Ryan Leak

Like the treadmill doesn't know who you are.

Like the stair stepper has zero opinion about your life.

The elliptical is emotionally unavailable.

Like those machines don't require you to know what you're doing.

They only respond to usage.

I can do the same thing with writing a book or starting a podcast or applying for a role.

The same thing with launching any idea that perhaps has been sitting in the notes app on your phone for years.

What I want you to know about all of that is legitimacy is not required.

Courage, bravery.

Well, yeah, you're going to need that.

Because courage is what gets you to press record.

Courage is what gets you to hit publish.

Courage is what gets you to hit post.

Courage is what gets you to submit the application.

Courage is what gets you to show up knowing that you might not get picked.

Knowing that you might not get applause.

And so there is this thing in you and me that brings us to this legitimacy question, which is the who am I to question.

You know what I mean?

Who am I to apply for that role?

Who am I to be different in a room that rewards sameness?