Advice I Wrote for Interns That Applies to Anyone Starting Something New
Every summer, thousands of interns step into new roles.
Some are excited. Some are nervous. Most are both.
But here's what I noticed when I started writing career advice for interns: almost none of it was actually about internships. It was about beginnings—and beginnings happen to all of us, far more often than we think.
Who This Is Really For
Maybe you're not starting an internship. Maybe you're:
Starting a new job
Stepping into a leadership role for the first time
Returning to work after a break
Changing careers or industries
Joining a new organization, team, or community
Rebuilding after burnout or failure
Becoming a parent or caregiver
Different setting. Same emotions. Same fears. Same questions.
Do I belong here? Am I already behind? What if everyone figures out I don't know what I'm doing?
10 Beliefs That Make New Beginnings Harder Than They Have to Be
When we enter something new, most of us quietly believe things that work against us. Here are the most common ones and what's actually true. Here is an infographic if you prefer the visuals.
1. "If I work hard enough, people will notice."
Sometimes. But hard work alone rarely tells the whole story. Relationships, communication, and trust still matter—often more than output.
2. "I need to prove I'm smart."
People don't need perfection from you. They need curiosity. Ask good questions. That's often more impressive than having all the answers.
3. "Everyone else knows what they're doing."
Most people look confident because they've learned to navigate uncertainty—not because they've eliminated it. You're not the only one figuring it out.
4. "Networking feels fake."
Pretending to be someone you're not feels fake. Genuine connection doesn't. Be yourself. You're enough.
5. "Feedback means I'm failing."
Usually, the opposite is true. When someone gives you feedback, it often means they think you're worth investing in.
6. "Being busy means I'm succeeding."
Activity and progress are not the same thing. Busyness is easy. Meaningful work takes intention.
7. "I should say yes to everything."
The fastest path to burnout is spreading yourself across everything. Protect your bandwidth. Work from your strengths as often as you can.
8. "People are evaluating every move I make."
This one shows up almost every time we start something new—new team, new church, new volunteer role, new leadership position, new school.
We assume everyone notices every mistake. Usually they don't. Most people are overwhelmed, and what they're hoping for is communication more than perfection. Send updates. Ask for clarity. Remove surprises.
People are often thinking about you far less than you think they are.
That isn't bad news. It's freedom.
9. "This role defines my future."
Probably not. But the habits you build here might.
10. "Success means becoming impressive."
The people who go furthest are rarely the most impressive in the room. They're the ones others trust enough to invite back.
A Better Response: 10 Genuine Practices for Starting Anything New
Each false belief has a different response. Not a hack. Not a productivity trick. A relationship habit.
1. "If I work hard enough, people will notice." → Be Engaged
Do great work. Communicate your progress. Ask questions. Make your contributions visible without making yourself the center of attention.
2. "I need to prove I'm smart." → Be Non-Judgmental
Become curious. Ask questions sooner. You don't need to prove capability before you earn the right to learn.
3. "Everyone else knows what they're doing." → Lead with Empathy
Get curious about other people's journeys. Be patient with the pace of your own progress.
4. "Networking feels fake." → Empathy + Non-Judgmental
Become curious about other people's journeys to where they are. Pretending to be someone you're not feels fake. Authentic relationships feel good. Be you. You are good enough. Be patient with the pace of your own progress.
5. "Feedback means I'm failing." → Be Unafraid
Ask: "What's one thing I should keep doing? What's one thing I should change?" Growth requires courage.
6. "Being busy means I'm succeeding." → Act with Integrity
Protect your time. Choose actions aligned to what matters. Activity and progress are not the same thing.
7. "I should say yes to everything." → Act with Integrity
The fastest way to burnout is becoming active in everything. It's okay to protect your bandwidth and work from your strengths as often as you can.
8. "People are evaluating every move I make." → Be Kind
Communicate. Send updates. Ask for clarity. Remove surprises. People remember trust more than perfection.
9. "This role defines my future." → Stay Engaged
Build skills. Build relationships. Build trust. Roles change. Your habits travel.
10. "Success means becoming impressive." → Be Generous
Stop trying to impress. Start trying to create value. The people who go furthest are usually the people others want to invite back.
What Most Transitions Actually Require
Most transitions in life don't require reinvention.
They require permission.
Permission to learn
Permission to ask questions
Permission to not know yet
Permission to grow at your own pace
Permission to remember that your value existed before your title did
Whether you're an intern, a new manager, a volunteer, or someone starting over after a setback—you don't need to earn the right to belong before you begin.
How to Succeed When You're Starting Something New
Show up consistently. Stay curious. Build real relationships. Do good work.
Your career won't be built in one big moment. It'll be built in hundreds of small moments where people decide: "I'd work with them again."
Show up. Do the work. Be kind. Be real. Keep growing. Keep going.
Your next chapter doesn't need a perfect start. Just an honest one. Here is an infographic if you prefer the visuals.
FAQs: Starting Something New
How do I stop feeling like an imposter when I start a new job? Recognize that most people feel this way. The goal isn't to eliminate uncertainty—it's to act despite it. Focus on curiosity and connection over performance.
How do I make a good first impression at a new job or role? Ask thoughtful questions, listen more than you talk in the early weeks, follow through on small commitments, and invest in the people around you—not just your work product.
What's the biggest mistake people make when starting something new? Trying to prove themselves instead of learning. The people who go furthest are rarely the most impressive in the room. They're the ones others trust enough to invite back.
How long does it take to feel comfortable in a new role? Research suggests it often takes 3–6 months to feel genuinely settled. Give yourself grace in the early weeks. Discomfort is a sign of growth, not failure.
What's something you wish someone had told you the last time you started something new? Share it in the comments.