I started a new job yesterday – after eight and a half years of working at the same company.
At my old job I knew everyone (mostly).
At my old job I knew stuff.
And I knew how things worked.
Can I tell you about my first 10 minutes?
I was nervous.
What if there were questions I couldn't answer?
What if I didn't understand what folks were working on?
What if I didn't know what to do and I just stood around?
What if people decided I was a bad hire?
But over the years I've learned three things about fear:
- We all have it.
- Even while we're nervous, others are too.
- An emotion shouldn't dictate my actions.
So even though I'm a confessed struggler of the impostor syndrome, I got on my first call.
Regardless of the fear that buzzed in my stomach.
I did what I needed to do, regardless of the feeling.
And you know what?
I survived.
And even more importantly, there were several moments of my day that I enjoyed.
I would have missed those if I'd given in to the fear.
What scares you? And more importantly, are you letting that fear stop you?