How to Handle Opportunities You’re Not Ready For (Yet)

Assalamualaikum w.b.t. and Greetings.

Imagine you’re offered something big — a new job, a leadership role, a speaking slot, or even a new responsibility that makes your heart race a little.

And then it hits you: “I don’t think I’m ready for this.”

If you’ve ever felt that — not just once, but maybe multiple times — you’re not alone.

In fact, I don’t think readiness is a prerequisite for most opportunities in life.

It’s a strange thing. We often assume that people who step into big roles or bold decisions already have everything figured out. They’ve ticked all the boxes, mastered all the skills, and waited patiently for the “right time.”

But if I can be honest with you — the more I work, and the more people I meet across industries and experiences, the clearer it becomes:

Opportunities don’t wait until we’re ready. They show up, and we grow into them.

A personal note

I’ve been in situations where I felt deeply underqualified.

Sometimes I took the leap. Sometimes I hesitated.

But every time I said yes, something changed — not just in my resume, but in my mindset.

To give you insight into my situation, this screenshot tells a lot.

In each of my promotions, I told myself I was not ready.

I am not ready for a promotion.

I am not ready to travel abroad.

I am not ready to get married.

Yet, here I am in whatever phase of life I am in. Time still moves forward, with or without me. I decide, hey, let’s ride together anyway.

One particular project comes to mind. It wasn’t just a task — it was an entire initiative, involving millions of users and hundreds of stakeholders. I remember sitting at my desk, rereading the brief, thinking to myself: “This is too big for me.”

I still think of this occasionally with my current project that I own and lead in our team.

But I also remember something else: that feeling of responsibility slowly transforming into resolve.

I didn’t become an expert overnight. But I asked better questions, read faster, stayed up later (and smarter), and leaned on others where needed. And step by step, I moved forward.

Looking back, I didn’t just complete numerous projects. I came out of it stronger — not because I was ready when it started, but because I grew “while” inside it.

What to do when opportunity knocks too early

If you’re facing something right now that feels “too big,” let me offer a few calm thoughts:

1. You don’t need to know everything. You just need to be willing to learn.

So much of growth comes from your attitude, not your current ability. If you approach it with curiosity and consistency, you’re already on the right track.

I would advise that you build this attitude and behaviour of “give me anything and I’ll solve it.”

2. Say yes, and figure it out along the way.

It’s tempting to stall — to wait until we feel 100% confident. But sometimes, saying yes before you’re fully ready forces you to accelerate your growth. It’s uncomfortable, but it’s honest work.

1 month into my probation period, I said yes when my team offered me to own and lead the current project. What can a 1-month-old employee do? Definitely not much, at first. But I grew with the project, my team trusts me more each day, and I am delivering more value.

There are times I sort of regret saying yes, I would not lie. But that dissipates quickly because I know everything is solvable.

If you ask my whole team, we all will, hands down, vote that the project I worked on is the most complex and time-consuming in our team. But the beauty of it is, I do not do this on my own.

We work together, and I can really rely on each of my team members’ shoulders.

3. Ask for help. Often.

You’re not expected to do everything alone. Seeking guidance is not a weakness — it’s a signal that you care enough to get things right.

I have great leaders and managers around me who are not afraid to say, “I do not know what this is.”

My opinion of them will not fade away, in fact it grows into respect. It also shows that we are merely a humans too.

I would be personally worried if my manager looks “perfect” in his day-to-day life, as I cannot truly relate to a human and perfection.

Humans are faulty.
Our best value is, we adapt and grow very well.

4. You’re allowed to feel overwhelmed. Just don’t stay there.

Give yourself space to feel. Then, move. One small action at a time.

Avoid lingering too long on a problem or getting dragged emotionally by what went wrong. Focus on what could be better.

There’s a quote I love — often attributed to Richard Branson, though versions of it exist elsewhere:

I know that might sound reckless in certain contexts, but the spirit of it matters.

Say yes to the version of yourself you haven’t met yet. Say yes to becoming better than you were yesterday.

So if something shows up in your inbox, your DMs, or across your desk — and it scares you a little because it feels too soon, too big, too much — just know that this might be the start of a chapter you’ll be proud of.

Do you remember when you started to learn walking? We were never ready, but we did it anyway (with all the scratches and tears sometimes).

I wonder where that value dissipates to, as I grew older and older each day.

You don’t have to feel completely ready.

You just have to be willing to begin.

May Allah s.w.t. bless us all and guide us, purify our hearts and help us in all the goodness we try to achieve in our life and hereafter.