The Assumption Everyone Makes
Most people believe that the more they prepare for an interview, the more confident they'll feel. So they prepare more. And more. And somehow they feel just as anxious the night before, and sometimes more so. The prep isn't delivering the confidence they expected.
Why More Prep Doesn't Always Help
At a certain point, more preparation stops adding information and starts adding noise. You've read every possible interview question. You've rehearsed every possible answer. And now you're in your head, trying to remember which version of which answer goes with which question. That's not confidence — that's a test.
What Actually Builds Confidence
Confidence comes from clarity — knowing your stories, trusting your experience, and believing that you have something real to offer. It comes from having done the prep that matters and then letting go of the rest. It comes from walking in with Guess What Energy instead of walking in trying to remember your lines.
The Sweet Spot
There is a right amount of preparation — enough to feel grounded and clear, not so much that you're in performance mode. The sweet spot is different for everyone. But the signal is the same: when the prep is making you calmer, keep going. When it's making you more anxious, stop.
Find your sweet spot with Less Prep, More Pep: The Book — a practical guide to preparing in a way that actually builds confidence instead of anxiety.