Last Friday of September 2021.
First day of my internship at Tesla.
Remote work era.
Which is a bit of a letdown as I wanted the full US in-person experience. But hey, it’s Tesla. It’s Elon. I’m in.
I log into my first team meeting on Microsoft Teams.
30+ people. All strangers. All brilliant.
Flavia Sanchez, the team lead, is hosting.
Then it begins: introductions.
You already know where this is going...
And even though I know they’ll get to me eventually, I’m still not ready.
I’m rehearsing in my head.
I’m sweating.
I’m smiling nervously at names I can’t pronounce.
I’m thinking:
“Please don’t mess up. Just say something smart. Don’t sound like you don’t belong.”
I’m the last to go. My heart is pounding.
“Hi, I’m Waqas. I’m a PhD student at Missouri University of Science and Technology…”
So far, so good.
But then I try to casually share what I do in my free time and say:
“…I like reading books on Audible…” 👀
Wait.
What?
You don’t read on Audible.
It’s an audio app. You listen. That’s literally the point.
Panic mode kicks in.
I try to fix it… but I’m in a spiral.
Words come out that don’t even make sense in my own head.
It’s like I’m speaking in alien code.
I abruptly stop.
Silence.
People don’t know if I’m done or buffering.
Then finally, Flavia graciously thanks me for “introducing” myself and moves the meeting on.
Looking back…
That wasn’t just a flub.
That was the weight of limiting beliefs doing their work:
- “I have to be perfect or I’ll be exposed.”
- “I need to impress them or I don’t belong.”
- “They’ll find out they hired the wrong guy.”
- “One mistake = career suicide.”
I was so wrapped up in trying to perform, I couldn’t just be.
And ironically, trying to sound perfect is what made me sound fake.
What I learned and what might help you:
Your presence is more powerful than your perfection.
It’s not about having the perfect intro or the smoothest lines.
It’s about being grounded in who you are... even when you stumble.
Especially when you stumble.
Mistakes aren’t proof you don’t belong... they’re proof you’re human.
When you mess up, the audience gets a glimpse into the REAL YOU.
Stay human. Build connection and trust. Use humor when fitting
A Question for You:
Think back to a moment where you messed up when speaking..
What belief were you carrying at the time?
I’d love to hear your story.
Just hit reply and share one sentence or the whole thing.
Let’s normalize the messy moments that make us real.
You never know who needs to hear it.
-Waqas
LinkedIn | Past Newsletter Issues