Owning My Real Fears

Hey wassup guys. Look, it is truly nice to be able to get back into some semblance of writing life. Truth is, I haven’t felt this way in a truly long time. Perhaps ever. For as long as I could remember, I have been living this life where we’re constantly behind a “shell”. You have read my description of it in previous blog entries. For those that aren’t familiar with it, just imagine this “shell” as a sort of “mask”. It’s basically a version of who we are that we want to show the world (or in some cases, consider it as the only version that those around me is willing to see).

The Fear of the Unknown

Here’s something that I’m beginning to understand on this weekend:

Regardless of whether it was something that was triggered by our choice to live behind a “shell” for most of our lives or not, we’re beginning to understand the fear of the unknown (or uncertainties) doesn’t just belong to our old former self. It is also genuinely ours. No matter how you try to look at it, both the shell and us, face that same fear. And so, I believe it is time for us to finally embrace the fear as our own (instead of referring to that fear as something that belongs to “someone else”).

The Unknown Variables that an Explorer/Pioneer Faces

So, regardless of whether it’s the shell or us, we have both lived the life of an industry pioneer. The only difference now is that we fully own this life that we are living. We’ve stepped into it fully. Whereas the old shell was just operating on “autopilot” and being almost unaware & oblivious to most of its actions.

Now, removing both the variables of the “shell” and us from the equation, and we start to look closely at the life of an industry pioneer (aka explorer), we’ll notice that an explorer will always be faced with choices, paths to choose with unknown variables to consider. Honestly, I like to think that any truly great explorer will share some level of fear as well. Fear is a good thing because it helps the explorer to remain alert of it’s surroundings. After all, the biggest killer of progress is complacency.

But it is what the explorer does in the face of that fear that really determines whether it ends up as a good thing or not. See, fear is normal. To some degree, I think we’re all afraid of uncertainties and unknowns in our lives. Even the most fearless individuals have to at least experience some level of fear before. The thing about being “Fearless” isn’t that the person doesn’t get afraid. I think it is in the face of their fears that they decided to move ahead nonetheless; that is what makes them fearless. It wasn’t a lack or absence of fear.

I think it is in the face of their fears that they decided to move ahead nonetheless; that is what makes them fearless.

Knowing the difference Between the “Shell” and US

As I end today’s blog entry I want to talk about recognizing the difference between who we are today versus the “shell” that was just a version of who we are/were. See, for the “shell”, in the face of the similar fears, it would be paralyze and unable to take action. A lot of the times in the past when we had the opportunity to do something, or make a connection with someone, it was that fear that led to paralysis that prevented us from acting on it. That is also what led to a lot of regrets that continue to remind us of what has been lost.

And so, unlike the “shell”, we are choosing a different approach. When I think about our upcoming product idea/vision, we are still facing similar fears. We have identified a bunch of unknowns (i.e. questions to ask and challenges that we have no solution for [yet]). And as we try to look at the whole “R&D” stage of this product development together, man, it really does feel scary. It is especially scary considering one of our new core philosophies is about “Clarity/Completeness”. And if we want to live up to our own standards, that means the “R&D” work that we are doing cannot afford any shortcuts along the way. This means going all the way to getting as much of the answers as we possible can. It’s not about perfection either. Just 100% excellence.

Start Chomping Away at the Bits

So, the only way for us to truly accomplish all of that, is to start by tackling all the smaller questions/challenges that we have already broken down weeks ago. Now, as “explorers” and industry pioneers, we know that many of these questions & challenges we have identified are only the ones we can see right now. They are more obvious from where we are right now. But as we start to dive into answering those questions & seeking out the solutions to those challenges, more questions will arise (hence, more variables & unknowns).

It’s going to be easy to allow those fears to cripple us. But we’re choosing differently. We know that the best way to overcome any fear is to just start chomping at it. Bit by bit, we’ll find our answers and solutions. And I suppose, before we know it, we would be finally ready to start our actual development/implementation.