Jumping Into the Deep End

We’re here on earth for just a short time. And the time we have is a privilege. And a responsibility. A responsibility to do something with your “one wild and precious life.” 

But often we hold back. We’re not ready. We think we need more time, more credentials, more experience. We wait until we feel ready. But ready is an illusion. Because we can never be ready for the big leaps, the new job, the exciting new opportunity. How can we possibly be ready for something we’ve never done before?

Consider this

In 2017, Jacinda Ardern became the world’s youngest female head of government at the time. At 37, she became New Zealand’s Prime Minister, inheriting a deeply divided parliament and a country facing economic and social challenges. She had very little experience, and almost no preparation for the crises that would come: the Christchurch terror attacks, the COVID-19 pandemic, and natural disasters. 

She had to act even as she was still learning how to lead at that scale. She faced immense scrutiny and high stakes, yet she leaned into the role anyway, allowing herself to learn on the job. Her leadership demonstrated that courage lies in stepping forward before you feel prepared, risking failure and exposure in service of something larger than yourself.

Putting it into play 

Stepping forward before you feel ready is something we all have to do at some point. It’s how we have children, enter our first job, start a new relationship. Whatever it is, we have to recognize that action has to precede mastery. We don’t just do it for ourselves, but we have to do it for others, as well, for instance: 

• Stepping into a leadership role even if you haven’t earned the title yet — volunteer to run a project, solve a problem that hasn’t been assigned to you, or agree to mentor someone.
  
• Speaking up in a difficult conversation — with a colleague, team, or family — even if you don’t have all the answers.
  
• Taking a creative risk — pitch an idea, start a new initiative, or experiment with a solution outside your comfort zone.

Time is short. You may not be ready, and you may not have all the answers, but the world needs you. It doesn’t need your perfection, but your willingness, your courage, your skills, even if still undercooked.