“Do You Know How?” “Not Sure, I’ve Never Tried.”

A friend of ours, Sam Anderson, shared this with us years ago on a walk.

“They asked me if I knew how to play the violin. I told them I didn’t know. I’ve never tried.”

He could have said, “No, I don’t play the violin.” Both answers are true. But one leaves the door open. Saying, “I don’t know, I’ve never tried,” carries possibility. It makes space for learning, experimenting, and maybe succeeding.

When we launched OrangeBall, did we know how to run an agency? We weren’t sure. We’d never tried.

The first time I had sushi, was I going to like it? I didn’t know. I’d never tried.

When you started your last job, were you sure you’d be a perfect fit? You didn’t know. You hadn’t tried.

Think about your own story. Some things you’ve tried, you discovered you were good at. You stepped up, swung the bat, and connected. Other things you never tried, and you’re left wondering what could’ve been.

So what holds us back? Fear. Embarrassment. That little voice whispering we’re not enough. A head full of trash that says we can’t, we don’t, we shouldn’t. Or worse, reminding us we should’ve… but didn’t.

Here’s the challenge: Try something new today. Doesn’t have to be big. Might be small. Just take your shot and find out.

Sam, the guy who dropped this wisdom on us, is now a regional director at Adult & Teen Challenge in Minnesota. Back then, he was a sage voice among friends. Today, he’s leading people out of addiction and into recovery. Did he know how when he started? Nope. He began as a volunteer bus driver, hauling groups of men to sing at churches on Sunday mornings. Learning to lead only began when he took a leap and started doing a little something.

Want to support the work Sam is doing? Donate here:
Adult & Teen Challenge Minnesota Donation Link