You’ll Never Feel “Ready”
Because readiness isn’t a feeling. It’s a choice.
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Last month, I was about to walk on stage in front of a few hundred people.
I had my slides. I had my notes. I had twenty years of experience doing this exact kind of thing. And right before they called my name, a thought dropped into my gut like a brick:
“You are not ready for this.”
And here’s what’s wild.
That voice has been with me for two decades. It showed up before my first speaking gig. It showed up before I coached my first client. It showed up before I wrote my first book. And it showed up last month, same as always, right on cue.
Twenty years. Thousands of hours. Same voice.
You want to know the biggest lie most of us believe?
That “readiness” is a feeling.
Readiness isn’t a feeling. Readiness is a choice.
Here’s what I mean.
Most of us have something we know we need to do. A hard conversation with a parent. A career move that scares us. Starting a business. Writing that book. Stepping into a leadership role. Going to counseling. Whatever it is, we know. Deep down, we know.
But we don’t move on it, and the reason we don’t move sounds really responsible. It sounds wise, even.
“I just need a little more time.”
“I want to make sure I’m fully prepared.”
“I’ll start when the kids are older. When the money’s right. When I feel more confident.”
Friends, that’s not wisdom talking.
That’s fear wearing a very convincing costume.
I see this constantly in my coaching practice. A client will tell me they want to have a conversation with their boss about a toxic dynamic at work. We’ll talk about it. They’ll get clarity. They’ll know exactly what they want to say. And then the next session, nothing happened.
When I ask them why, the answer is always the same…
“I just didn’t feel ready yet.”
We treat that “ready” feeling as if it’s data about the future, when it’s really just a protection mechanism. Your brain isn’t evaluating whether you’re prepared. Your brain is trying to keep you safe, comfortable, and in control.
Here’s what a false sense of “readiness” looks like for The Seven Primal Questions.
If your Primal Question is “Am I safe?” like mine, your scramble sounds like: “Let me just think about this a little longer. I need all the information before I decide.” It sounds reasonable, but it’s really just your need for control dressed up like due diligence.
If your question is “Am I secure?” your scramble sounds like: “I’ll make the move when my savings are in a better place. We just can’t risk it right now.” It’s always about the numbers, and the numbers never feel good enough.
If your question is “Am I loved?” your scramble sounds like: “I don’t want to be too pushy. They’re probably going through something. I’ll bring it up when the timing feels right.” What you’re really saying is: I’d rather abandon my own needs than risk someone being upset with me.
If your question is “Am I wanted?” your scramble sounds like: “If they wanted me there, they’d ask. I don’t want to impose.” You’re waiting for an invitation that you have every right to create yourself.
If your question is “Am I successful?” your scramble sounds like: “If I slow down, I’ll fall behind. I can’t afford to fail right now.” Meanwhile, you’re working sixty hours a week on a version of success you’re not even sure you want.
If your question is “Am I good enough?” your scramble sounds like: “I just want to make sure it’s right before I put it out there.” Perfectionism is the favorite tool here. Because if it’s perfect, it can’t be judged.
If your question is “Do I have a purpose?” your scramble sounds like: “I just don’t know if this is my real calling.” The search for significance becomes the thing that keeps you from doing something significant.
Different questions. Same result. We stay stuck.
Here’s what we must realize. The feeling of readiness is not a prerequisite for action. It’s a byproduct of it. You don’t feel ready, then act. You act, then start to feel ready.
The order matters.
And most of us have it backwards.
Think about the first time you did anything meaningful in your life. Your first real job. Your first day as a parent. Your first honest conversation about something that really mattered. Did you feel ready? Of course not.
You just showed up, and the showing up is what made you ready.
The same is true for my coaching career.
The thing that changed everything in my coaching business wasn’t the perfect strategy or marketing plan. It was me getting honest about the fact that my need for certainty was just my scramble in disguise. I was waiting to feel safe before I took any risks. And safety was never going to arrive first. It never does.
The people I’ve watched build incredible lives know a secret.
They know that the fear, the impostor syndrome, the “I’m not ready” feeling, never goes away. So they stop letting it make their decisions, and they start showing up.
So here’s what I want you to do this week.
Think about the thing you’ve been putting off. The thing you “know” you need to do but keep waiting for the right time, the right feeling, or the right conditions.
Now ask yourself:
How does this feeling relate to my Primal Question (if you don’t know yours, take the assessment here)? Am I waiting because I’m genuinely not prepared? Or am I waiting because my Primal Question is managing the moment for me?
Remember, readiness is not a feeling. It’s a choice.
And you can make that choice today.
Let’s go,
Mike Foster
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P.P.S. If the thing you’re putting off is starting (or growing) your practice as a coach or counselor, I can help with that.
Four times per year, I facilitate a 4-week online cohort of coaches and counselors, and I train them how to use the Primal Question model to transform clients faster and grow their practice. It’s called Primal Question PRO.
The next one starts on March 30th.
Registration opens soon, and the past two cohorts sold out in 24 hours.
Join the early access list for the best shot at securing one of 30 spots.