The Readiness Illusion

Waiting to feel “ready” is one of the slowest ways to create progress. True momentum comes from acting in the face of uncertainty and trusting that clarity and confidence will follow. Readiness isn’t something you wait for—it’s something you create.

What Does “Ready” Even Mean?

Pause for a moment and ask yourself: What is my definition of ready? Does it mean having every detail figured out? Feeling completely confident? Is 80% ready still ready?

Most people assume readiness is a fixed threshold—a moment when doubt disappears and certainty takes over. But in reality, ready is subjective. One person might take action at 80%, while another won’t move until they feel 110% prepared. If readiness is just a perception, not an objective state, then waiting for it makes no sense.

So instead of chasing a feeling that may never arrive, redefine readiness:

✔ You know the first step to take.
✔ You are willing to learn along the way.
✔ You accept that uncertainty is part of progress.

Look at the entrepreneur who launches before they have all the answers.  They don’t wait for readiness. They create it through action. So rather than asking, Am I ready? ask, What perception of readiness is holding me back? And then challenge it.

How To Change Your Perception of Readiness

✔ Recognize That Readiness is a Mental Construct
There is no universal measure of “ready.” Some people feel prepared after reading a single book, while others still feel unqualified after years of experience. The difference isn’t in their actual ability—it’s in their perception of what “ready” means. Instead of asking whether you’re ready, ask who decided what ready even means? You may realize it’s a story you’ve adopted, not a real barrier.

✔ Redefine Readiness as Adaptability, Not Certainty
If you believe readiness means knowing everything in advance—having all the knowledge, guarantees, and perfect conditions—you may always feel unprepared. But if you define readiness as your ability to adapt, learn, and adjust along the way, then you’re already ready. The most successful people aren’t the ones who know everything—they’re the ones who trust themselves to figure it out. 

✔ Be” First, Let Perception And Actions Catch Up
Your sense of readiness isn’t a prerequisite—it’s a byproduct of actio. If you are being someone who embraces uncertainty, takes bold steps, and learns as they go, your mind will catch up to that reality. Instead of waiting for an internal signal to give you permission, step into the identity of someone who moves forward despite uncertainty.

So rather than asking, Am I ready? ask, Who am I being right now? Am I being someone who waits, or someone who creates? 

Getting the Ball Rolling Without Overcommitting

Taking action before you feel “ready” doesn’t mean taking reckless leaps. It’s about making progress in the simplest way possible, asking  “What’s the smallest step I can take that sets everything else in motion?”

Think of a line of dominoes, each one slightly larger than the last. At the far end is the biggest domino—the bold move, the major shift, the thing that feels overwhelming. But that’s not where the sequence begins. It starts with the smallest, most manageable domino—a low-effort action that not only starts the process but actually makes the big move easier.

Maybe it’s sending an email, making a call, writing the first page, or saying yes to an opportunity that feels slightly uncomfortable but completely doable. That first push isn’t a commitment to everything—it’s just a way to see what happens next. One domino falls, then another, and before you know it, the big domino—the one that once seemed impossible—is already tipping over.

The people who create breakthroughs for themselves aren’t forcing massive leaps. They’re reducing the weight and cost of indecision by engaging with reality instead of staying stuck in uncertainty. 

Readiness is a Decision, Not a Feeling

People who create real momentum and breakthroughs know that confidence isn’t a prerequisite for action—it’s the result of action. And that Clarity doesn’t come from overthinking. It emerges when you engage with the unknown. 

Most people get stuck asking, “Am I ready?”. The real breakthrough comes from a better question:

✔ What would I do right now if I wasn’t waiting to feel ready?

Final Thought: The Fastest Way to Succeed

✔ You don’t need to feel ready to start. You need to start in order to feel ready.
✔ You don’t need more time. You need to make choices.
✔ Stop waiting. Shift your perception. Start moving.

And watch what happens.