Doomed to repeat past failures

Years ago, my 16-year-old cousin got accepted into Stanford University.

He was the stuff of legend in my family. At age six, he read the Encyclopedia Britannica as a bedtime story to his sisters. At 12, he aced the SATs.

Moving from NYC to Palo Alto, California might intimidate most kids, but not him. He seemed unbothered—except for one thing:

He couldn’t ride a bike.

So a week before his semester began, I offered to teach him. We found a flat, dead-end street to practice on.

After a few trial runs, I told him I’d let go.

He leaned over and said, “Just don’t let me hit the mailbox.”

And then, despite a completely empty street and over 100 yards of open space in every direction, he crashed straight into the mailbox.

That moment stuck with me because it’s exactly what happens in business.

All the knowledge, all the strategy, all the tactics—none of it matters if you’re focused on what might go wrong.

Scarcity invites scarcity.

Just like mailboxes attract mailboxes.

Where your focus goes, your energy flows.

If you’ve ever talked to an experienced cyclist, you’ll hear the same thing. They never focus on the obstacle; they focus on the open path.

They keep their bodies loose. Their minds clear. Their eyes on where they want to go.

The same is true in business.

Fear and scarcity act like magnets for obstacles.

But when you shift your perspective—when you focus on where you want to go instead of what you fear—everything changes.

Try this:

Find a quiet place, close your eyes, and imagine your future self. The one who’s already accomplished every goal.

Picture that version of you on stage at your dream event, hosting a sold-out retreat, or simply living the lifestyle you’ve always imagined.

What does it feel like in your body? What’s your posture like? How are you speaking? What energy are you radiating?

Now, imagine that future you giving current you a piece of advice. What would they say?

My guess? They’d tell you to stop worrying about what could go wrong.

Because that’s not where the magic is.

Every time you catch yourself obsessing over obstacles, pause. Ask yourself, “What’s the outcome I actually want?”

Then redirect your focus there.

It’s not about ignoring challenges—it’s about keeping your eyes on the open road.

When you align your focus with your goals rather than your fears, you’ll find the path ahead a lot clearer—and the “mailboxes” much easier to avoid.

Cheers,