We Try Hard

There’s something I’ve observed over the years that really irritated me, and now that time has passed I know why - because I was projecting and guilty of it too. 

Through various phases of life, I’ve seen people who weren’t trying hard and acted like they didn't care.

They weren’t applying themselves in school and took pride in not studying... 

They would do the bare minimum in their sport to stay on the team, but wouldn’t put extra work in to see how good they could be…

They didn’t go all in on their “million dollar idea” and instead talked about what could have been…

That last one is my story. Back when I was starting the podcast, I treated it like a hobby. That means when it wasn’t growing as fast as I wanted it to, I always had a really convenient excuse: “If I did this full-time it would take off! But I’m not, so it hasn't happened yet.”

I thought it was a logical argument but knowing what I know now, I see it for what it was - protection. I was scared to try my best because if I did and failed, it meant that I didn’t have what it takes to succeed. It was more comfortable for me to have a story I could tell myself about my unlimited potential rather than find out what it actually was.

And I think it’s that same fear that comes up for everyone. People who need to look cool and not put effort in are just afraid of what other people would think about them if they tried their best and it wasn’t good enough. 

I can’t speak for others, but for myself - that’s unacceptable. It’s a realization I can’t “unsee”. I know that I’d regret so much more if I never had the courage to try things in the first place. And on the flip side, I know that I’d find so much more fulfillment in going fully for the things I think I want in life.

That’s why last week I made a pact with one of my best friends, co-founder, and soul-sister Maret: We try hard.

Is it more likely that we’re going to be “found out”? Yes. Are we exposing ourselves to falling short of big ambitions we have for ourselves? Absolutely.

But that’s what we do. We try hard. And I get that it's difficult to do. It’s scary to show that you care about something, and that you’re doing their very best. It’s vulnerable to give it all you’ve got.

And I’ve found in my experience, even when you fall short, you earn other people’s respect for trying. They wish they had the courage to go fully for what they want in life, and you going for it inspires them. 

So my encouragement to you is: Give yourself the gift of trying hard. That’s the shift I’ve made, and it’s giving me so much more life.

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