Ifeanyi Imachukwu

Instead of trying to convince yourself to become confident, go learn to do something. Anything, really. Just pick a skill you've always wanted to learn, an be the ultimate best at it. Being too hard on yourself & setting overambitious goals that you fail to meet, are both proven strategies for low self-esteem, burnout, and depression. Constantly doing hard things is unrealistic for most people. Focus on doing small goals, regularly, and building up. The key here is regularity. Consistency separates the confident and the less confident apart in a lot of ways. Your interest and growth in loving what you do, will be the ultimate reason while you gain the confidence in yourself overall.

I have always kept a balance of my strengths and weaknesses. I always want to wake up ready to learn, no matter how much I think I already know or how successful I seem to be. When you stop getting better, you start to die. I still scrutinize myself, but I remember that the volume in my head should never live to loud. Never stop wanting to get better. That is what makes you aware of your strengths and weaknesses. Stephen Curry is the greatest shooter who ever lived, but I'm sure he still finds weaknesses in his game that he can get better at. That is being humble and aware. I would never kill the volume in my head because then I would become arrogant and condescending. If I become arrogant, I will get lost in my journey.

I have always been an open book. I never let my emotions affect my journey in life. I believe we are all set on earth for a greater purpose. The world can be chaotic, but one thing to always remember is that we are in it, and not of it. We are in this world to grow and help others grow along the way. We do this by listening, not giving up when it gets tough, and staying consistent with whatever goal that aligns with our overall purpose. The world is yours.

Courage to collaborate is essential in any workplace. Collaboration is like the oil machine when people work together. It is the opposite of friction. This can be cohesive to everyday life and our workplace. Collaborating to better the overall organization and customers needs will always bring something positive in the end. Even when you are doing something alone, you can't do it all alone. On some level, you will need help. We must always listen so we can understand when we get help. The feeling of working alone can prove to be self sabotaging. If we have the courage to work with others, there is no limit in what can do. All it takes is two people to start a community of excellence and structure.

Before I became a Scrum Master, I was broke. I filled over 500 plus applications and got denied. I felt pressured, stressed, and doubtful. But even through it all I still clapped for others. I was later happy to announce that I got hired. But this message is not just about me. This message is for every individual looking for a job right now. Times are tough. Sleepless nights, restless days, and doubtful mornings. This message is for every entry level just fighting to get an opportunity. This message is for every experienced individual just trying to get another opportunity. Use your LinkedIn to connect with as many people as possible aligned with your career. I am still hopeful for candidates. I am still clapping for everyone.

Try to understand why you shy away from bettering yourself; then reason with the fear of it. Why are you afraid? Balance the outcomes; if the worst case scenario doesn't seem that bad, then the next step is to follow through. It is much easier to do so once you've convinced yourself that no matter the outcome, you have gone one step closer to overcoming that fear. You may feel like others will scold you because of your opinion or trying something new to grow in your role itself. No matter the outcome, remember that you have a skill that you just need to take that leap of faith with to be better than you were yesterday. Consistency, resiliency, and persistency will take you far.