The leaders who wait to “feel ready” are usually the ones who lose the most momentum.

After 30 years leading teams and driving strategy at McKinsey, Singtel, and Credit Suisse, I’ve seen the same pattern repeat:

Most people think motivation comes first.

“Once I feel more confident, I’ll…
• speak up
• apply for that role
• make a move
• negotiate what I actually want…”

But the leaders who create real results?

They move first, and let clarity catch up later.
They don’t always feel brave. They don’t always feel sure.
But they respect momentum enough not to let it stall.

The Readiness Illusion is the belief that you must feel ready before you act.

It often sounds like:

“After this quarter, I’ll rethink my role.” (You don’t.)
“Once things calm down, I’ll update my profile / talk to my boss.” (They don’t.)
“I just need to refine the plan a bit more.” (You tweak, but don’t test.)

It feels responsible.
It sounds strategic.

But it quietly kills momentum.

Leaders who keep rising play a different game.
They focus on The Momentum Builder:

• Start even when they don’t feel fully ready
• Build energy through movement, not theories
• Create momentum by taking one clear step
• Reduce overwhelm through progress, not more planning

Here’s the truth I see every week with clients:

Momentum creates motivation — not the other way around.
You don’t suddenly wake up confident and then move.
You move, and confidence grows because you’re in the arena again.

Take a breath and scan for these:

1️⃣ You keep saying “after this quarter…” but nothing changes
2️⃣ You wait to “feel more confident” before having the conversation
3️⃣ You keep refining the plan instead of testing it in the real world

If you see yourself here, nothing is broken.
It just means it’s time to switch from waiting → moving.

You don’t need a grand reinvention.
Just one micro-action that moves you toward your future — not your past.

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Do one thing your future self would already be doing:

• Message someone you’d like to work with
• Raise your hand for a stretch project
• Block one hour for strategic thinking — and protect it

Tiny signal. Big shift.

Instead of rewriting your plan again, have one conversation that gives you new data:

• A peer in another company
• A former colleague now doing what you want
• A mentor/sponsor who reflects back what they see

Momentum loves information.
One real-world conversation beats hours of overthinking.

Pick one decision you’ve been circling for weeks.

Ask:
“If I had to decide in the next 24 hours, what would I choose?”

You don’t have to leap all the way in.
But you do commit to one visible step — a message, a yes/no, a booked call.

Leadership is built in these tiny moments.

Momentum isn’t just internal.
It’s also about how visible your leadership signal is to others.

If your LinkedIn reflects an outdated version of you — that’s lost momentum.

That’s why I created Update Your LinkedIn Like a Leader, a self-paced guide you can complete in an afternoon.

Inside, you’ll:
• Sharpen your headline
• Rewrite your About section
• Use 5 positioning prompts
• Refresh your Featured section
• Clarify what you want to be known for

A low-commitment way to create visible momentum — at your own pace.

I’ve never been someone who felt 100% ready.

When I accepted a group role spanning five cities, with dotted-line authority and no playbook, I had maybe 80% clarity.

No perfect plan.
Just a clear truth:

If I waited for certainty, someone else would take the seat.

So I boarded anyway.

Within 72 hours, I shipped a Day 1 plan:
• What we knew
• What we didn’t
• First proof points for Friday

Was it comfortable? No.
Was I ready? Not fully.

But once we moved, everything got easier.

I see the same pattern with clients like Amy.
We didn’t begin with blowing up her life.
We started with small, deliberate moves — leaving at 5:30, reclaiming her evenings, reconnecting to her strengths.

Momentum first.
Confidence second.

You don’t have to feel ready to move.
You just have to take one step while you still feel wobbly.

This week, ask yourself:

“Where am I using ‘I’m not ready yet’ as a respectable way to stay still?”

Then write down:

• One conversation you’ll initiate
• One decision you’ll make
• One micro-action you’ll take in the next 24 hours

Keep it small.
Keep it visible.

Leaders don’t rise because they wait.
They rise because they move.

Two ways to work together:

Perfect if you want quiet but decisive movement.
👉 Update Your LinkedIn Like a Leader and more tools. Access them here.

A private 3-hour intensive to:

• Understand whether it’s you, the role, or the context
• Rebuild your momentum
• Design a 90-day plan
• Make strategic moves with clarity

If you’re thinking, “This is me,” reply MOMENTUM and I’ll point you to the best next step.