In shifting from your former or current job to your dream work, it’s likely that you’ll be moving from a position of expertise to a position of relative ignorance.
Often, we’re a bit embarrassed by our lack of skill or knowledge in our new area, forgetting that we had to learn the ropes of our old job too. Feeling like an amateur can hold us back from going public in our “new skin” – or even from venturing into new territory at all
Yet ironically, it’s only through practise that we get good at anything. So we need to get over this psychological hurdle, and be willing to expose our less-than-perfect reinvented selves.
If you’ve ever made pancakes, you’ll know how the first pancake is always a bit tricky. It resists flipping, tending to stick a bit, and often comes out a bit thin and apologetic looking. The next pancakes are usually a lot better. But we still eat that first pancake – it tastes just the same as its more convincing successors even if it doesn’t look quite the polished article.
Think of your new self as a first pancake. You’re the real thing already, even if a bit rough around the edges. And this imperfect you is a necessary first step to creating the beautiful pancakes – the fully functioning, expert, grown-into-your-skin-you down the line.
6 Comments
Congrats on the blog.
I have looked back through the archive and it is full of interesting and useful tips. A great resource! I look forward to reading other peoples comments and joining in the discussion.
Thank you for being the first to comment! I appreciate your support.
Hello Sarah,
Thanks very much for your articles. I enjoy reding them every time I receive them in my inbox. Yes, we are so much like the first pancake, not cooked very well, not shaped very well either but yet edible!….I also like to see myself as a rough diamond. Being a South African, I have learnt so much from how diamonds are mined…they look disgusting when first taken from the earth but with time and with the process of cleaning, shaping and polishing that brings out their real beauty, they are worth millions! Amazing!..I guess you could say. ‘I am a rough diamond’…or a ‘diamond in the making’!
God bless and keep writing those inspiring articles and sharing your wisdom!
With blessings and joy,
Winsome
I agree with you Sarah! Saying that I have noticed that - sometimes - the quality of the first batch of pancakes is higher than the next batches as one puts so much passion, energy and time in making those perfect first ones. Then time goes, the business grows and you have less time for the ultimate excellence.
So my conclusion: don’t underestimate yourself in the early days! You are most probably putting more thoughts into what you are doing than anybody else!!
that’s a very good point! thank you
thank you Winsome! I really like your diamond analogy