I have suffered from motion sickness since I was little. It’s recently become so bad that I get a little bit nauseous when I drive. When I’m travelling I take anti-nausea pills twice a day because I use Uber and public transport.
If I look at my phone I want to puke, which really isn’t ideal in a world filled with travelling and moving all the time.
Recently I decided to do deeper research into the available solutions because I can’t believe that none exist other than pills that take half an hour to kick in.
Stunningly, I found a solution.
These comically silly glasses from a fantasy world have changed my life.
But they look ridiculous and silly and make me feel a bit stupid when I wear them. Every time I put them on I laugh at myself. Then I get into an Uber and the driver gives me the rearview mirror side-eye, waits till the end of the ride to build up the courage to finally ask me: “Um, what’s up with those things on your face?”
To which, I explain that they prevent nausea.
So here’s my question to you: What level of discomfort would you endure if you knew it would move you closer to success?
Would you make 10 cold calls a day for a year if you were guaranteed to be wealthy as a result?
Would you dance the funky chicken in front of ten thousand people?
Would you stand on a virtual stage and tell a really bad dad joke and have a million people laugh at you (not with you)?
What would you do? Really think about it.
Would you wear stupid blue liquid glasses on a train filled with hundreds of people who stare at you so that you don’t get motion sickness?
Often looking stupid and feeling uncomfortable are the first steps towards something great. We know it to be true. We know that anything worth doing is worth doing well and anything that moves the needle is likely difficult and uncomfortable and stupid at first. But we shy away from things that might make us stand out. We pull back when something is more difficult than you initially wanted it to be. We carefully curate the lives we display publicly on social media so that we fit in and people double-tap (❤️) our existence and don’t publicly berate us for being dumb, looking stupid, challenging the norms or just trying something new.
We don’t like to do things that make us feel awkward but greatness starts right at the edge of comfort.
Next time you feel silly or are worried about looking stupid just do the thing. Do the thing and learn that looking stupid in the name of progress is the only way to make a dent in the world.
I want to leave you with a quote from Brené Brown: “Don’t take criticism and feedback from people who are not being brave with their lives.”
—
Nic Haralambous
Start Something Today
THE CURIOUS CULT
The latest episodes from my podcast are out:
Nik Rabinowitz - How to be a happy comedian and what to do about the ego
Michael Smollan - Purpose-driven business and globalising a world view
YOUTUBE VIDEOS
I’ve been busy on the video front:
Strong Opinions: Ten tips to beat burnout
Hustle History: The early days of Patagonia
Business Basics: Cashflow, Cashflow, Cashflow
INTERESTING THINGS I LEARNED THIS WEEK
Bees can tell time - Did you know that bees can perceive time? WHAT?! Here’s a TikTok video that explains it better than I can.
This 391-Year-Old Bonsai Tree Survived Hiroshima Bombings - read the story here.
Amazon customers complete 28% of purchases on Amazon in three minutes or less, and half of all purchases are finished in less than 15 minutes - I read the Amazon 2020 Letter to Shareholders and it’s riveting.