By Chana Wakslak, Senior Business Editor and Business Manager
I used to think that before making a decision – whether it was choosing a major, applying for an internship or even sending an important email – I had to be completely sure about it. I wanted to research every possibility, weigh every outcome and only move forward when I felt 100% ready.
But if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the past few years, it’s that waiting to feel “ready” often means waiting forever.
In college, especially in business and finance, there’s an expectation that you need to have a plan. You’re supposed to know what career you want, how to network strategically and what steps will get you your dream job. But real life doesn’t come with a step-by-step guide. I’ve had to make decisions based on gut instinct, limited information and the realization that sometimes, you just have to go for it.
One of my first lessons in this came during a summer internship. I was asked to handle tasks I had never done before – competitive analysis, financial statements and CRM workflows. I could have spent hours second-guessing myself, watching every tutorial I could find and hesitating before taking action.
Instead, I learned to do my best with what I knew, ask questions when I needed to and trust that I’d figure things out along the way. And I did.
I started applying this approach beyond just work and academics. Whether it’s planning a trip on a tight budget, stepping onto the fencing strip despite knowing I might lose or navigating life as a married college student, I’ve learned that sometimes the best way forward is simply to take the next step. Perfection isn’t the goal; progress is. And more often than not, the act of moving forward creates the clarity I was waiting for in the first place.
The same principle applied when I took on leadership roles. The first time I reached out to a professional contact, I rewrote my message at least ten times before hitting send. Now, I realize that taking imperfect action is often more valuable than waiting to craft the perfect approach.
This shift, from overthinking to action, has changed how I approach opportunities. It doesn’t mean being reckless or skipping preparation; it means recognizing that confidence is built through experience, not before it. Every interview, every internship and every challenge has taught me that learning happens in the doing.
So, if you’re stuck waiting for the “right moment” to take a leap – whether in academics, career, or life – consider this your sign to just start. You’ll figure it out along the way.