A while back, while browsing job postings, I noticed many of the roles I’m interested in listed technical skills like Braze or Iterable - tools I don’t know how to use.
Then they’d throw in ten more requirements I’ve never touched.
But sometimes, if 70% of the description matches what I’m looking for, I still apply.
Here are some of my whys:
Everyone wants the perfect hire who can do everything from day one.
I’ve been on the hiring side. I get it. It feels safer to list every possible skill you might need, just in case.
Nobody starts out knowing everything.
There’s always a first time. A learning curve. What really matters (at least to any company worth working for) is your willingness to learn, try, fail, and try again.
It’s good to feel uncomfortable now and then. That little voice telling you “You’re not ready” is just your brain trying to keep you safe.
In fact, this is how I get things done every day.
I try to dip into the pool of discomfort as often as I can.
That awareness and the habit of facing it help me overcome the initial bit of procrastination.
Truly, the secret to success is to be comfortable with being uncomfortable.
Obvious advice, you might say.
Then, how about something more specific and more relevant:
Try sending an email to your list that makes you uneasy.
Something you’d usually hold back on because it feels too bold, too raw, too risky.
Maybe it’s a new format.
A wildly different tone.
An offer that feels like a stretch.
Chances are, it’ll stir things up. You might get more clicks, more replies, more sales and yes…more complaints too.
But at the same time, you might hear someone say, “This was refreshing,” or “Finally, something different.”
At the very least, you’ve tried something new and you learnt something from it.
If you want to experiment with this kind of email but don’t want to write it yourself, I can help. I know for sure it doesn’t feel as scary when someone else does a scary task FOR me.
Details here:
