Everyone Has to Start Somewhere: The Power of Small Roles

Have you ever been watching an old TV show and suddenly spotted a now-famous actor making a tiny appearance as a background character? Maybe they had one line as “doctor in the ER,” or maybe they were just a friend at the party. At the time, they were barely noticeable. But now, knowing the success they’ve achieved, it’s almost jarring to see them in such a small role.

They started off with a small role...

I’ve been rewatching some older shows lately, and I’ve noticed this again and again. It always makes me pause, because there’s an important lesson hidden in that pattern—one that’s easy to forget when we’re striving toward big goals in medicine, leadership, or academia.

Everyone has to start somewhere.

The Illusion of Arriving Fully Formed

When we look at our mentors, our leaders, or even colleagues we admire, we often see only the polished end result. We see the titles, the big publications, the leadership positions, the awards. From our vantage point, it can feel as though they appeared fully formed, ready for the spotlight.

But just like that now-famous actor once played the unnamed “bartender” on a show you barely remember, every leader we admire had a beginning. They had those small, unglamorous roles. They learned the ropes. They built their skills step by step. They also faced failures and rejections—though those rarely make it into their professional highlight reel.

The problem is, because we don’t often see the behind-the-scenes work, we forget that the journey includes a lot of detours and setbacks. Instead, we measure ourselves against their finished product and assume we’re falling short.

 If you find yourself comparing your beginning to someone else’s middle or peak, pause and remind yourself—you’re still building the foundation. Every stage has value.

The Early Roles in Medicine

Think back to your own path in medicine. Maybe you started as a medical student trailing behind the team, unsure of what to do with your hands during rounds. Maybe you were the intern fumbling through notes and figuring out how to balance the sheer workload. Or maybe you’re still in that stage where the “small roles” feel overwhelming because they’re not the big job you imagined when you dreamed of becoming a physician or leader.

The truth is, those small roles are not wasted time. They are essential building blocks. They teach us how to handle responsibility, how to make mistakes and recover, and how to build resilience.

When you feel stuck in a role that feels “too small,” ask: What skills am I learning here that will prepare me for the next step?

The Rejections Along the Way

Of course, part of the process isn’t just playing small roles—it’s also facing rejection. That grant proposal that doesn’t get funded. That paper that comes back with brutal reviewer comments. That leadership opportunity that goes to someone else.

In the moment, these rejections can feel like a sign we’re not cut out for the path we’ve chosen. But if you look at the careers of the people you admire, rejection is woven into their stories too.

Actors don’t get every part they audition for. In fact, they probably hear “no” far more often than “yes.” But those auditions, even the ones that don’t lead to a role, sharpen their skills. The same is true for us. Every rejection teaches us something—about how to improve, about what matters most to us, about persistence.

Instead of asking “Why wasn’t I chosen?” try asking “What did I learn from this attempt that will help me next time?”

Why Small Roles Matter

It’s tempting to want to skip ahead. To imagine that one big opportunity will suddenly propel us into the spotlight. But if you’ve ever watched someone get thrown into a big role without preparation, you know how quickly things can unravel.

The small roles matter because they prepare us. They allow us to experiment in lower-stakes environments. They give us the foundation we need to handle bigger responsibilities later.

In fact, some of the best leaders are the ones who remember their own small roles most vividly. They know what it feels like to be the overwhelmed intern, the struggling junior faculty member, or the physician facing burnout. That memory shapes the way they lead and the way they mentor others.

Embracing the Journey

So if you’re in one of those “small role” stages right now—whether it’s your first year of residency, your first teaching assignment, or your first attempt at writing for publication—don’t discount it. These steps are not detours. They’re part of the path.

And when rejection comes (because it will), try to remind yourself that it isn’t evidence of failure. It’s proof that you’re putting yourself out there. It’s a sign that you’re in the process of building something.

The actors we admire didn’t skip their way to stardom. They put in years of work, sometimes in thankless parts, before anyone recognized their name. And the same is true for us in medicine and leadership.

Looking Back from the Future

One day, you’ll look back on this stage of your career the same way you look at those old TV appearances. You’ll remember how small it felt, how frustrating it was at times, and you’ll see how much it shaped the professional you became.

Those early roles will make sense in hindsight. They’ll give context to your journey. And maybe, just maybe, someone coming up behind you will see your “finished product” and wonder how you got there.

When they do, I hope you’ll tell them the truth: that everyone has to start somewhere, that the small roles matter, and that rejection is part of the story—not the end of it.

Because just like on screen, the credits only make sense when you see the whole show.