There's a phrase that changed everything for me: "You can just do things."
Not "you can do things if you have the right connections." Not "you can do things if you were born talented." Just: you can do things.
It sounds almost too simple. But that simplicity is exactly what makes it so powerful—and so easy to dismiss.
The Permission Myth
We spend our lives waiting for permission.
Permission to speak up in meetings. Permission to apply for that senior role. Permission to start that side project. Permission to be taken seriously.
We wait for someone to tap us on the shoulder and say, "You're ready now."
That tap never comes.
Here's what I've learned after watching hundreds of people transform their careers: The people who succeed aren't the ones who waited to be chosen. They're the ones who chose themselves.
They didn't ask, "Am I allowed to do this?"
They asked, "What's stopping me from doing this?"
And most of the time, the answer is: absolutely nothing except my own belief that I can't.
The Talent Delusion
We love to believe in talent. It's comforting.
When someone aces an interview, we say, "They're just naturally confident." When someone lands their dream job, we think, "They were born for that role." When someone negotiates a 40% raise, we assume, "They must have some gift for persuasion."
This is a delusion. And it's a dangerous one because it lets us off the hook.
If success is about talent, then our lack of success isn't our fault. We just weren't lucky enough to be born with "it."
But research tells a different story.
The 10,000-hour rule. Deliberate practice. Growth mindset.
These aren't just buzzwords. They're the actual mechanics behind every "overnight success" you've ever admired.
- That confident speaker? Practiced in front of their mirror 100 times.
- That persuasive negotiator? Role-played scenarios until the words came naturally.
- That brilliant interviewer? Rehearsed their stories until they could tell them in their sleep.
They didn't have something you don't. They did something you haven't—yet.
The Practice Equation
Here's the equation that changed my understanding of what's possible:
Anything Is Possible = Belief + Practice + Time
Let me break this down:
Belief
You have to believe it's possible before you'll even attempt it. Not blind optimism—realistic belief. The kind that says, "Other humans have done this. I am also a human. Therefore, this is within the realm of possibility for me."
You don't need to believe you'll be perfect. You just need to believe you can improve.
Practice
Not just any practice. Deliberate practice. The kind that:
- Targets specific weaknesses
- Provides immediate feedback
- Pushes you just beyond your comfort zone
- Requires focused attention
This is different from repetition. You can repeat something for years and never improve. But deliberate practice? That transforms you.
Time
Here's where most people quit. They practice for a week and don't see results. They try for a month and feel like they're making no progress.
But compound improvement is invisible until it's not.
Think about it: 1% improvement daily means you're 37 times better after a year. Not 3.65 times better (365 × 1%). Thirty-seven times better.
The catch? You won't see it daily. You'll see it suddenly. One day, you'll realize you can do something you couldn't do before. And it will feel like it happened overnight.
But it didn't. It happened across thousands of small moments where you chose to practice instead of quit.
Applying This to Your Career
Let's get practical. How does "you can just do things" apply to your career?
You Can Just... Apply for That Job
You know the one. The posting that makes your heart race. The one you think you're not qualified for.
Apply anyway.
The worst case? You don't get it, and you learn something. The likely case? You get practice interviewing. The best case? You realize you were more qualified than you thought.
Stop waiting to feel ready. Apply feeling scared.
You Can Just... Practice Your Interview Skills
Most people prepare for interviews by... hoping they'll do well.
That's not preparation. That's wishful thinking.
Real preparation looks like:
- Recording yourself answering questions (uncomfortable but illuminating)
- Practicing your stories out loud until they flow naturally
- Simulating pressure by timing yourself
- Getting feedback from others (even if it stings)
You don't need permission to practice. You don't need expensive coaching (though it helps). You just need the willingness to be bad at something temporarily so you can be good at it permanently.
You Can Just... Ask for More
More responsibility. More money. More opportunity.
We think we need to wait until it's offered. We don't.
The script is simple: "I've been thinking about my growth here, and I'd like to discuss [what you want]. Can we set up time to talk about this?"
That's it. No magic words. No perfect timing. Just you, asking for what you want.
Some will say no. Many will say yes. But 100% of the unasked requests are denied.
You Can Just... Build New Skills
Want to learn data analysis? YouTube has free courses. Want to improve your public speaking? Toastmasters costs $50/year. Want to practice interviewing? Revarta lets you rehearse with AI feedback.
The barriers to learning have never been lower. The only barrier is the story you tell yourself about why you can't start.
The Mindset Shift
Here's what separates people who do things from people who dream about doing things:
Dreamers think: "I need to figure out every step before I start." Doers think: "I'll figure out the next step after I take this one."
Dreamers think: "I need to feel confident first." Doers think: "I'll build confidence by doing."
Dreamers think: "What if I fail?" Doers think: "What if I fly?"
And here's the secret: Doers aren't braver. They're just more scared of not trying than they are of failing.
Your First Step
I'm not going to tell you to dream big. Dreams without action are just fantasies.
Instead, I'm going to give you an assignment:
Pick one thing you've been "meaning to do" and do the smallest possible version of it this week.
- Meaning to apply for better jobs? Update one line of your resume today.
- Meaning to improve your interview skills? Record yourself answering one question tonight.
- Meaning to negotiate your salary? Research what your role pays in your market this week.
The smallest action is infinitely larger than the biggest intention.
The Truth About Possibility
Anything is possible doesn't mean everything is easy. It doesn't mean you won't struggle. It doesn't mean you'll succeed on the first try.
It means: With the right mindset and consistent practice, you can transform yourself in ways that would seem impossible to your current self.
The person you'll be in a year has skills you can't imagine. The confidence you'll have in six months doesn't exist in you today. The opportunities you'll create through practice haven't materialized yet.
But they will. If you start.
So stop waiting for permission. Stop waiting for talent to appear. Stop waiting for the perfect moment.
You can just do things.
The only question is: What are you going to do first?
Ready to transform your interview skills through practice? Start your journey with Revarta and discover what becomes possible when you combine the right mindset with deliberate practice.
