Why you’re not ‘stupid,’ you’re just out of practice

I get it.

You got something ‘wrong’ a few times. Now you have evidence pointing to your ineptitude.

You tried a thing, and someone gave you negative feedback. Now you feel bad because you made it about you.

You started that new project (which took guts, by the way) and released it to the world. Your beloved creation was met by two likes (one from your mum) and the rest…crickets.

12 views.

‘Wonderful,’ you whisper sarcastically.

‘This must mean I’m not good enough,’ you murmur.

‘I’m stupid,’ you proclaim.

But, are you really, though?

Take a closer look at the thing you did that prompted you to come to your hastily-informed self-diagnosis.

You did it a few times.

Perhaps you did it once last year, and you did it this year.

How many times have you given a talk on stage?

‘Probably, four.’

How many articles have you written?

‘Um, like maybe forty.’

Well. There you go.

Now we’re seeing this for what it is.

We’re out of illusion and back to reality.

Maybe you’re not the colossal moron you’d initially thought.

Maybe you just haven’t put in the time and attention required to improve.

Because, after all, it’s time and attention that all the geniuses put towards the object of their craft.

Regardless of all the clever hacks and tips and tricks that exist out there, it’s time spent with a thing that is the deciding factor.

Every one of the greats spent the first fifty hours looking like a straight doofus.

Even Leonardo DaVinci.

That first sketchbook - the one his mama threw away - looked like a spider covered in black ink walked all over it.

But they all became great because they committed time, energy and attention to their craft while others were in the pub.

Maybe you’re not stupid.

Maybe you just need time.

Maybe you need to pick that thing up again and put in the hours.

Repetitions are fuel.

Repetition creates trust.

It strengthens the trust others have in you, but importantly, it builds the trust you have in yourself.

Pick it up. Throw it. Again and again and again and again.

Do it for one hundred days.

Then, you can return to me and tell me you’re not cut out for it.

—

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