I face this challenge every time I’m learning something new, this sense of awkwardness. It’s hard for me to accept this interim period where I lack expertise. It’s rather insane to expect to start studying something new and instantaneously become an expert. It’s rather cruel, no?
I think its roots lie in insecurity. It seems to me the confident won’t be impacted at all. Therefore, I’m working at keeping this at bay and, eventually, purging this tendency from my habits.
How about you? Are you one of those folks who stare blankly at anyone who fights imposter syndrome or its variants? I’ve long wondered what that feels like. Let me know, if you know, you know?
I came across this quote on Pinterest. I’ve heard various variations on it, and each time it strikes hard. Mea culpa: I’m a chronic overthinker. I will hyperanalyze things, obsess about finding and mitigating every risk, and my mind will get overwhelmed with catastrophizing.
I’ve been working on mitigating this tendency for years and have met with quite a bit of success. However, it’s deeply ingrained, and I need to always stay vigilant. An additional challenge is that, as an analyst and project coordinator/manager, this behavior is a strength. Reminds me of the words of a mentor of mine: every weakness is a strength exaggerated.
Something my formal studies of project management have helped me with is understanding not just the nature of risk, but the importance of managing it well. I’m good at seeing every risk that I face. What I’ve long struggled with is evaluating them and understanding the possible impacts and how to manage them. Not every risk can be eliminated! Actually, very few can. So many are completely outside our ability to even influence. So, it’s critical to note not just that a risk exists, but how likely is it to happen, and what are the possible impacts of it happening. Then it’s relatively easy to manage. If the probability is low, and the impact low, well, let it be and monitor things. If probability is low, and impact high, you have options to explore. Same for the reverse: probability high with a low impact. Once these are mapped out (and, heck, put them into a risk assessment grid), you can evaluate how to manage them. I never thought of my project management studies (in the pursuit of my ATA and while studying for the Google PM Certificate) as therapy, but here we are.
So, I’m working on managing my overthinking by utilizing the tools I have available. I’ve found this pretty successful, but it’s challenged by the fact that I’ve been rewarded for diving deep into risks. Keeping the rabbit hole of calamity under control takes work, though.
Thanks for reading! Let me know if you have the same issue, or are you someone brimming with confidence? That’s a viewpoint I struggle to comprehend.
Devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.” ― Mitch Albom, Tuesdays with Morrie
First, I loved Tuesdays with Morrie. And I just love the vibe of this quote. It reminds me of what’s important in life, even is these troubling times.
I hope this finds you well. May you find your community, one that you may delight in devoting yourself to.
Today’s newsletter, titled “On growing fast vs growing slow, the value of mastery, and climbing the right mountain“, resonated with me. The goal of my personal development plan is mastery, and I’m working on mastering what, exactly. Project management? IT? Web development? One of these. But this post drove home a weakness holding me back: my impatience. I want to become a master fast. And, well, that’s the opposite path of mastery. James included this quote, which I appreciated. It drives home the point succinctly.
“Mastery is the best goal because the rich can’t buy it, the impatient can’t rush it, the privileged can’t inherit it, and nobody can steal it. You can only earn it through hard work. Mastery is the ultimate status.”
~ Derk Sivers
Choosing what NOT to study is one of my core challenges right now. I’m interested in SO very much. Choosing to NOT pursue something is rather painful. But I know it’s the right decision. But, man, it’s so hard!
Have you developed mastery in something? How did you go about de-selecting what to study? Was it as hard for you as it is for me?
