Overcoming Fear and Self-doubt to Lead a Change

As an undergraduate, the idea of setting up a meeting with a bank manager sent a chill down my spine. Not because he was an angel or God (LOL), but because I would be presenting an idea to him, hoping he would buy into it and deploy the bank's resources to support it.

I was working alongside a team of around 15 on a huge extra-curricular project - organizing the first of its kind literary event. I knew that a support commitment from the bank, a big name on campus, would be vital to the success of the event. So, a partnership was a no-brainer.

Recent Posts

• The Great Battle: The Perfect Time vs. The Right Time
• New Year, New You: How to Make 2023 Your Best Year Yet

Everything was set. I had my idea, and my proposal document was ready. The only thing standing in the way of the partnership was my own lack of confidence. I weighed only 49kg at the time and felt intimidated by the thought of walking into the bank and asking to meet the manager.

But I manned up, walked in, and sought the manager's attention. I was led to his small office, where he listened patiently to my ideas and we shook hands on a commitment after our meeting.

What is standing between you and the opportunity right in front of you? Fear of rejection? Or do you feel you don't deserve it?

Whatever it is, let me leave you with food for thought. A famous novelist once said, "Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced."

In other words, many things will not change if you do nothing about them, but there's a chance they will if you dare to take action.

So, I urge you not to let fear and self-doubt hold you back from doing what needs to be done. Even if you don't get the result you expected, you don't want to regret not having tried at all.

...

P.S: We later pulled out of the partnership with the bank for reasons that will be shared in another blog post. Are you looking forward to it? 😁