The Power of Embracing Self-Doubt to Fuel Career Success, Shares Ex-BET CEO

By Moon Harper

Mar 01, 2024 05:37 AM EST

A former Black Entertainment Television (BET) Networks CEO, Debra Lee, shared with the LinkedIn video series "The Path" that success and self-doubt coexist.

From 2005 to 2018, Lee supervised the creation of hit cable shows like "Being Mary Jane" and "The Real Husbands of Hollywood," but her career did not begin in television or even close to it.

Lee went on to attend Harvard Law School after attending Brown University. According to her LinkedIn profile, she practiced law in Washington, D.C., at the D.C.-based firm Steptoe & Johnson before joining BET in 1986. Her transition from law to television involved navigating several pivotal moments early in her career, during which she leaned on advice from trusted individuals and made significant decisions based solely on her intuition.

Mustering Courage to Take Risks

In her early career, Lee often questioned her decisions and placed others' desires ahead of hers. She pursued an Ivy League education and a law degree at her father's urging. Still, when choosing between a federal clerkship and a role at the Securities and Exchange Commission, she opted for the former based on advice from those around her. Eventually, she found herself at Steptoe & Johnson, representing the newly-established BET. Although she was passionate about the network's mission and desired to join its legal team, this would have meant leaving her secure job for a risky startup- a move her colleagues and father deemed unwise. Their reservations intensified her present self-doubt, which had accumulated with each previous career decision. Lee described how she felt when her career trajectory shifted, noting comments from partners and her father's reaction when she left her prestigious law firm. Despite self-doubt, Lee embraced the challenge at BET, using it to fuel her success. Over 32 years, she advanced from general counsel to CEO.

Overcoming Self-Doubt and Relying on Intuition

Lee's advice can be challenging to follow, as determining worthwhile risks can be difficult. Additionally, overcoming self-doubt can be a significant obstacle in the process.

Many highly successful individuals tackle this issue by conducting thorough research to grasp the advantages and disadvantages of their choices. Armed with this knowledge, they rely on intuition to guide their decision-making.

In a CNBC Make It interview last year, the CEO and founder of the multi-billion dollar space company Rocket Lab, Peter Beck, also shared his analytical approach to assessing the current situation and determining how to proceed. Beck emphasizes the importance of weighing risks and being methodical in decision-making. He advises focusing on controlling what can be controlled and acknowledging factors beyond control.

Distinguishing facts from emotions can pose difficulties, particularly for those who are not naturally analytical. Joe Kudla, CEO and founder of the four billion dollars apparel company Vuori, suggests mindfulness exercises as a helpful tool. These exercises, ranging from meditation or yoga to solitary walks, can aid in achieving mental clarity. Kudla emphasizes the importance of being still, allowing thoughts to settle, and fostering an unbiased, objective awareness. He stresses the necessity of finding moments of quiet for oneself.

Self-Doubt to Self-Awareness

Achieving success demands continuous self-reflection. Embracing self-doubt as a constructive aspect transforms it into a valuable instrument that enhances self-awareness. Bill Gates popularized the concept of "Think Weeks," where he retreated from the daily hustle of managing Microsoft to dedicate time for contemplation, dreaming, planning, and, notably, thinking, which provides founders and entrepreneurs with an extraordinary opportunity to delve deeply into their ideas and their uncertainties.