Growth Starts with One Uncomfortable Yes
Do I deserve to be in this role?
Will someone figure out that this was all a fluke?
Am I too old to learn something new?
How do I compare to the person I replaced?
Will I catch on fast enough?
Should I even be doing this?
These questions—and more—roll through my head nearly every day. Classic impostor syndrome, I suppose. And yes, I’ve felt it throughout many moments in my career.
What you may not know is that I started my current role after temping as a receptionist while unemployed. Eventually, I was hired as a junior IT specialist. I was thrilled. This was my chance to pivot out of more than 20 years in creative and IT project management and into something new. I said yes to the opportunity, and I meant it.
What I didn’t expect was for my manager to pass away suddenly, just three months later. And just like that, I found myself managing the entire IT department.
I hadn’t learned everything yet. I wasn’t confident enough. It felt like too much. But again, I said yes.
I kept saying yes. I went to cybersecurity conferences where the jargon was a foreign language. I listened, I took notes, I asked questions. And I kept showing up.
Saying yes—even when I was uncertain, overwhelmed, or scared—is how I’ve learned to face down impostor syndrome. There will always be people more skilled, more experienced. But I’m here because I did the hard work and kept saying yes, again and again.
A year later, I understand the language in those conference halls. I’ve kept our department running, not alone, but by leaning on the brilliant and patient people around me and asking every question I needed to.
So when the next challenge makes your stomach tie up in knots, say yes.
That feeling? That’s how you know you’re growing.