Be Dumb on Purpose

The smartest thing I ever did was stop trying to be so smart about it.

I keep seeing a phrase online lately that I won't repeat here (it has "maxxing" in the name).

But the idea behind it is hard to ignore.

Be a little dumb on purpose.

Not careless. Not uninformed. Just willing to try something before everything is perfectly thought through.

I spent months in anguish before I started my podcast.

I knew what I wanted it to be like. But I kept finding reasons to wait.

I wasn't a polished English speaker. I had no journalism or interviewing experience. I didn't even know how to edit a 30-second video.

What I was really doing was avoiding failing in public.

Instead of trying to learn everything before I started, I made a different decision:

I might not be great at this. And that's fine.

What matters is starting.

One year later, I'm 25 episodes in. And it's one of the things that brings me the most joy.

Overthinking feels productive. It looks like preparation. But most of the time, it's just fear wearing a better outfit.

If you're sitting on something right now starting a podcast, moving to a new city, launching a side hustle, reaching out to someone you care about:

Be a little dumb on purpose.

Start before you feel ready. Adjust as you go.

The doing will teach you what the thinking never can.