In a recent LinkedIn post, Ehsan Ali explores the common psychological barrier that prevents many experienced IT professionals from pursuing larger roles, better compensation, and significant career advancements. Ali, addressing those in the IT field with extensive experience and high salaries, highlights a pervasive feeling of not being ‘ready’ despite possessing the necessary qualifications and achievements.
The Illusion of Readiness
According to Ehsan Ali, this feeling of inadequacy is a significant obstacle. Many professionals, even those with over 18 years of experience and prestigious certifications like PMP, ITIL, and AWS, find themselves hesitating when opportunities arise. Ali identifies a recurring internal dialogue that fuels this hesitation, often centered around needing ‘one more certification’ or waiting for a ‘better market’ or a feeling of ‘more confidence’.
“You’ll never feel ready. Not for the bigger role. Not for the bigger salary conversation. Not for the message to that hiring manager you’ve been watching for 6 months.”
This sentiment, as Ali points out, is particularly resonant for seasoned IT professionals who have diligently acquired credentials and fulfilled demanding responsibilities, including migrations, late nights, and on-call duties. The disconnect lies in the expectation that readiness precedes action, a notion Ali challenges directly.
Confidence Follows Action, Not the Other Way Around
A core argument presented by Ehsan Ali is that confidence is not a prerequisite for career advancement but rather a consequence of taking action. He asserts that true growth and change occur when individuals push past their comfort zones and engage in uncomfortable but necessary actions.
Key Actions for Career Progression
Ali outlines several concrete steps that professionals can take to break through this inertia:
- Speaking up in meetings where one might typically remain silent.
- Applying for roles that seem slightly beyond their current level.
- Initiating contact with industry leaders they admire.
- Abandoning the pursuit of ‘one more cert’ as a delaying tactic.
- Shifting the narrative from responsibilities to tangible outcomes.
Ali emphasizes that the space between feeling unprepared and choosing to act anyway is where significant and lasting career transformations happen.
“That gap between ‘I’m not ready’ and ‘I did it anyway’ is where careers change. Not overnight. But permanently.”
Challenging the Status Quo
The post serves as a call to action, urging professionals to identify the one move they are delaying due to a perceived lack of readiness. Ehsan Ali frames this internal struggle as a critical juncture for career development.
“Confidence doesn’t come before the move. It comes after.”
By reframing confidence as an outcome of action rather than a prerequisite, Ali encourages a proactive approach to career management. He suggests that this shift in perspective is essential for anyone looking to elevate their professional standing and achieve their career aspirations.
“Growth happens when you do the uncomfortable thing anyway…”
Ehsan Ali’s insights provide a valuable framework for IT professionals, and indeed individuals in many fields, to confront self-doubt and actively pursue opportunities that will ultimately foster growth and confidence.
📝 About This Content
This article is based on insights shared by Ehsan Ali on LinkedIn.
📅 Originally posted on February 26, 2026 | View original post on LinkedIn →