When you think about doing something new, usually think of everything that could POSSIBLY go wrong. Not only that, but you fail to consider the good you will get out of it.
I really did experience this feeling when starting Spectrum Robotics. I didn’t know what to expect, so my mind automatically went to the negative possibilities, thinking things like “Who would sign up?”, or “What if nobody likes it?”, trying to get me out of the uncomfortable situation.
People always tell you to “try new things”, but they never know how difficult it can be to really step out of that comforting cave and into the unfamiliar world.
If you are ever trying anything new, what you need to do is consciously throw out all of the negative emotions. When your brain is making the decision to do it or not, think about yourself in 3 years, being grateful for trying it.
When you step out of your comfort zone and feel overwhelmed, know that this is a NORMAL part of life, and you cannot avoid it. In order to make progress, discomfort is needed.
This principle of discomfort has helped me so many times in my life, whether it be trying new food, or starting something like Spectrum Robotics.
Finally, know that whenever the bad thoughts creep their way into your head, despite you expelling them, the positive thoughts will always outnumber them. When you take a risk, THE REWARD OUTWEIGHS THE RISK.
The first step is difficult, but the next ones will always be easier.
Thinking about Spectrum Robotics was really hard, but when I figured out the first steps, I felt an inclination to act on my steps, and I made a lot of progress.
You will have wins, and you will take massive L’s.
When I took the first steps to start my project, I was reaching out to professionals to partner with me. I reached out to 7 people, and 2 responded. I met with the first organization, and he did not appreciate the idea at all. He kind of said no, while simultaneously listing EVERYTHING that could go wrong. He used super exaggerative examples, like “Oh yeah, well what if one of the kids goes and bangs his head on the walls or throws the expensive equipment on the floor, what then?” This discouraged me, and I wasn’t really looking forward to the second meeting.
The second meeting was a lot scarier going in, but it went a lot better coming out. The people were super nice and said they were on board almost immediately. One month later, and the program is running.
The wins are heavier than the losses.
In the future weeks, I’ll be sharing the behind the scenes of Spectrum Robotics.
