You'll Never Feel Ready (And That's Exactly When You Should Start)

Every time you "fake" bravery when you're terrified, you're not pretending.

You're being brave.

That knot in your stomach when you're about to do something you've never done before? That voice telling you you're not qualified? That paralyzing fear before you take the leap?

That's not evidence you're not brave enough. That's evidence you're about to do something that requires actual courage.

This realization hit me after years of thinking I was somehow broken because I had to talk myself into every major decision in my life. Convincing someone to let me sell them a house at 19. Stepping into the CEO role of a publicly traded company. Raising money for ideas that existed only in my head.

I thought real brave people just... felt ready.

Turns out, that's not how bravery works at all.

WHY EVERYONE HAS IMPOSTER SYNDROME

I haven't met a single person on the planet who doesn't battle that little voice saying they're not good enough.

Not one.

The 19-year-old giving their first presentation. The newly promoted manager. The experienced CEO taking on a bigger role. The entrepreneur asking for investment. The parent holding their newborn for the first time.

We all have that moment where we think, "I have no idea what I'm doing."

But here's what I've learned after talking to hundreds of successful people: that voice never goes away. You just learn that it's not disqualifying information.

It's universal information.

The difference between people who succeed and people who don't isn't the absence of that voice. It's the willingness to act despite it.

THE MOMENT THAT DEFINES EVERYTHING

There's always a first time for everything that matters.

First time picking up your child. First time driving alone. First time starting a business. First time leading a team. First time asking for what you want.

In that moment before you've done the thing, you have zero evidence you can do it successfully. Zero proof you're qualified. Zero certainty about the outcome.

All you have is a choice.

Listen to the voice that wants to keep you safe, or take the action that moves you forward.

That moment when you choose action over comfort? That's not fake bravery masquerading as real courage.

That IS real courage.

Bravery isn't the absence of fear. Bravery is feeling the fear completely and choosing to act anyway.

THE QUESTION THAT CHANGED MY PERSPECTIVE

When I'm facing something that terrifies me, I ask myself one simple question:

"What's the worst thing that could happen?"

Then I take it one step further: "Did you die?"

Ninety-nine point nine percent of the time, the answer is absolutely not.

The worst-case scenario for most decisions we avoid isn't death or permanent damage. It's temporary discomfort, learning something new, or discovering we need to adjust our approach.

The risk-reward math becomes obvious when you frame it honestly.

What's the worst thing that happens if you start that business? You might fail and have to get another job. But you'll have learned more in six months than most people learn in six years.

What's the worst thing that happens if you ask for that promotion? They might say no. But they might also say yes, and now they know you're serious about growing.

What's the worst thing that happens if you have that difficult conversation? It might be uncomfortable. But you'll have clarity instead of assumption.

HOW WISDOM CHANGES THE GAME

Once you've been through enough "first times," something interesting happens.

You develop pattern recognition. You realize that most scary things aren't actually dangerous. You build confidence from evidence rather than hoping you'll magically feel ready someday.

But early in your journey, before you have that experience bank, you have to rely on something else.

You have to trust that the act of doing something you've never done before is exactly how you become someone who has done that thing.

No one is qualified for their first time doing anything. We become qualified by choosing to do it anyway.

THE REAL SECRET ABOUT MOTIVATION

This same principle applies to motivation.

Real motivation isn't feeling excited about doing hard things. Real motivation is doing hard things when you don't feel like it.

It's making the phone calls when you're tired. Working on your business when it's still a side hustle and you'd rather watch Netflix. Going to the gym when you don't feel motivated.

Discipline disguised as motivation.

The people who succeed consistently aren't the ones who feel like doing the work every day. They're the ones who do the work especially when they don't feel like it.

WHAT TO DO RIGHT NOW

Stop waiting to feel brave before you act brave.

Stop waiting to feel motivated before you do the work.

Stop waiting to feel qualified before you do the thing you want to do.

Pick one thing you've been avoiding because it scares you. Something where the worst-case scenario isn't actually dangerous, just uncomfortable.

Then ask yourself: "What's the worst thing that could happen? Did I die?"

If the answer is no, you have your next step.

The bravery you think you're faking? That's the most real thing about you.

The motivation you think you lack? It shows up when you act first, feel second.

You don't need to feel ready. You just need to be willing to discover you're more capable than you know.

Because you’re never going to feel ready for the things that matter most.

You don't feel ready to become a parent, start a business, take on a bigger role, or make the scary decision that could change everything.

But readiness isn't a feeling. Readiness is a choice.

The choice to act despite uncertainty. The choice to learn through doing rather than waiting for permission.

The choice to discover that "fake" bravery was real courage all along.

BEYOND THE FAKE BRAVERY

This episode covered a lot more ground—like why motivation is really just discipline in disguise, how to identify the low-dollar tasks that build million-dollar businesses, and the real estate agent who posted 180 pieces of content with zero results until month four changed everything.

But the fake bravery revelation is where it all starts. Because once you understand that feeling scared doesn't disqualify you from being brave, every intimidating opportunity becomes an invitation to grow.

What "fake" bravery are you going to choose this week?

Here's to faking it until you realize you're not faking it at all,

Leo

Grab my free guide below 👇