By now, it’s safe to say that everybody’s familiar with the phrase, “fake it ’til you make it.”
It’s a mantra bandied about by some of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs. These individuals believe you should just go after your dreams—even if you don’t know what you’re doing.
Now, this mentality isn’t without merit.
By taking such a giant risk, people often end up getting hired for or promoted into more lucrative positions. While others take a gamble, and become their own boss, even though there’s no plan in place.
At the very least, if you’re faking it until you make it, you’re showing tremendous faith in yourself.
And if the Richard Bransons of the world got to where they are due to this philosophy, its usefulness can’t be doubted.
Still, the one setback of faking it until you make it is the fact that you don’t have any idea what you’re doing.
If this sounds like you—you’re not alone. In fact, it’s not always about “faking” anything. Many employees and entrepreneurs don’t have a choice but to go headfirst into something without a plan. They’re not faking, they’re simply doing the best they can.
Such a learning curve can be daunting because you lack a frame of reference. Without knowing you’re starting in the correct place, you might end up traveling too far in the wrong direction. It’s a horrifying proposition for an employee or entrepreneur trying to make a mark in this world.
It’s never wise to try and reinvent the wheel, so to speak. But what happens when you must invent the wheel?
A Risk You Should Take
As much as this all does seem extremely scary, fortune tends to favor the brave and the bold. Taking this kind of risk might be plenty challenging. However, it can result in some of the most successful professional and personal outcomes imaginable.
Also, think about it. If there are people out there who can dive into something with zero plan and come out smelling like roses, surely there’s a blueprint somewhere, right? There has to be a book that reads “the beginner’s guide to not having a clue.” Or “the plan for not having any plan.”
The above notion is 100% true.
First and foremost, however, there’s a need to be certain in uncertainty before you can really start making things happen.
Dealing with Uncertainty
One respected neuroscientist explained that the human brain is wired to repel uncertainty. As a result, people generally avoid this kind of discomfort as much as possible.
We’re also easily triggered by ambiguity. One study showed that when making uncertain bets, people became more irrational with their decision-making with the less information they had. This reaction is due to the brain’s limbic systems (where emotions are generated, and the fear response occurs) affected their thought processes. This chemical response led to the making of rash decisions when facing uncertainty.
Overcoming this struggle means fighting against human nature. However, succeeding when coping with uncertainty necessitates a disciplined approach. It’s akin to exercise. It’s not like marathon runners had the slightest clue what to do when they began their journey.
To slay the proverbial beast, be it a marathon or getting your footing professionally when you’re uncertain, you must adhere to tried and true methods.
Also, at the end of the day, even if you’re lacking a plan, you must move forward. After all, even if you come up short, at least you gave it your all and learned. That’s a much better option than doing nothing.
Leave Your Comfort Zone in All Facets of Life
Practice makes perfect. The only way to know what to do when you have no idea what you’re doing is if you’re continually placing yourself in those scenarios.
So, don’t be afraid to rise to the occasion when you see an opportunity to do something special. At work, it might be a project outside of your usual purview.
And here’s the thing—you’ll find that although you might be out of your depth, the problem-solving skills you develop will be of a tremendous benefit. Those skills will translate to the next time you jump into something headfirst without a starting point.
Though, don’t limit that comfort-zone-shattering mentality escape once you leave the office. Take risks in your daily life so that the uncertainty eventually becomes your form of certainty.
Don’t be afraid to take a dance class or try to get your black belt in Karate. Even try to send an email to your favorite celebrity to see if they respond. The crux of this notion is to bask in the energy of being in over your head.
Equip Yourself for Success
In all the chaos of your overwhelming uncertainty, things can certainly spiral out of control. Especially if you don’t have the correct tools in place to keep you on track.
It’s 2020, and even though you’re starting without a plan, others in your line of work know what they’re doing and understand the demands of their profession. They use technology to their advantage, and for you to learn – and eventually thrive – you must do the same.
Namely, the right project and communication tool will help you stay organized as you embark on your journey of uncertainty.
For instance, software like heycollab offers you all that you need to start moving forward with crafting your plan.
One of heycollab’s most valuable features is its Kanban board—an agile project management tool. These boards are designed to help visualize work, limit work-in-progress, and maximize efficiency.
It’s through such technology that uncertainty won’t seem so scary and out of control. heycollab will give you peace of mind in knowing where all your projects stand while keeping collaborations with your team seamless and harmonious.
It’s Time to Dive Headfirst into the Unknown
Uncertainty can stop all your forward momentum in your career and personal life to a screeching halt. It’s because humans are wired to waiver when they’re not overly sure of things.
Fortunately, by employing the tips discussed above, you won’t end up at a standstill in times of uncertainty. Instead, you’ll charge forward with confidence and ambition.