[Quick Wins] Action Over Outcome

Taking action, taking risks, and pursuing goals—these are what truly count. The outcome? It’s out of your hands.

Here’s why: The decision to act is within your control. The result is not.

Outcomes often depend on factors beyond your influence, like other people’s responses.

Whether you’re asking someone out, applying for a job, or chasing a dream, the result isn’t entirely yours to dictate.

Detaching from outcomes removes the anxiety that often holds us back. When we let go of the fear of failure or rejection, we’re free to take more risks. And with more risks come more opportunities for success.

As Scott Galloway points out, the people that far out-earn their peers in high-performing companies despite having similar IQs—the sales people.

Why? They’ve mastered the art of detachment. They’re not paralyzed by the fear of hearing “no.” They keep asking, pitching, and selling unashamedly.

The same principle applies to life. You’re not responsible for anyone else’s reaction, confidence, or mood.

That’s right, you’re not responsible for anyone’s *lack* of confidence either. Your job is to show up and take the action. If you do what a confident, self-assured person would do, you’ve done your part.

Maybe the stranger didn’t smile back because they were lost in thought.

Maybe the person you approached had a bad day and wasn’t in the mood to talk.

Or maybe the casting director passed on your audition because they were looking for something different.

None of that matters. If you took the shot, you succeeded.

If I start a business and fail, the failure doesn’t matter—I did my job.

If I send in an audition and don’t get the callback—I did my job.

The only metric that matters is whether you acted. The rest is noise.

Taking the leap is winning.

Thanks for reading,CT

Bogota, Colombia | December 2024

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