Last summer, I was standing in my condo late one morning, iPhone in my hand, about to make one of the biggest investments I had ever made in myself and my brand-new business.
There was no tangible product, other than promised pages in a report that would help guide my brand. No guaranteed return. No immediate revenue was tied to the decision. Mostly a leap. A real one.
And right on cue, without fail....the inner critic showed up.
You know the voice. The one that sounds logical and responsible on the surface. The one that says you should slow down, sit down, and think harder. The one who asks who you are to believe you are ready for something bigger. The one that reminds you of the risk, the exposure, the possibility of getting it wrong. The one that tells you it's so much safer to play small.
I felt it instantly in my body. That pit in my stomach. A wave of anxiety. The urge to delay. The temptation to gather more opinions, take my time before making the decision, and ask for others' opinions. The subtle pull to stay safe and keep everything exactly as it was.
But there was another voice present, too. It was there, and it was also a strong pull. Steadier and more familiar. It was also paired with my instinct and intuition.
It was the voice built over years of doing hard things before I felt ready. The voice that remembered speaking up in rooms where I questioned my credibility. Volunteering to lead when I didn’t yet have the experience. Showing up for workouts and physical challenges when I was depleted. Saying yes to 6 months of a paramilitary police academy training, when I had no idea what I was getting myself into. Getting on stages in front of hundreds and presenting in front of thousands over the years, after almost saying no.
That voice didn’t promise certainty. It offered evidence.
So I did what I now know how to do. Like Nike's famous words: "Just do it." I scheduled the call. No delay. No spiral. No overthinking cycle that could talk me out of growth. I spoke with mentors I trusted, went for long walks to clear my mind, reviewed the “receipts” I’ve collected over the years in my daily log and gratitude journal, and then I made the move.
Did it go perfectly? No, but it was pretty close! That's adaptation, flexibility, and the ability to pivot. Nothing meaningful ever does. There were pivots. We collaborated and made edits. Moments of questioning the decisions that I was making. But it moved me forward. It sharpened my focus, built excitement, and accelerated my growth.
What surprised me most was how quickly I made the decision. I wasn’t always like that. I used to be terrified of getting it wrong. Experience taught me that the pain of staying stuck eventually becomes more uncomfortable than the fear of acting. That moment reinforced something I now teach my clients. Confidence is not a feeling you wait for. Confidence is a result you build. It comes after the rep.
71% of CEO's suffer from imposter syndrome, 65% of executives do as well, according to a 2024 study by Korn Ferry. Study here https://www.kornferry.com/about-us/press/71percent-of-us-ceos-experience-imposter-syndrome-new-korn-ferry-research-finds
Over the years of coaching leaders and high performers, I’ve seen what happens when the inner critic is in charge. People ask too many people for reassurance. They over-prepare to eliminate risk. They avoid visibility. They stay silent in rooms where their voice is needed because imposter syndrome starts whispering. They hesitate and fear the risk of saying something "wrong", sounding unintelligent, or just not having the right answers. I encourage them to do this more because we all have that inner critic that shows up. Some of us have learned to silence it when it shows up, but most of us experience it.
The intention is protection and self-preservation, but the outcome can be paralysis.
If you are hearing that voice right now, here are practical ways to quiet it and move forward.
1. Build Evidence Daily; Don’t Rely on Memory. Confidence grows when it becomes documented, not just felt. Start a simple daily log. Write down three wins; even small ones count. Track moments where you showed courage, discipline, or resilience. Keep a visible bank of “receipts”: testimonials, results, feedback, progress markers. When doubt shows up, you will have proof in front of you instead of vague recollection. I have all my clients do this, and they report it's changed the game for them.
2. Limit the Reassurance Loop. Seeking perspective can be helpful; outsourcing your decision-making is not. Every person you ask will filter their advice through their own fears, failures, experiences, and risk tolerance. Choose mentors intentionally. Avoid polling the room. At some point, you must trust that you understand your capacity, timing, and ambition better than anyone else! This is critical to your success.
3. Replace Over-Preparation With One Clear Action. Perfectionism is often disguised as professionalism. Many talented people spend weeks refining presentations, pitches, or plans that only need one bold move to gain traction. In my many years of coaching professionals, the urge to be "polished" and hide the self is rampant. Identify your strengths and be proud of them. Identify the single action that moves you forward: scheduling the call, sending the proposal, raising your hand, or posting the content. Execute first; refine after.
4. Recognize What “Not Ready” Actually Means. When someone says they are not ready, it is rarely about skill. More often, it is about fear of visibility, fear of judgment, or fear of making a mistake publicly. Ask yourself what “ready” would realistically look like. Most of the time, the answer reveals that the standard is impossible. Waiting for one hundred percent certainty will keep you waiting indefinitely.
5. Train Your Nervous System Through Movement. Action reduces anxiety more effectively than analysis. Go for a walk. Breathe deeply. Change your physical state. Then take the step. Confidence is physiological as much as it is psychological. The more often you move forward while uncomfortable, the more your system learns that growth is survivable.
Mistakes are not proof that you were unprepared. They are part of the training ground. Great leaders, strong sellers, and high performers all make mistakes. What separates them is their willingness to own the mistake, correct course, learn from it, seek mentorship, and continue.
Taking action toward your goals is one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself. It is also a gift to the people watching you. Movement expands possibility.
Confidence doesn’t come from waiting. It comes from doing.
Where in your life are you still waiting to feel ready instead of taking the next step? To find out what type of elite performing habits you follow and how to level up your skills based on that, take the quiz here: https://www.radiacarr.com/quiz-c3776bea-89f9-4af2-837f-bdb140baa50d
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