Melinda Gates

Melinda Gates Instagram – Many years ago, when I was still pretty new to philanthropy, I found myself in a crisis of self-doubt. I had a meeting coming up with a well-known government official I really admired, and I was terrified she was going to think I was a waste of her time. In the days before the meeting, I drove myself (and the people around me!) crazy as I obsessively tried to memorize a 3-inch binder full of statistics and talking points.
 
Imagine my surprise when the meeting arrived, and she walked in… with notes. Unlike me, she hadn’t bothered trying to memorize a bunch of stuff so she could pretend to know everything about everything. She did the logical thing and just brought a notecard. I felt so silly.
 
I used to look back on that experience and cringe. Now, though, I feel a lot of compassion for that younger, insecure version of myself who was trying so hard to get it right. I wish I could go back and tell her: Melinda, you don’t have to pretend to be perfect. No one else is, either.
 
What’s something you’d tell your younger self? #NextDayWisdom | Posted on 28/Mar/2025 20:27:27