Ready Is a Myth: Why Waiting Is the Most Expensive Career Move You Can Make
You may not feel ready. But ready isn’t a feeling- it’s a decision.
I’ve heard this phrase in every form from professionals at every level:
“I’ll apply when I’ve done a few more projects like this.”
“I’ll speak up in meetings when I’ve earned more credibility.”
“I’ll start my business when I have more time, more money, more… something.”
The truth? The conditions you’re waiting for might never arrive. And if they do, they’ll look different than you imagined.
I know this because I’ve done it myself- waited until I thought I had the right credentials, the perfect timing, or a bulletproof plan. I can tell you: I’ve never once looked back and thought, “Good thing I waited.”
The Problem With “Ready” Thinking
We’ve been conditioned to believe that confidence comes first- that it’s the precursor to meaningful action. In reality, the opposite is true. Research backs this up: studies from Harvard Business Review and the University of Melbourne both point to the same conclusion- confidence grows after you take action, not before.
But here’s the catch: the longer you wait, the more your inertia compounds.
While you’re preparing, polishing, or perfecting, opportunities are moving past you. Colleagues are taking risks you could have taken. Your network is shifting. The timing you were waiting for gets replaced by a new set of “not yet” conditions.
In short: the cost of waiting is rarely neutral. It’s almost always loss.
The Career Ninja Alternative
When I developed The Career Ninja Mindset™, it wasn’t because I wanted to give people another framework to memorize. It was because I was tired of watching brilliant professionals- especially women- stall out in silence.
The 5 Ps (Passion, Plan, Prioritize, Practice, Persistence) are built to keep you moving even when you don’t have it all figured out yet.
Here’s how:
Passion → Get clear on what you care about most right now. You don’t need a lifelong purpose to take your next step- just a sense of what matters in this season.
Plan → Map the smallest, most doable step forward. Don’t overengineer the master plan- start with the next five feet.
Prioritize → Decide what’s worth your energy and what’s not. Every yes has a cost- make sure you know it.
Practice → Try, adjust, try again. You’re building muscle memory for action.
Persistence → Keep going long enough to see results, even when it feels messy or slow.
When you use the 5 Ps as a filter, “ready” becomes irrelevant. You’re no longer waiting for confidence- you’re building it by doing.
A Client Story (Name Changed)
Marianne was a manager in a global company who wanted senior manager role but told me, “I’m not ready to be in those rooms yet.” We used the 5 Ps to break that down:
Passion: She wanted to lead projects with strategic impact, not just operational ones.
Plan: She volunteered to co-lead a cross-department initiative.
Prioritize: She cleared 20% of her weekly schedule to focus on higher-level work.
Practice: She started sharing her strategic insights in smaller meetings.
Persistence: She stuck with it for 90 days, even when it felt awkward.
Within six months, she was invited into the rooms she thought she wasn’t ready for- because she had already been leading in them without the title.
She didn’t “arrive” ready. She became ready by moving.
3 Ways to Start Before You Feel Ready
Say yes before you know the “how.” If you wait until you’ve rehearsed every possible outcome, the opportunity will pass.
Borrow belief. Partner with someone who sees your potential clearly when you can’t.
Take the smallest public step. Announce your intention, volunteer for one visible action, or share your idea with the person who can open a door.
These aren’t just confidence hacks- they’re strategy. And strategy beats perfection every single time.
The Books That Goes Deeper - Coming this Fall
I go into this in much more depth in my upcoming book, The Career Ninja Mindset™, because this myth of “ready” is one of the most pervasive and damaging career traps I see. The book unpacks how to use the 5 Ps in real-world scenarios- whether you’re navigating a promotion, a pivot, or a professional reinvention.
If you’ve been waiting for the “right time” to take your next step, I want you to hear this:
The right time isn’t coming. You make it.
✅ Book a complementary initial strategy session to map your next move here: https://link.leveredcompany.com/widget/bookings/intro-call-alexisking
