The Myth of “Having It All Figured Out” - Newsletter #36

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Hey there, lovely humans. 

Let’s take a breath together and talk about something that feels like it’s on everyone’s shoulders lately:

That sneaky myth that we should have it all figured out by now.

You know the one. The silent pressure that tells us we’re behind. That everyone else is moving faster, farther, clearer. That if you haven’t landed your dream job or mastered your five-year plan, you’re somehow failing.

Spoiler alert: You are not failing.

The Myth That Won’t Die

We’re sold this idea that there’s a linear path through career and life: get the job, get the title, stay on the escalator of progress. But the truth? Growth is rarely straight. It’s loops and pivots. It’s pauses and leaps. It’s setbacks that end up being set-ups.

And clarity? It doesn’t always arrive neatly wrapped.

The most impactful parts of my career didn’t come from knowing exactly what I was doing. They came from saying yes to what felt right in the moment—even if it wasn’t on the roadmap. And sometimes a lemon was handed to me that I decided to make a vat of lemonade from… 

"You don't need to have it all figured out to take the next right step."

Chasing Certainty Can Hold You Back

Here’s the thing: waiting until you have all the answers can become a trap. We think clarity will lead to action. But so often, it’s action that leads to clarity.

That course you almost signed up for? The new role you thought you weren’t ready for? The passion project you’re scared to start? Those are the messy beginnings that usually matter most.

Give yourself permission to explore without a five-point plan.

Career Evolution is Allowed (and Encouraged)

Especially if you’re in a moment of mid-career reflection or reinvention—you are not alone. This is where curiosity becomes your best friend.

Ask questions like:

• What brings me energy?
• What am I done apologizing for?
• Where am I growing?

Sometimes the biggest shifts come not from answers, but from better questions.

You’re not stuck because you’re lost. You’re growing into a new version of yourself. That takes time. And community.

Build a Life, Not a Ladder

I want to invite you to trade the ladder metaphor for something more expansive. You’re not climbing rung by rung to a single destination. You’re building a mosaic. A garden. A map that’s uniquely yours.

Your detours are not delays. They are depth.

Your pauses are not failures. They are wisdom.

Your uncertainty isn’t weakness. It’s the beginning of creativity.

Community Over Clarity

One of the most powerful things you can do when you feel unclear? Get in community.

Talk to the people who’ve walked winding roads. Ask them what surprised them. Ask what they wish they knew. (Spoiler: They didn’t have it all figured out either.)

When we share our uncertainty, we make room for connection. We remember that clarity is often a collective experience, not a solo revelation.

Wherever You Are Right Now

You don’t need to know it all to begin.

You don’t need to have the map to start walking.

You just need to trust that where you are now is not where you’ll always be—and that’s a beautiful thing.

Keep choosing curiosity. Keep showing up for your growth. Keep rewriting what success means on your terms. And keep leaning into the community and sharing your story. 

Authentic people are what is wanted at work and in relationships. And the beautiful messy map of the journey that YOU are foraging. 

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