On brave spelling and taking risks

One of the greatest honors of my life is watching my kids grow and develop. Not a day goes by that I don't notice some way they've changed. My oldest, who just graduated Kindergarten, is learning to read and write. And as a result, our house has become covered in post-it notes with seemingly random messages on them.

There’s something about seeing her sound out words and put them down on paper — no hesitation, no self-judgment — just raw, unfiltered courage.

I recently came across a concept called “brave spelling.” It’s the idea that you don’t have to be the best speller. You just have to try. Use what you know, take a risk, and go for it. Teachers encourage students not to get paralyzed by the fear of getting it wrong. Because what matters more than perfection is participation. Effort. Momentum.

When I saw those post-it notes from my daughter, I realized that I want to live more like that: brave, messy, and in motion.

We talk a lot about readiness. About waiting for the perfect time, or for the plan to be fully baked. But the truth is, most of the time that’s just fear in disguise. As Holly Whitaker writes,

“I am willing to start before I’m ready.”

That quote stopped me in my tracks. It’s about change. Growth. Creativity. Relationships. It’s about putting your name on the page before you know what to say. Hitting publish when the draft feels unfinished. Walking into the gym when you still feel out of shape.

James Clear puts it another way:

“You don’t rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”

And the simplest system? Start. Do the thing. Action breeds clarity.

So here’s my challenge to you — and to myself:

Whatever brave spelling looks like in your life, do that. Launch the project. Make the call. Have the conversation. Leave the comfort zone. Write the post-it note, even if the letters aren’t quite right.

You don’t need another book. Or podcast. Or TED talk. You need action. And so do I. Let’s go!