They’re All Going To Laugh at You

For Episode 50 of The Hood Debutante, I wanted to talk about a fear that quietly controls a lot of people: the fear of being seen trying.   We hear a lot about fear of failure, but I think many of us are more afraid of being judged before the dream has fully taken shape. We worry about what people will say when the work is still rough, when the idea is still developing, and when the outcome is uncertain.   In this episode, I share my own experience building The Hood Debutante, writing Blood in My Mouth, The Chakra Code, and Audacity, and developing my sculpture projects while navigating doubt, uncertainty, and public opinion. I talk about the difference between correction and discouragement, why confidence often arrives after action, and how waiting for universal approval can keep a dream trapped in your imagination.   This conversation is for anyone who has a book they haven’t written, a business they haven’t started, a project sitting in their notes, or a vision they’ve been postponing because they’re worried about how it will be received.   People may have opinions. They may misunderstand your intentions. They may laugh before they understand what you’re building.   The question is whether their reaction will become more important than your calling.   This episode is about choosing the work anyway.