Every skill is a language you can learn through persistence, not perfection.

Ever looked at something new and felt like you were staring at a page of indecipherable foreign characters? That feeling of overwhelm isn't failure—it's the natural first step toward mastery.

After my computer crashed recently, I found myself facing a wall of unfamiliar interfaces and updated programs. What once felt intuitive now seemed foreign and frustrating. This experience perfectly mirrors the broader challenge we all face when beginning something new, whether it's launching a business, learning a skill, or changing habits. Our brains are wired for efficiency and naturally resist unfamiliar territory, triggering that overwhelming sensation of "I'll never figure this out."

The science behind this feeling is fascinating. Neuroplasticity—our brain's ability to form new pathways—means we're constantly capable of change, despite that initial resistance. When opening my bagel shop, I knew nothing about POS systems, inventory management, or health regulations. It all looked like squiggly lines on a page. But through persistence, not perfection, those incomprehensible symbols gradually transformed into a language I could speak fluently. The journey from confusion to competence wasn't about avoiding mistakes, but embracing them as part of the translation process.

Remember how impossible driving once seemed before it became automatic? That's the universal pattern of learning. The only way to become fluent in anything new is by speaking it badly at first and improving with time. Whatever challenge you're hesitating to begin because it looks too complex, remind yourself: every skill is just a language waiting to be learned. Take that first step, embrace the confusion, and trust that consistency will eventually create clarity. What new language are you ready to start learning today?

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Chapters

• 0:00 Welcome & Technology Frustrations

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Hey everyone and welcome to this week's episode of the Mike Muldoon Podcast. Sorry, again missed a couple episodes. The reason is my computer broke so I had to buy a new computer Things I hate doing. I hate buying a new computer. I hate buying phones. I keep my phones for years. I keep my computer for years because once they get set up I don't want to have to reset them up. And of course, when you go to reset everything up again, everything has changed. So here on my computer it's taken a few days with my new one because all the programs I used to use have all been upgraded or changed over. So now when I've downloaded them into my system, like my recording programs and everything here I've had to restart over, trying to figure it all out. And again it looks crazy, which is kind of something I wanted to talk about today.

Speaker 1: 0:36

How learning the language of sort of new beginnings? Right, like I said, I'm looking at this stuff. I've used it before, but it's all different. It just seems like how am I ever going to figure this stuff out again? But it's the same thing with yourself. Have you ever looked at something new, like a career, a hobby, a job, a project, and felt like you were staring at a foreign language, almost like you've opened up a page of Chinese letters or Arabic characters, and your brain immediately said there's no way I'm going to understand this. That's what something new often feels, like you know, it's disorienting, it's overwhelming, it's even a little bit intimidating. Like I said, when I was doing this bagel shop, I had no idea what to do, nothing. I'm just kept taking steps, moving forward, figured, and eventually things started to clear up. The language became clear.

Speaker 1: 1:16

And again, the truth is, every skill is a language you can learn, and fluency really just comes from persistence, not perfection, and that's what we're going to talk about today. Our brains are incredible, but they're also wired for efficiency. The brain loves routine. It conserves energy by sticking to familiar patterns. I've talked about this a lot of path, the path of least resistance. That's why, when faced with something new, the brain often rings the alarm bell. It's you know. It whispers something like hey, it's too hard, it's too risky, it's too much, don't do it, run. But this resistance isn't a sign that you're incapable, it's just simply biology. In fact, neuroscience has shown that our brains are constantly capable of change. Psychologists call this neuroplasticity. It's the ability of the brain to form new pathways and connections. Each time you try something unfamiliar, you're literally rewiring your brain. Now think about how you once learned to drive, type on a keyboard like I'm doing right now, or even tie your shoes. None of it felt natural in the beginning, but repetition carved new grooves in your brain until that once impossible right. Remember, in the beginning, driving once impossible became automatic.

Speaker 1: 2:49

Again here at my bagel shop when I opened it up, I didn't know what I was doing. I didn't know what a POS system was. I didn't know what ordering was. I didn't know event. I didn't know anything. The only thing I knew how to do was connect with customers. I know how to deal with people, but other than that, I mean there was a whole other language of business. I didn't speak. Like I said, point of sale systems, supply orders, inventory, controls, health and safety regulations. Thankfully we passed that one with flying colors. But these are all things I had to learn. But to me it all looked like squiggly lines on a page unreadable, intimidating, overwhelming. But again, here's what happened. I started, I made mistakes, I asked questions, I learned. The PO system transaction became, you know, 10, then 100, you know from where I was able to. Now I can fly through it and do everything I got to do to simplify my business. You know, one supply order became a routine I can manage in my sleep. Now you know, looking back on the few months ago, I realized something the only way I became fluent in the language of running a business was by speaking it badly at first and then getting better with time.

Speaker 1: 3:46

So when you're standing at the edge of something new whether it's starting a business, learning a new skill, anything, or just committing to different habits maybe healthier habits it will look foreign. Don't let that stop you. Confusion is completely part of the process. You're not failing. You're translating. Consistency builds competence. Small daily steps are going to create that fluency. Over time, persistence will outpace fear. What once felt impossible will eventually feel intuitive.

Speaker 1: 4:13

All right Now, I got to keep this one short because I actually have a business to run. But the next time you hesitate to begin something because it looks too complex, remind yourself every new beginning is just a language you haven't learned yet and the only way to become fluent is to step into it. Keep moving forward and trust that eventually it'll all make sense, because it will. You have continually proved that throughout your life You've had to take on things you've never done before, whatever that might be, and you've learned and it just became normal. And for some people, look at our, look at generation I'm generation X, I mean. Look, we went from rotary dial phones up to where we are now with virtual reality systems and ais and all that we've just.

Speaker 1: 4:52

In the beginning, everything looked a little confusing, but you know what? We just adapt, we just move forward. So whatever you're thinking about doing right now, take the step. It's all going to eventually make sense and it's all going to work out for you again. Okay, all right, thank you so much for being with me. I know this is a short one, but, like I said, I got a business to run and I just wanted to again get back to you and speak with you and, as always, we're going into a weekend shortly. I wish you next time.