@ferragosto
"The only reason you’ll fail is not fully believing in yourself."
Yesterday, I pitched my dad one of the thousand ideas I came up with in the last 10 years. From a remote work retreat to 3D-printed earplugs, high-quality coffee shops, and carob biscuits. Yes, my “idea cemetery” can be banal and ambitious.
Not once did he say, “This idea is terrible.”
He always listened carefully, adapting his knowledge and experience to a different world from what he knows, finishing his list of questions by saying, “I believe in you.”
Most of the time, I tossed up ideas, feeling they weren’t enough to repay the trust he’s placed in me or the efforts he’s made to provide a great education.
-> I wanted to impress him.
-> I wanted big names behind me when I went to him.
But yesterday, I understood something fundamental. In a way, he has helped me build the foundation for what’s to come.
He doesn’t care about what I do, but how I feel about what I do.
When I finished my pitch, he looked at me and said, “Listen, the only reason you’ll fail is not fully believing in yourself. You need to test it out, put your name out there, and try as much as you can. Who cares if it fails? You have to do it; otherwise, you’ll never know.”
Looking back, I think self-imposed expectations, inaction, and low trust in myself were the real idea killers.
In a way, I unmasked the Scooby-Doo villain and found myself underneath.
Thank you, Dad.
11.11.2024
Having a talent is overrated.
Or better, thinking that you don’t have one is an excuse to not try hard enough. There are some specific things that people can do just because they were born with that inclination, and they are hard to achieve simply because of the danger surrounding them. Think about those who can put ten swords down their throats, astonishing. Or the ones who slackline between skyscrapers, that’s even crazier.
For the rest of us, the real talent is discipline.
You may find out that you’re really good at writing, but if you don’t write daily, that book will never get published.
You may have a talent for running at a hyper-fast speed, but you’ll never win the Olympics if you don’t show up daily.
You might be the most impressive salesperson, but if you don’t face the daily struggle, you won’t be able to close the $1M deal.
Hence, train. Whatever skill, inclination, or interest you have.
Train daily.
What I can agree on is that sometimes it is hard to find something you’re really good at and have a passion for. And that’s totally fine. There’s no competition with anyone except yourself. My suggestion is to remove activities that don’t bring value to your daily life and keep looking for fun and enjoyment elsewhere. One good indicator you’re in the right area is your "energy level".
How do you feel after a specific activity? If the answer is “full of energy,” you may have found a nice area to dive into and discover more about. The beautiful thing about energy-creating activities is that the daily training doesn’t feel like training anymore but pure enjoyment. And if, by the nature of the activity itself, you can’t train daily, keep reading or priming yourself for the next one.
01.10.2024
The difference between thinking to do and actually doing.
We’ve all been there. When fantasizing about what could be, everything is beautiful, clear, simple. Just the way we want it to be. But when it comes the moment of making it a reality, everything changes.
Let’s take the example of taking a photo, perhaps a scenic landscape with a herder looking after his sheep. That’s beautiful, I can already see myself on top of the mountain, with an old-looking person giving the serene expression I want. Maybe there’s even an eagle crossing the sky. Awesome. And I love it that way.
Translating this to reality means: looking online for nice mountain peaks, waking up at 4 a.m., getting into a car, driving two hours, hiking for at least another three, finding the location, praying that the weather and light conditions remain good, hoping to meet a herder, starting a conversation and convincing him to be photographed, taking the shot. Going back home. On top of this, I need to give up going out with friends at night to stay focused and be ready for the day.
It sounds less sexy than my initial thoughts.
But here’s the difference: in the first case, the photo only lives in my mind. In the second, I have something that exists in the physical world. I can print it, share it, give it back to the herder, or do whatever I want.
And that’s where the magic lies.
I’m not going to wake up at 4 a.m. and do all those things for every idea that crosses my mind. I love that some thoughts remain thoughts because they are already perfect in this form.
But for something you truly want, please go and hike that peak ten times if needed. The experience will change forever who you are.
I’m with you.
31.05.2024
The sacred power of self-letters.
A few days before turning 30, I went to one of my favorite spots with just a piece of paper and a pen. I sat down for an hour and started to envision the life I wanted in 10 years: Where do I want to be? With whom? Doing what? Simple questions, and I told myself, "I’m not leaving until I’ve written down everything."
The piece of paper ended up being a letter. And for that short time, it felt like my hand was having an intimate dance with my mind.
I wrote down my worries, my desires, my fears, and my dreams. I felt that being honest with my future self was the only way to have a genuine conversation.
When I got back home, I handed the letter to my mom and asked her to hide it, to be opened in 10 years.
I don’t know where that letter is now, but I can feel its energy influencing every choice I make. Before making any decision, I ask myself: Will this bring me closer to the person I want to be?
If you have never done it, I highly recommend investing a morning of one of your next weekends in writing a similar one. It may help bring clarity and purpose.
Or at the very least, you’ll have something to smile about in 10 years.
10.05.2024
Find an activity that clears your mind.
Think of it like restarting your laptop when the RAM has been running at full capacity for too long. We all need those moments to reset.
I found mine in running (thanks, Dad).
It took a while to get the ball rolling, but now my body asks for it.
Running helps me to:
- Explore a new city or place;
- Boost my mood with a rush of endorphins;
- Clear my thoughts and gain a fresh perspective;
- Disconnect from the hustle of daily life and reconnect with nature;
- Remind me how lucky I am to have a body that responds to my crazy thoughts and challenges.
I can’t convince you to run, but I can definitely invite you to find your own ritual.
Whether it’s yoga, painting, singing, or even walking your dog, find what helps you hit that 'reset' button and follow it, even when your mind insists it's okay to skip. I’m always grateful when I push through on the tough days.
21.03.2024
Don’t follow someone else’s dream.
And I say this with the open heart of someone who deeply suffers from it.
I have this thing where I want to try everything, especially on the creative side.
A person I esteem uploads a new YouTube video -> I want to become a YouTuber.
A friend I value launches a newsletter -> I want to become a writer.
A former colleague risks it all with a startup -> I want to become a founder.
If FOMO has become widely accepted, I believe I’m affected by DOTE - Desire Of Trying Everything.
And nowadays, it’s reasonably easy. What we see on the outside is most of the time only the success story, while it becomes natural to overlook the years of dedication behind it.
What’s worse is that by being distracted, we sacrifice attention to our unique path, our innermost dream.
It took me years to barely glimpse what I truly wanted, and I find it hard to protect it while being exposed to so many sources.
If you’re here because you are seeking an answer: I’m sorry to disappoint you, I don’t have it.
But what can I tell you is that attention is our most important asset and inspiration beats envy every single time. So stick with your goals, get inspired, and do your best to protect your dreams.
I hope you’re well out there.