When I quit my tech job and considered becoming a founder in 2017, someone close to me told me: "I don't think you have what it takes to build something of your own." "What? Why not?" "I don't think you'll grind hard enough. You're a smart guy. But you're just not that hungry." That stuck with me. For a decade. Whenever things weren't going well, I wondered--do I not grind hard enough? Do I not want it enough? It's only in the last few years that I've come to realize: that guy was full of shit. Anyone who knows me now knows I'm a grinder. But in a weird way, he did me a favor. I became hell-bent on proving him wrong. The truth is, deep down, I'm lazy. I procrastinate, I'm avoidant, and I lack the drive to do things just for myself. But the most powerful forcing function is having responsibility. Before I started leading Dragonfly, I had a lot of time to navel-gaze and worry about how hard I was working. Now I can't. The weight is on my shoulders. I have no choice but to show up and do the work. The capacity was always there, I just didn't know it because before running Dragonfly, I'd never had this level of pressure on me. Being responsible for something brings it out of you. I wish someone had told me that 10 years ago. So I'm telling you now: if you're wondering whether you have what it takes, stop wondering. Get the weight on your shoulders. You might surprise yourself.