situations (even in small doses) significantly reduces anxiety over time. Taking action literally rewires your brain to see challenges as manageable instead of threatening.
Fear fades when you keep proving yourself right.
5. Confidence Is an Identity Shift
Confidence isn’t just about what you do… it’s about who you believe you are.
Instead of saying…
"I'm not a leader." try saying "I'm becoming a leader."
"I'm not ready." try saying "I'm willing to try."
"I'm bad at this." try saying "I'm learning how to get better."
Your actions shape your identity. The more you act like a confident person, the more you become one.
Neuroscientists confirm that identity-based habits are the most effective way to create lasting change. When you repeatedly take action aligned with a new identity, your brain rewires itself to make that belief your default state.
Confidence isn’t something you have… it’s something you embody through action.
Final Thought: Start Before You’re Ready
Confidence is built, not born.
You don’t need to feel ready to take action… you just need to take the first step.
Every successful person you see started before they felt ready.
You are no different.
Journal prompts for building confidence through action:
Think of a time when you felt unsure but took action anyway. What happened? How did you feel before, during, and after? What does this experience tell you about confidence and action?
What is one thing you’ve been putting off because you don’t feel ready? What small step can you take today to start, even if it’s messy or imperfect?
Write about a time you let fear or self-doubt stop you. What did you tell yourself at the time? Looking back, what advice would you give yourself now?
Imagine your most confident self. How does this version of you act, speak, and make decisions? What daily actions can you take to embody that person now, instead of waiting to "feel ready"?
What are the top three excuses you tell yourself when you avoid taking action? Be brutally honest. Now, rewrite each excuse into a powerful statement that shifts your mindset from waiting to doing.
Your Next Move
What’s one action you’ve been putting off because you don’t feel ready? Go and do it today.
