How much evidence do you need to know that something is true?
When I first walked into a gymnastics gym, I had zero experience with gymnastics or acrobatics of any kind. Nor did anyone else I knew! I’d never seen gymnastics in the Olympics or otherwise. But the moment I walked into that gymnastics warehouse and saw someone doing giants on the high bar, my life changed.
I’ve spent thousands of hours and most days of my life since practicing some form of acrobatics.
Life isn’t binary. I didn’t decide in that moment to spend the rest of my life practicing and performing acrobatics. But I also didn’t need more evidence than that initial moment to know I had to pursue the sport.
Speed matters. In business, being able to execute quickly is a competitive advantage – the difference between success and failure. In the most severe cases, the speed of decision making is the difference between life and death.
You’re always collecting evidence
We are always collecting evidence. I didn’t realize it before opening Robin’s Cafe, but I’d been assessing neighborhoods for decades. Was a neighborhood getting better or getting worse? What makes a great coffee shop? I’d lived within a few blocks of Robin’s Cafe for years, and knew – without needing to think about it – the ins and outs of my neighborhood.
When it comes to making fast decisions, we’ve already collected a lot of the evidence we need.
Take a small step, and see
I’m all for jumping into the deep end. I've been accused of taking big risks. But it is possible to do so without diving head first into tge metaphorical pool without first knowing how deep the water is. (I’ve had enough concussions, thank you.)
When you're starting a new business, writing an article, entering a new relationship, working with a new client, begin.
Once you decide to act, the only recourse is to take a small step and see what happens.
Skepticism = brakes
People say that a healthy dose of skepticism is important. They’re wrong.
Don’t confuse skepticism with caution. Proceed with enough caution that you don’t get hurt, or that if you do, the injury is recoverable.
I don’t want anyone to be taken in by scammers. But skepticism is unnecessary.
Skepticism is a way of slowing yourself down. It clouds your perspective; makes what you are seeing and evaluating less clear. Don’t use skepticism as brakes when simply slowing down will do.
Protect the downside
When Richard Branson started Virgin Airlines, he negotiated a deal to protect the downside.
Starting an airline is capital-intensive. The industry is notoriously difficult. But Branson persuaded Boeing to lease him a second-hand 747 airplane with an unusual stipulation. If Virgin Atlantic failed to become profitable, Boeing would buy back the aircraft.
When you’re doing something new, fast, or risky for the first time, consider how to protect yourself in the worst case scenario.
Be all in
Once you’ve decided to attempt something audacious, be all in. Instead of considering what might go wrong, look for things that might go right.
Don’t disregard the risks. Don’t speed up just because you’re excited. But also don’t nay-say your own conviction.
Once you’ve committed, be all in.
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3 things I’ve loved this week
Quote I’m considering:
If your gut says “yes”, you might be right. But if your gut says “no”, you’re definitely right.
-Tara Viswanithan
Koby is a new friend (h/t Responsive Conference speaker Tara Viswanithan). I recently read this short book Channels of Growth on a flight.
If you aren’t interested in marketing, this isn’t a book to read, but for someone like me who thinks a lot about storytelling and where people spend their time and attention, it is well worth reading.
Koby’s argument is that you can’t just build something that people love. You also have to proselytize it where those people are.
At Robin’s Cafe, we got lucky to build the brick-and-mortar in a neighborhood where people wanted more coffee shops. I was fortunate to discover Responsive.org at a time when conversations about the “future of work” where nascent and evolving.
Build something people want. And then talk about it where they’re already spending their time.
Album I’m listening to: Fast Car by Tracy Chapman
I was a late bloomer. I discovered The Beatles at 15. I had my first kiss at 19. Not long after, I started listening to Tracy Chapman, and her first album “Fast Car” has been in my ears regularly ever since.
There’s something about that incredible black woman singing about vitality, life and love that I’ve always found joyful and centering.
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Until next week,
Robin