The Start Will Feel Strange

The other day, I had a lighthearted conversation with my daughter about her interests. She said, half-jokingly, “I don’t want to do all the hard work—I just want to be really good at it.”

We both laughed, but her comment pointed to a truth that’s hard to ignore: most of us want to skip the hard parts. We don’t want to feel awkward or wrestle with the challenges of figuring things out. If we’re honest, wouldn’t it be amazing to have the talent without the training?

Imagine a world where we could just “plug in,” Matrix-style, and instantly download the skills we want. We could master karate overnight, speak new languages effortlessly, or challenge Michael Jordan in basketball. We could flip like Simone Biles, sing like Whitney Houston, or create like John Lennon—all without putting in any effort.

Sounds perfect, right?

Not quite.

The paradox is that if everyone could do these things, they wouldn’t feel special anymore. If everyone could sing like Whitney Houston, her voice wouldn’t inspire us. Lao Tzu wrote about this paradox over 2,500 years ago in the Tao Te Ching: beauty exists because of ugliness; light is meaningful because of darkness. Contrast gives life its richness.

The same is true for skills and achievements. They matter because not everyone has them. The struggle to learn, grow, and improve is what makes those skills valuable.

We live in a world of endless variability. Each of us is unique, with strengths and weaknesses that define who we are. And while it’s tempting to wish for instant success, the truth is that greatness comes from the process. It’s in taking those awkward, uncertain first steps and pushing through the struggle that we create something meaningful.

Here’s the thing: the start will feel awkward. You’ll fumble, make mistakes, and feel out of place. But that’s okay. Those early moments of discomfort are what set you apart. They’re what make improvement possible.

Animals don’t get this opportunity. They live by instinct, unable to think at the level we can as humans. But we have the incredible gift of growth—of becoming better today than we were yesterday.

So, embrace the awkwardness. Appreciate the struggle. It’s not just about getting to the end goal; it’s about the journey. And who knows? You might find that the path from beginner to expert is far more rewarding than being the expert itself.

Start now. Start awkward. Start anyway.