start small: don’t try to crack walnuts with your assh*le
there’s this hilarious quote i recently came across: "muh se mungfali nahi tooth rahi, gaand se akrot tode ga kya?" (translation: "if you can’t crack a peanut with your mouth, are you really going to try cracking a walnut with your... well, you get the idea"). funny as it is, it carries a life lesson that hit me harder than i expected.
so often, we let our ego trick us into believing we’re ready to take on the biggest challenges, even when we haven’t mastered the basics. it’s like trying to run a marathon when you can’t jog a mile. we want to prove ourselves, to show the world we’re capable, but in doing so, we often overlook the simple steps that are the foundation for everything else.
learning to crack the metaphorical peanut first isn’t just about starting small—it’s about building the confidence and skills needed to take on bigger challenges. it’s about humbling yourself enough to realize that it’s okay to begin at the beginning.
think about it. how often do we let our egos get in the way of asking for help, learning a new skill, or admitting that we don’t know something? we want to skip the "small" stuff because we think it’s beneath us, but the truth is, those small things lay the groundwork for the big wins.
whether it’s learning to code, starting a fitness journey, or tackling a new project, start simple. focus on cracking the peanuts first. let go of the ego that tells you to jump straight into cracking walnuts—you’ll only end up frustrated or, worse, failing unnecessarily.
and here’s the thing: cracking peanuts isn’t glamorous. it’s repetitive, it’s boring, and it doesn’t come with applause. but every peanut you crack makes you a little stronger, a little sharper, and a lot more prepared for the bigger challenges ahead.
so, here’s to starting small, letting go of the ego, and building the skills and resilience needed to take on life’s bigger challenges. because if you can’t crack a peanut, let’s be real—you’ve got no business trying to crack a walnut.
- anirudh