Woohoo! You're doing great!

(Even when it doesn't feel like it)

I bought this book for my nephew, then realized… oh no, it’s for me.

Cute title. Exuberant chicken. Big exclamation point energy.

But as I read it to my nephew for the fifth time, I realized:
“Oh no. This isn’t for him. This is for me.”

Because here’s where I’m at right now:

✅ I’m 2.5 months into a new role.
✅ Everyone is smart and competent and uses acronyms I don’t understand (though I’m slowly learning).
✅ Half the time I feel like a potato with a Slack account.

Sometimes I catch myself just… moving my cursor around the screen like I’m waiting for my hands to remember how to work. For whatever I’m looking for to click again.

Honestly, it usually ends up with my browser tabs looking like this:

This isn’t my first rodeo. I’ve led teams. I’ve built products. I’ve run two companies.

But when you’re new—or coming back after burnout—there’s this weird middle phase.

You’re not flailing, exactly. But you’re also not settled. You’re somewhere in between, hovering a bit off the ground.

The confidence you used to have? Gone.
The instincts? Rusty.
Your inner voice? Mostly just saying things like:

“Everyone’s going to figure out I’m a fraud,”
“Why did I open Slack again?” and
“Maybe I should buy a chicken-themed motivational book for my desk.”

So here’s what I’m trying to remember (and maybe you need this too):

→ Everyone knows you’re new.
→ Nobody expects you to nail it right away.
→ It’s normal to feel lost before you find your footing.

Recovery from burnout isn’t linear. Neither is your confidence.

Sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is show up anyway. Even if you’re just… doing your best shouting chicken impression. (My nephew enjoys it, anyway.)

Woohoo! You’re doing great.

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