Rock Bottom

I often give the same tip to startup founders going into Y Combinator interviews, to my kids when they face an opponent in a BJJ competition, and to myself whenever I am about to do something stressful. I start from the mindset that I will fail, and that failure is guaranteed. Like really really convince myself that I will fail, and that’s ok. But… Isn’t that a bit negative? It may sound counterintuitive to be so fatalistic. Most people probably try to convince themselves that they will succeed. There is a certain comfort in focussing on positive thoughts and “manifesting” success. Perhaps that’s a way to stay motivated? If that works, then don’t stop doing that. The two mindsets are not mutually exclusive. In my case, if I tell myself that I will fail, that the worst case is going to happen, then that gives me a solid foundation because I am now at rock bottom, pun intended. It’s all upside from rock bottom And when I am so down, everything else from there is upside. I have nothing…