Vol. 28: Do It Scared

Last Thursday, I proposed to the love of my life in front of the Eiffel Tower, and she said yes!

We're extremely excited for this new season of life, and we're deeply grateful and humbled by all of the support we've received. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.

I've been thinking about what got me to this moment. What got me to the man you see in that picture in front of the Eiffel Tower, asking the woman of his dreams to be his wife.

None of this would've happened if I didn't do it scared.

Ashley and I met at a Sigma Chi fraternity party in January 2021 (proof that good things do come out of fraternity parties!). We struck up a friendship and stayed in touch over the next few months, then started dating on November 14, 2021.

Striking up the first conversation? Definitely some fear there. What if she doesn't like me? What if I embarrass myself?

Getting her phone number? Definitely some fear there too. What if she says no? What if I embarrass myself, again?

Moving from the friendship to dating phase? Obviously some fear there too. What if I get hurt? What if we lose the friendship? What if I embarrass myself, again again?

But every step along the way, I did it. Scared or not.

Again, none of this would've happened if I didn't do it scared.

It's very easy to do things you're not scared of. It's comfortable. It's in your wheelhouse. It doesn't require as much time, thought, or effort - if any at all.

But doing something you're scared of? That's completely different. There's hesitancy there. It's uncomfortable. You don't feel fully prepared. It's a lot more energy intensive.

But that is where growth happens - on the edge of discomfort.

You will never feel comfortable doing something you haven't done before.

So just do it. Regardless of how you internally feel about it, do it. Scared or excited. Ready or not.

It's the slogan of multi-billion dollar company for a reason: because it's true. It's human. Just do it.

Do it scared.

Or as the world-renowned modern philosopher, business mogul, and paper genius Michael Scott once said:

Fortune favors the bold.

Who knows?

You may get that job you didn't feel qualified for.

You may receive that opportunity you dreamed of.

You may do better at something than you ever expected.

Or you may ask the love of your life to marry you - and they say yes.

See you next Thursday, Steppers.

We will succeed,

Grayson

​graysonstepanek.com​

​​​

Song of the Week:

I Lied (with August Ponthier... Lord Huron, August Ponthier PREVIEW   ​

Ashley and I love Lord Huron, so when she found this song, we were immediately hooked. Now yes, this song is the exact opposite of the love story I described in my newsletter, but it's a hauntingly gorgeous song. Lord Huron's vocals are unlike anyone else's I know. Like if you gave mountain fog and deep green forests a voice. What was super cool is that we've never heard it played in public until our Europe trip, where it was playing as we stopped for hot chocolate at BASE Cafe in Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland. Give it a spin.