How we undervalue ourselves

One of the most common human conditions that I encounter is capable people, including high level athletes and highly trained individuals who are successful, falling into the trap of undervaluing their expertise. Naturally, when we’re very good at something it comes easily to us and because it feels so easy, we automatically think that it comes easy to everybody and that our information is common sense, or that our level is normal. It’s amazing because so often when I’m doing a podcast, presentation, blog or release anything public I can have a mini panic and think “Why would anybody listen to this because surely everyone knows this already?” One of the biggest challenges is to keep realizing that information that I have delivered often, which has become so ingrained in me that nothing is fresh about it to me, is the danger that I no longer value the information and feel that it will be no good or help to anyone. How do I get over this? What experience has taught me that because I know something so well that it has become basic to me, it does not mean it is basic to everybody. Also, learning takes time and whilst something is second nature to me and maybe not unique to me it still takes hearing things or seeing things many times before it is automated in our minds. This can lead to serious consequences like not volunteering their expertise when needed, failing to go for promotions, undercharging or losing through self-induced poor performances all because they overvalue the quality of their opponents. People find ways of stepping back from a challenge all because of the assumption that they are not good enough. It is so easy to imagine that others are somehow better for various reasons, which so often is based purely on assumptions made up in our own minds. In sport it shows when athletes assume the underdog position based on a self-assessment or because of a ranking position when the reality is at every level the margins are small, so it takes very little for a result to change. The trick is to just compete and never assume anything. If we're really talented at something, then we so often default to automatically thinking that others around us are also very good. The reality is so often what we have to say or what we can do is not common sense or easy for others and they need our help. The thing to remember is, if you're really good at something, there are probably very few people in the world who are up to your level. Equally you are unique so the way in which you present what you know and what you're an expert at, is totally different from anyone else. It'll have its similarities, but ultimately, your blueprint, your fingerprint, on the way that you do things, is uniquely yours. Keep reminding yourself to not discount your own value to the world.