You don't need to have all the answers

You don’t need to have all the answers:

You don’t need to have all the answers.

Say you don’t know.

I know a few things but there’s so much I don’t know.

I remember as kids I was always terrified to say I didn’t know something. It made me feel weaker or dumber than everyone else. So sometimes I would say answers that were definitely wrong, instead of saying I don’t know.

A lot of it has to do with my teachers.

If you had teachers who got frustrated at kids who wouldn’t answer questions correctly, then you always thought you weren’t smart.

But as an adult, it’s ok not to know. It’s better to say you don’t know so you can learn and get to the right answer.

I was talking to someone recently in the start-up ecosystem about my ideas on writing and becoming a creator. The end of the conversation got to what kind of business model I needed and how I needed to create a niche podcast in order to get clicks.

It made me feel pressured into not knowing exactly what I wanted. At the time it made me feel nervous but upon reflection, it’s fine. 

I’ll figure it out as I go along.

That’s what life is, constantly learning. Trying new things. See what works and what doesn’t, reflecting and iterating.

One of the most important skills people should develop is the ability to learn.

Once you realize you can learn anything if you commit the time to it, life changes forever.

You stop believing you have limits and push the boundaries of what you think is possible.

But it takes time. It takes failure. It takes doing something over and over again while looking like an idiot.

You have to do things that seem crazy in the moment but you know you’ll regret it on your deathbed if you never do it.

Don’t live life with regrets.

Keep experimenting.

Try something and see if you like it or not. If you don’t, drop it and move onto the next thing.

A lot of people are probably thinking I don’t have time because I have kids, a family, a stressful job, etc.

Guess what?

How many hours do you spend on your phone?

If it’s over a few hours, you’re wasting your time.

You have to make yourself a priority.

You have to make your learning and your mind a priority.

How are you supposed to help the world if you can’t help yourself?

Plan time for you to do things you enjoy.

Started a sports blog in 1st year university that was a daily blog on basketball. Lasted 2 weeks and it took up too much time, and I didn’t love it. Then I got into blogging in university but wrote 10 things over 6 years.

Then I started journaling after I left medicine and everything changed.

I decided this year was going to be my writing year and realized I really liked this. 

Being honest with myself. Not prejudging my work. Just continuing to put out content over and over again, no matter how good or bad I think it is.

My audience is myself.

I’m writing to 17 year old me, the guy who was getting ready to go to medical school in Scotland. I’m writing to future me to explain how I see the world at this moment in time.

That’s who I’m writing for and I have to say after this short time, I’m so proud of what I’ve done. I’m proud of what I’ve created.

I don’t care if people don’t like what I put out. I don’t care if people make fun of me and judge me. I did it for me and I hope I always do it for me.

I didn’t have all the answers but I tried. I put in the time and effort.

Now I may have predicted history.

I didn’t have all the answers but I might have some.

Stop thinking and just start. You’ll figure it out as you go along.

You don’t need to have all the answers to live your best life.