At BecomeMore, one of our core values is to Level Up, continuously.
I loved the idea when I first heard it. Then I realized it was asking something of me.
After 16 years in one organization, leveling up meant letting go of the comfort that comes from knowing exactly where I fit.
Sixteen years is long enough to learn the ins and outs of a place, to build deep relationships, to establish credibility, and to become comfortable navigating just about any challenge that comes your way.
It’s also long enough to forget what it feels like to be new.
As I considered taking this next step, I found myself face-to-face with something I’ve spent much of my career helping others navigate, change.
Change has a way of surfacing the same questions in all of us. We naturally wonder what’s ahead, whether we’re making the right decision, and if we’ll be able to succeed in unfamiliar territory. And I wasn’t immune to those feelings.
What struck me as I was evaluating those questions was that I wasn’t really afraid of change. I was afraid of losing the confidence that came with familiarity.
Many of us mistake familiarity for confidence. True confidence isn’t rooted in what we know. It’s rooted in our ability to learn, adapt, and grow when what we know changes.
There’s a quote often attributed to Charlie Wardle:
“A bird sitting on a branch is never afraid of the branch breaking, because its trust is not in the branch but in its own wings.”
For years, my confidence had been reinforced by a familiar environment. I knew where I fit. I knew how to navigate challenges. I knew how to create results.
The real question wasn’t whether the branch would hold.
The question was whether I trusted my wings.
Did I trust my ability to learn?
To adapt?
To build new relationships?
To create value in an unfamiliar environment?
And I did. Not because I knew what would happen, but because I had learned that growth has never come from certainty.
The leaders I admire most understand this. They don’t cling to certainty. They remain curious. They continue learning. They trust that what made them successful in one environment can be adapted to another.
Whether you’re leading a transformation, considering a career change, or simply pushing beyond what’s comfortable, remember this:
Growth rarely begins when you feel ready.
Trust your wings.
And level up, continuously.