embarrassment is the price of entry
I am job hunting for an entry-level position as a process engineer. During last year's internship, I built meaningful connections with important people within the industry. Since I graduated, I countlessly thought of reaching out but hesitated. Something about sending an unsolicited email of I am looking for an opportunity . . . felt painfully exposing. Actually, it felt embarrassing. I felt embarrassed.
Now I know cold emails aren't the only route to employment, but I noticed a pattern: I shrink in the face of anything unfamiliar, unpredictable, or remotely outside my comfort zone - especially when it risks embarrassment. It was the same when I started Bear. Clicking that Publish button for the first time was terrifying.
Embarrassment is the price of entry. Not just when writing or sending cold emails to recruiters — but anything you find worth doing. The first time you work on a dream project, pitch yourself, or ask for what you want will feel humiliating and uncomfortable.
But there's no way around it, really. You can’t sidestep the sting of being unpolished, unready, or simply seen. There is no secret route that leads to growth while letting yourself remain hidden. If you are never embarrassed, chances are you're not trying anything new. Just orbiting that same small, familiar territory and mistaking your safety for progress.
Those willing to be embarrassed are the ones who go furthest. They are the ones who cross thresholds and shape meaningful lives. I will send that email, after all.