Courage Beats Skill

Issue #132: Will + Skill = Success. How to Get Rich. Growth demands discomfort.

Oct 11, 2025

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You know, I still remember a particular moment from 2016 when one of my project managers and I had a bit of a disagreement.

I’d put him in charge of a project, but he wasn’t happy about it. He said our competition had way more experience, more money, and more talent. He wasn’t wrong — they were clearly better on paper.

But I told him, “To be successful in anything, you need both skill and will.”

We might not have had the most skill, but we had something they didn’t — the willingness to show up and give it everything we had.

It’s funny, we see this same pattern everywhere.

In school, we shy away from competing with the smart kids.
At work, we skip opportunities because we don’t think we’re ready.
In business, we often hold back from targeting the big players.

But the truth is — those “giants” are too busy competing with each other to even notice us.

That’s why underdog stories are so powerful.

WhatsApp started as a tiny app and ended up bigger than Apple’s iMessage globally.
Instagram was founded by two entrepreneurs with almost no budget, yet it outperformed Google+ and even led Facebook to acquire it.
Tesla went from near bankruptcy to shaking up the entire auto industry.
Airbnb was laughed at by investors — “strangers sleeping in your house?” — yet it completely changed how we travel.
Netflix disrupted itself, moving from DVDs to streaming while Blockbuster disappeared.
Zoom, up against Microsoft and Google, became the video platform of choice during COVID, just by being simple and reliable.

Different stories, same lesson: it’s not always the smartest or most skilled who win — it’s the ones who have the courage to try.

Looking back, I’ve missed more opportunities because I didn’t try than because I didn’t know enough.

I used to blame my lack of experience or timing, but really, it was fear — fear of failing, looking stupid, or being rejected.

Willingness is just another word for courage.

The courage to try something new.
The courage to take on something hard.
The courage to be rejected.
The courage to fail and look foolish.

If I ever got three wishes, one of them would be for “more courage.”

Because skill can be learned. But courage? That’s the thing that gets you off the sidelines.

How to Build Courage to Compete and Win

Courage isn’t something you’re born with — it’s something you build.
Here’s what’s helped me strengthen mine:

1. Start before you feel ready.
Everyone waits for perfect timing or confidence. It never comes. The moment you start, fear starts to lose its power.

2. Reframe the competition.
Don’t think of others as enemies. See them as mirrors showing you what’s possible. Competing with people better than you is the fastest way to level up.

3. Take small, bold steps.
Courage compounds. Volunteer for that tough project. Pitch an idea you’re nervous about. Try a contest you think you can’t win. Every “try” builds your courage muscle.

4. Prepare harder than most.
Courage without preparation is just gambling. Know your stuff. Do your homework. When it’s game time, remind yourself — “I’ve earned the right to be here.”

5. Surround yourself with doers, not doubters.
Courage is contagious. Hang out with people who take risks, build things, and keep showing up. Their energy rubs off.

6. Celebrate effort, not just results.
Every time you do something that scares you, even if it doesn’t work, you’ve already won. Courage is about staying in the arena, not winning every round.

7. Visualize success and failure equally.
Don’t just picture victory. Picture failure — and imagine yourself handling it well. When you realize failure won’t kill you, you play bolder.

Before You Go

The world doesn’t reward the most talented person — it rewards the one who shows up.

Skill matters, but courage multiplies whatever skill you already have.

So start before you feel ready.
Do the thing that scares you a little.
And remember — the willingness to act is your biggest advantage.

🚀 Growth Tip

Usually, I don’t click on “How to Get Rich” videos — but Ali Abdaal’s take on it was surprisingly thoughtful and well done. He breaks down how real wealth is built—not through luck, but through smart ownership, leverage, and patience.

Here are 3 key takeaways:

Wealth compounds slowly. Focus on long-term gains through consistent investing and business building, rather than pursuing quick wins.
Own assets, not just income. Real freedom comes from owning equity or systems that make money while you sleep.
Take smart risks. Bet on opportunities with big upside and limited downside, and diversify so one loss doesn’t break you.

🤩 Inspiration

⁠Practice small daily discomforts.

Modern life is built for comfort — heated car seats, food delivery, instant entertainment. And while comfort is nice, it’s not what we’re built for.

Real satisfaction comes from challenge.
From learning something hard, finishing a tough workout, or having a difficult conversation.

You don’t need to suffer all day. But a good day should stretch you, even just a little.

Growth demands discomfort.

You need something to push against — that’s how you get stronger.

📚 I’m writing a book

Lately, I’ve been writing a lot about balance, clarity, and growth. Over the years, I’ve learned that growth isn’t just about speed — it’s about peace.

So I decided to go deeper — I’m writing a book called Peaceful Growth.

It’s packed with short, powerful lessons on living with purpose, working with focus, and growing without stress.

Would you be interested in seeing sneak peeks from the draft in upcoming newsletters?

👋 Until next time, Anil / CEO and Co-Founder of Multidots, Multicollab, and Dotstore.

May the Peaceful Growth be with you! 🪴

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