Doubting and looking down on yourself and your ability even before you embark on a given task or approach some certain set of high value and influencial people is a sure way not to succeed, because when you don't have the confidence to stand up and prove your capabilities, then definitely you are going no where in life. Greatness and success does not come from being perfect from the start but rather from hardwork, self discovery, discipline, resilience and believing in what you do and what you are capable of doing.
I have this friend of mine who is very talented in so many ways that at times I envy how so good he is, but he has a problem which seems to weigh him down and the problem is, he doubt himself too much when it really matters. He can devote hours, days or even weeks in trying to develop something, working hard without rest to make sure he gets it right, but after he's done with it, you will see him talking to himself saying "I doubt this is good enough" or you will hear him saying "there's a high probability that somebody has even done this same thing and in a better way" thereby discouraging himself again
One day he told me that a company he had applied for a job called him to come for an interview and that company was a renowned and big company that I know pay well and takes care of their employees as well, as long as you are qualified, you don't have a problem. I was excited when I heard the news and urged him to make he show them his best which he affirmed by saying he will. On the day of the interview, when he entered the room he saw alot of people that came for that same job offer and even those that he considered has achieved great things.
When his turn came, he went into the interview room and when he was been asked questions he said he maintained a professional smile and was answering their questions but deep inside him, he was asking himself "what if they find out and say am not qualified", even though he knew he had worked hard for that moment. After he came out and met with others that were also waiting for their turn and those that had been interviewed, engaging them in conversation, he was able to find out that he wasn't the only one feeling that way.
Even those that he presumed were good enough where actually feeling the same way as he did and this revelation boosted his self confidence abit making him believe that he still stand a chance. Few days later, he was informed that he passed the interview and should come and get his appointment letter so that he can know when to resume his new job and that was how everything changed for him.
Now he said he has learnt to tell himself that "you are here because you deserve it", "you can do it because you are prepared" and whenever situations like before arises again, he already has a way to tackle it because "if he wasn't worthy of it, how did he get that far".
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