The Myth of "You Can Just Do Things"

There's a saying all over the internet: "You can just do things."

And I love it. It's the "Just Do It" for today's generation—have belief, add hustle, be delusional, and you can do whatever you put your mind to.

Want to start a business? Just do it.

Want to travel the world? Just do it.

Want to switch careers? Just do it.

The idea is that the desire is so strong that you can achieve it if you put everything into it.

Sounds easy, right? You think all you need is willpower and a few YouTube tutorials (in some cases, it probably is).

But what those motivational videos don't tell you is that "just doing things" comes from a place of privilege. The fact that you have the space to think optimistically is because somewhere along the way the cards stacked in your favor.

And I've met the people who prove it.

Last week, I was getting gas when I started chatting with the attendant. Excellent communication skills, sharp insights—the kind of person you'd expect to see running meetings, not pumping gas. Turns out, he has a Master's in Mechanical Engineering from a university back home.

It's not that being a gas attendant was his dream, but circumstances forced his hand. His family needed support, visa issues limited his options, and he had bills to pay while he searched for the perfect engineering role.

You might say, "Well, that's a great idea—making ends meet while searching for your best job." But the trouble is that you get stuck at your current job, you have no time to look for other jobs, and you're exhausted at the end of your shift. Even if you have the best willpower and discipline, it just isn't the same as searching for a job without the baggage.

This isn't a one-off story.

The waiter who served me last month? Marketing degree.

My Uber driver last weekend? Finance major.

And this one bothered me: A real estate agent showing apartments was a doctor in his home country. WTF.

The internet loves success stories about people who "just did things,” dropped out of college to build startups, quit corporate jobs to become influencers, or moved across the world with nothing but a backpack and a dream.

What we don't see are all the failure stories. All the people who took the leap and fell hard because they didn't have the safety nets that success stories often leave out:

• Parents who could cover rent if things went wrong

• The right passport that allows global mobility

• Networks that opened doors to opportunities

• No dependents relying on their income

• Financial cushions to absorb mistakes

Where you were born, the environment you grew up in, plain luck and timing—all of this plays a part in how you interact with the world and, in many ways, decides where you end up.

Am I saying don't try? Hell no.

I'm optimistic that many of the people I've met won't stay in those jobs forever. They'll find their path. Some might even surpass their original goals.

But I do think we need to be more honest about what "you can just do things" actually means. It means you can, but only if you're the right persona.

I recognize my privilege. I can write this newsletter, explore ideas, and take risks because I have safety nets that many don't. I'm trying to use that privilege to share perspectives we don't discuss enough.

So if you're one of the lucky ones who can afford to just do things?

Don't waste it. Use your freedom to:

• Take risks others can't

• Build something that creates opportunities for others

• Recognize when "you can just do things" advice doesn't apply to everyone

• Be the person who holds the door open, not just walks through it

So, next time you see that motivational poster or hear someone say, "What's stopping you? Just do it!” remember my gas station engineer and others like him. Remember that for every person who succeeded by "just doing it," there are many others who would love to do it but can't.

Because "just doing things" isn't always as simple as it sounds.

But if you can, you should. You absolutely should. And not just for yourself.

Because you're not just living your life—you're living the life someone else wishes they could have.

Use it well.