Member-only story
This Is the Worst Enemy to Creativity
Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will
The cheerful server in the brewery told the customer that their new IPA was popular and tasty.
“I don’t know, I’m more of a lager kind of guy. IPAs are hit and miss with me, but when they’re good, I love them,” the customer replied. He eyed the menu briefly, then asked, “Is it bitter?”
“Tell you what, how about I bring you a little sample?” the server said.
“I should probably just go with a lager, I mean, that’s my default,” the customer said. The server smiled and shifted her feet. “I’ll be right back,” she said.
A few moments later the young woman returned to the customer with a little glass containing an amber liquid and said, “Take a sip and see what you think.”
The customer took a sip.
“Wow, this is great! That’s a nice IPA. Thanks for bringing me a sample. Yeah, let’s go with that,” he said, and the server smiled and strolled back to the bar.
I watched this episode unfold from my nearby booth and thought, “Don’t we all do this? Second-guess ourselves. Doubt our instinct to try something new.”
Don’t we all suffer from self-doubt?
