You can just do things.
Welcome to issue #003 of Unsubscribe. Each week, I send two essays that help you step off the default path to build a life you love, supported by work you enjoy. If you’d like to participate in the comments, join our private chat, attend our workshops and dinners, then consider becoming an inner circle member.
I notice that there is a certain type of person who asks permission for literally everything.
When in reality, nobody's usually stopping you. You can just do things.
Want to start writing? Write. Want to start a business? Start. Want to learn a new skill? Get going. Want to try a different approach? Go ahead.
It's disheartening to see how many people get stuck at the starting line, waiting for an authority figure to say, “You can now start.”
But nobody’s there.
I get emails from people every single day asking if they can apply my advice slightly differently. Of course, they can. I'm not the advice police.
We've been trained since we were little to follow instructions. To make sure we’re coloring inside the lines or getting approval before starting something.
In school, it’s raising our hands before speaking. At work, it’s getting sign-off from the boss before taking action.
This happens so frequently that we often forget a simple truth:
You don't need permission for most things in life.
I noticed this, especially when a student took one of my courses. They would get stuck on step one because they wanted to use a different piece of software than what I recommended. One they already knew how to use and did the exact same thing. But they’d still stop. Frozen because they thought they needed to follow my instructions exactly. You don’t. Pick your own tool and get moving.
This isn't about being some rebel or breaking all of the rules. It's about agency. About knowing that you have the power to choose.
The most successful people I know don't wait for permission. They try stuff. When they get advice from someone, they adapt it to their situation. They mix and match different approaches.
When someone gives you advice, it's not a command. It's simply one option.
When you read a book, the ideas aren't laws. They're only possibilities.
When you see someone else have success with something, that doesn’t mean it’s a map you have to follow. It's just one of many ways to be successful.
Your life (and business) gets a lot easier when you realize nobody's guarding you. Most of the doors aren't locked. You can just walk right through.
So, next time you find yourself looking for permission, remember:
You can just do things.
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I'm going to get another dog without asking for permission. Thank you, Justin!
Great read. It's a constant reminder to find and keep! Your agency when you live in a world constantly telling you to stay in your lane. It's cultural as well and something I realised straight away when I moved to the UK from the states. The Brits are resiliant, kind and so lovely, but not direct and sometimes lack that adventurous spirit - that 'American spirit of do it first, apologise later." But we can inspire each other to do more, be more, try more and understand that no one will stand in your way. Those who do, you need to question why, then find a path around.