The Confidence Guy

So you’ve applied for the Next Great Job, been through the interview process, battled with pre-interview jitters and have been surprised by how much you want the damn job. You’ve given it your all, you’ve got everything crossed, and you hope and hope and hope that you’ll get good news.

And then you get the call that says you’ve got it and it hits you, “Holy crap, I got the job.”

Now comes the part where it all becomes real. Of course there’s a part of you that’s elated and a part of you that’s rightly excited about what you’re doing, but there’s also that part of you that’s feeling pretty darn scared about what you’ve lined up for yourself and wants to spend some quality time hiding under the duvet.

Is the job too much of a stretch? Do you really have the experience to run that project lead that team have a direct report/take on that responsibility? Will the job match up to your expectations? What will your co-workers be like? Will your new boss be as okay as they seemed in the interview or will they tear off a fake latex head on your 1st day, revealing themselves to be a slobbering, carnivorous monster?

Whatever the new job is, you’ll have a transition process to go through, and that’s a scary thing. It’s supposed to be scary; here’s why:

1. If it wasn’t scary it wouldn’t mean anything. Doing anything worthwhile means that there’s something on the line, and that means that something that might not work out as you want or expect it to. That’s part and parcel of doing something that matters to you, and that’s a Very Good Thing Indeed.
2. If it wasn’t scary you wouldn’t be learning anything. Moving forwards often means that you move out of your comfort zone, which is clearly going to involve some discomfort and fear. That’s okay, without that stretch you won’t be exercising the muscles that give you new insights, new experiences and new skills.
3. If it wasn’t scary you’d be living in a cushioned, protected world. Uncertainty and instability are part of life, and protecting yourself from those things means that you’ll be cutting yourself off from all kinds of experiences and opportunities.

Never forget how capable and resilient you are. Let yourself be scared because that’s where the good stuff is.