it doesn't really matter how good you think you are
each of us starts at suck and we move forward from there i know i know i will explain but first
let's laugh at my expense here's a clip from somewhere between 2015 and 2016.
one more
i cannot believe i sucked that bad bad videos honestly it's pretty embarrassing if you guys
want to see more content like this all you need to do is scroll down to the bottom of our feed here
in youtube you will find plenty and i promise it's worth watching so why would i keep these videos
live isn't the point of this channel to provide professional content that looks well produced
why would i leave cringeworthy content on our page if we're trying to be very professional about
our page well you would be correct our overall objective is to use media and content to create
art that reaches people and helps us change culture for the better but along that journey
i also want to show the first destination i arrived at sucking and sucking bad for that matter
recently i came across more of this older sucky content and it reminded me of an important fact
it's okay to suck i think this is a topic most people overlook or don't even consider
and i know what it's like to be jumping into something new but being held back
by the fear of doing horribly at whatever you want to do i think in general our culture has
painted the lie that those who have made it have arrived there without pain fear
failure or any other negative association we might believe that holds us back from doing new things
when i look back at who i was on camera in 2015 i remember being in that place
news flash it was me and if i didn't remember i think we have oh man i think we have some problems
i know on camera now it might seem like i'm confident and have it all together but my natural
me doesn't like making eye contact i prefer to keep to myself i don't like being in crowds i was
very awkward at speaking or conveying ideas and overwhelmingly lacked confidence in my own ideas
especially when i was younger ask people around me now and they would think that i'm
confident and i don't struggle with the old fears but for the people on our team here who work with
me every single day they know better they see that i still have doubt i don't enjoy the prospects of
failing i've simply learned to accept that it's a piece of the journey and a part of the process
so when i say it's okay to suck i mean it's okay to suck at first and in fact you should expect to
suck at first often we put these heavy unrealistic expectations on our shoulders of how we should
perform when we miss the mark or we don't meet our self-manufactured unrealistic standard we
put ourselves down and often what this does is subconsciously convince ourselves that we're not
capable of really anything and i've been there often that voice in your head that tells you to
be scared of doing something risky is a liar and the nature of doing new things is working through
that suck phase and let me give you one other example from my own life that's very near and
dear to me when i got married i received a small 38 special revolver from my grandfather as a gift
i've always had a protector instinct and a desire to protect people and i knew i would
get into firearms and train with them to protect my family keep in mind this was before ta targets
was even an idea on paper after receiving the revolver i immediately purchased ammunition and
decided i was going to shoot that coming weekend i had a very large paper man-sized target and i
remember thinking this is going to be easy and i missed every time nearly every shot keep in mind
i was probably only at 10 feet from the target missing with the tool that i thought i would
use to keep my family safe a short time later i remember buying my first semi-auto handgun
as smith wesson mmp 9c i actually had begun to carry the 9-millimeter pistol and i did start
shooting a bit more i remember very clearly one instance that i was on the range with this
compact nine-millimeter pistol and i had such a bad range day that i literally unloaded the pistol
separated the mags threw it in its box and i drove home i didn't carry that pistol for a day or two
i know it might seem dramatic but i sucked so bad that ranged day that i honestly felt like less of
a man how could i say that i would be willing to protect my family at all costs if i couldn't
even hit a massive target at 10 feet am i just a liability if i carry my pistol should i even carry
this pistol should i sell it who am i kidding i suck and i'm not gonna get any better have you
had these internal battles with yourself because i have i have them less today than in the past but
it's because i have a very specific understanding that sucking is just a step on the journey and
each of us is going to need to navigate this phase so going back to that smith wesson pistol
i could have quit right there i could have decided that carrying a pistol was not for me
man how different my life would have been and look at my shooting now i won't profess to be an expert
but i'm naturally comfortable shooting firearms and even performing complex drills so how did i go
from almost selling my pistol out of frustration to being a natural well the simple answer is what
i've already stated i got over my crap recognize that there's no such thing as being a natural
admitted i needed some refocus and guidance and got to work so let's bring this topic full circle
why did i leave my old videos and horrible speaking skills live on a channel for all to see
it's because i know from time to time we all go through rough phases and we need encouragement i
want to show the journey from start to wherever i head from here and i know that in my own life
seeing people ahead of me that had a suck phase encourages me to push onward we all have people
we look up to and they seem like they're naturals at what they do and i will make two arguments
one they're not naturals they have a skill that they've developed over time through hard work and
two they also had a suck phase and they wrestle with many of the same things that you and i
wrestle with it's unrealistic to think that you will be a pro especially at something new
the first time you try it let me repeat it's unrealistic for you to expect that you're gonna
be a professional and you're gonna be amazing at a new skill it's a pressure you don't need to put
on yourself and while you're in that suck phase it's okay to suck one last piece don't remain in
the suck phase there's a distinct difference between someone in this phase as they learn
and someone who stays in this phase perpetually because they're unwilling to push through it if
you're finding yourself failing because of your own inaction lack of drive lack of discipline then
yeah it's your fault that's not an acceptable position to be in but as you focus on doing
something new be okay with sucking put your head down and work through the process just to recap
my thoughts on this topic one it's okay to suck and we all suck whenever we start something new
whether that's a sport hobby business career whatever sucking at the beginning should
be expected two as you feel yourself getting discouraged find examples of people who are good
now but sucked before the reference remember their journey and use it as fuel to propel you three
never quit as you're in a suck phase this leads to an even worse situation regret number four set
realistic expectations and goals as you navigate new skills or situations in life be honest with
your skill set and what you can achieve at first five set a commitment period look you might be
starting something that isn't right for you at some point it might be time to throw the towel in
on something but here's my recommendation commit to a minimum amount of time doing something could
be three months nine months two years whatever it is during that period commit 100 to what you set
out to do as you near your commitment re-analyze what you're doing do you feel fulfilled are you
growing answer the important questions and decide if you can continue this is far better situation
than quitting as it puts you in a logical decision and in control rather than caving due to fear
or pressure and overall guys i hope this video encourages you to continue with whatever you're
doing our culture is full of lies and weak people and there's unrealistic expectations all around
us and understand that you will go through that suck phase if you can drive yourself through it
you're gonna look back much like i do with my old content and yeah i cringe at it and it's
nasty but i'm also proud of it i see where i've come from and where i'm at and i know that in
five years i'm going to look back at this video right here and say whoa look at how far i've come
guys i hope this helps wish you all the best and whatever you do in life i'll see you all
you