The Story of Myself-From Certificates to Self Discovery – My Journey From Confusion to Conviction

by JK

When Success Felt Hollow
For many years, I carried a secret weight. To the outside world, I looked like a professional growing in stature — collecting certifications from esteemed institutions, leading mega projects, and achieving milestones. But within, I felt hollow.

My certificates were neatly stacked, but I often felt like nothing more than a storekeeper of certificates. They didn’t give me confidence. Instead, they deepened my imposter syndrome.

The irony was painful. The more I collected, the less I believed in myself.

The Breaking Point

My silent struggle reached its peak during my previous assignment — a

Mega Project.I still remember walking into those high-pressure meetings. Everyone looked at me for answers. But behind my composed face, my mind was storming with doubt:

“What if I fail? What if I am not capable enough to lead this?”

The technical complexities were exhausting, the political challenges unrelenting. I was fighting battles on multiple fronts, and slowly, I was losing the battle within.

Depression crept in quietly. I stopped celebrating small wins. Nights became longer, filled with files and worries. And my certificates — those symbols of knowledge — mocked me from the shelf.

Instead of reminding me of growth, they whispered:

“You have the paper, but do you really have the power?”

The Turning Point: IIMA

Then came a chance I didn’t expect — the opportunity to study at the

Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad (IIMA).Walking into the red-bricked campus for the first time, I felt a mixture of excitement and fear. Would I fit in? Was I capable of learning at this level?

In the first few classes, my doubts traveled with me. I wasn’t the best listener; my mind was too noisy. I wasn’t confident enough to speak up; my voice hesitated. I sat there, surrounded by bright minds, thinking:

“Maybe I don’t belong here.”

And then, one day, a professor said something that shook me:

“Knowledge means nothing if it does not transform you. You are not here to collect certificates. You are here to discover yourself.”

Those words hit me like lightning. They pierced through years of self-doubt and confusion. For the first time, I realized my problem wasn’t a lack of certificates — it was a lack of connection with myself.

Rediscovering “The Self” 

At IIMA, I learned that transformation begins with

The Self. And “The Self” rests on four pillars — Knowledge, Attitude, Skills, and Habits (KASH).

Knowledge – Beyond the Paper

Earlier, I thought knowledge was about finishing courses. But here, I saw that real knowledge is about curiosity, reflection, and application.

I remember one case study session where I hesitated to share my view. My professor gently smiled and said:

“Jitendra, knowledge is wasted if you keep it locked inside. Even half-formed thoughts can spark clarity in others.”

That day, I spoke up. Not perfectly, but sincerely. And to my surprise, others built on my point. That moment taught me — knowledge multiplies when shared.

Attitude – The Lens of Possibility

My old attitude was filled with fear and negativity. Every challenge felt like a threat, every obstacle like proof that I wasn’t good enough.

At IIMA, I began to see that attitude is the lens through which we interpret reality. The same situation can either drag us down or lift us up — depending on how we choose to frame it.

When I revisited my struggles during the Mega Project, I realized they weren’t signs of failure, but lessons in resilience. That shift in perspective gave me strength. I was no longer a layman lost in difficulties — I was a learner shaped by experience.

Skills – The Courage to Act

Knowledge without action is incomplete. My professors constantly reminded us:

“Skills are built in practice, not in perfection.”

I forced myself to speak more, to listen deeply, to collaborate actively. Slowly, I felt a new confidence emerging. Skills aren’t born overnight — they are carved through consistent effort.

Habits – The Silent Sculptors

Perhaps the biggest revelation was about habits. We are what we repeatedly do.

At IIMA, I developed small but powerful habits: reflecting at the end of each day, asking one question in every class, reading consistently, and networking with peers instead of isolating myself.

Over time, these habits rewired not just my learning, but my identity.

From Confusion to Conviction

Through KASH, my confusion turned into conviction:

•Fromcollecting certificates→ to absorbing knowledgeFrom

fear of failure→ to an attitude of learningFrom

silence in discussions→ to building skills in actionFrom

random effort→ to consistent habits.For the first time in years, I wasn’t chasing external approval. I was discovering an inner anchor.

Becoming My Own Favourite

The biggest gift of IIMA was rediscovering

The Self.Earlier, I tried to be everyone else’s favourite — the favourite employee, the favourite project manager, the favourite colleague. But I had forgotten the most important relationship: with myself.

Today, I can proudly say:

I am the favourite of myself.

This isn’t arrogance. It’s acceptance. It’s the calm conviction that comes when Knowledge, Attitude, Skills, and Habits align.

A Message for Anyone Struggling

To anyone reading this who is fighting negativity, imposter syndrome, or overwhelming challenges — please remember:

you are not alone.

Your certificates, your titles, your projects — they don’t define you. What defines you is the self you nurture within.

Sometimes, all it takes is one mentor, one classroom, or one reflection to awaken your “third eye” — the clarity to see your worth. For me, that turning point was IIMA. For you, it could be something else.

But believe me, your transformation is waiting.

And when it happens, you’ll stop asking: “Am I good enough?”

Instead, you’ll begin saying with conviction:

I am the favourite of myself.