You Don’t Have to Feel Ready to Start Showing Up

Many of us grow up believing there’s a right time to start. A moment when we’ll feel more qualified or more confident. In entrepreneurship, and in any meaningful work, waiting to feel ready is often just fear in disguise. And more importantly, it can keep you from opportunities that would help you grow.

We grow the most in the moments that stretch us, not the ones that feel easy. The entrepreneurs who build momentum rarely feel 100% sure when they begin. They just decide to begin anyway.

Readiness Is a Moving Target

Culturally, we’re conditioned to believe that readiness is something we have to earn. Maybe it looked like being told you needed to take a course before launching your business. Or being passed over for leadership roles until you had more years of experience, even when you were already doing the work. For many entrepreneurs, the pressure to prove yourself twice as much just to be seen as qualified teaches you to connect readiness to approval instead of belief in yourself.

That first messy draft. The pitch that didn’t land. The call you almost talked yourself out of taking but did anyway. Every time you show up unsure but willing, you’re training yourself to trust your ability to figure things out.

The problem with waiting is that it assumes there’s a moment when fear goes away. But most of the time, fear doesn’t disappear, it just changes shape. It shows up as doubt, overthinking, or endless preparation. The more you act in spite of it, the quieter it gets. That’s why courage ends up being a better measure of progress than readiness.

Confidence Follows Courage

Confidence is not what gets you in the room. Courage is. Courage is what drives you to show up, apply, speak, or launch, even when you feel unqualified or uncertain. Over time, every small act of courage builds your capacity. Confidence grows through repetition and proof that you can handle more than you thought.

This is especially true for women, founders of color, and first-gen entrepreneurs who’ve been taught to over-prepare in order to be taken seriously. We internalize the idea that we must be exceptional before we can be seen as worthy. That constant striving can make us believe we’re always one more credential or milestone away from “enough.” When you stop waiting to be validated, you make room for opportunities that were already meant for you.

The next time you catch yourself hesitating because you don’t feel ready, pause and practice this instead: Ask yourself, What’s one small action I can take today that moves me closer to showing up? Maybe it’s sending the email. Posting the idea. Saying yes to the coffee chat. Readiness grows through motion, not perfection.

When Saying Yes Is Strategic, Not Sacrificial

Not every opportunity deserves your yes. Saying yes to everything, especially when you're just getting started, is one of the quickest ways to burn out. Just because you can do something doesn’t mean it aligns with your bigger vision.

Learning when to say no is just as powerful as learning when to say yes. In fact, it’s often a sign of good leadership. So how do you know when it’s time to move forward and when it’s time to pause?

5 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Say Yes

Before you commit to a new opportunity, check in with yourself.

1. Does this align with my long-term goals? If it’s not a step toward the future you’re building, it may be a distraction, even if it looks good on paper.

   
   

2. Do I have the capacity mentally, emotionally, and physically to follow through? Capacity isn’t just about time. It’s about whether you can show up fully without sacrificing your well-being.

   
   

3. Am I saying yes out of guilt, pressure, or fear of missing out? A yes rooted in fear often leads to resentment. Be honest about what’s driving your decision.

   
   

4. Will this energize me or drain me? Your body often knows the answer before your brain does. Pay attention to how the opportunity makes you feel.

   
   

5. Is this a yes for now, or a yes for me? Is this about immediate survival or long-term sustainability? There’s a difference.

   
   

You Don’t Have to Earn the Right to Begin

You don’t have to be perfect to start. You don’t need permission to take up space. And you don’t need to feel completely ready to build something meaningful. What you do need is a clear vision and the willingness to say yes to it. Your next chapter isn’t waiting for you at the edge of perfection. It’s waiting just beyond your comfort zone.