You Can’t Play Big By Thinking Small

Spark #95 - It’s not failure that hurts—it’s shrinking to stay comfortable.

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Playing small sucks.

I grew up in an Italian-American family in Brooklyn.
Safety first. Wear your hat, it’s cold. Stay close. Be careful. Be cautious.

By my mid-twenties, I’d started my business—Blade Skatewear.
Sleek, funky practice wear for figure skaters. I was fired up.

Then my Nonna walked into the spare bedroom stacked with inventory. She looked around and said:

“This is big enough.”

She wasn’t being mean. She was looking out for me.

But I felt the walls close in.
Play it safe.
Keep it small.
Just in case.

I didn’t realize it then, but I’d been raised to be careful.

That belief took root.
Even as I tried again.
And again.
And again.

Blade Skatewear failed.
It wrecked me.
But I didn’t stop.

I built more businesses.
Took big swings.
Started over more than once.

Still, I can see it now—
Most of my failures didn’t come from trying too much.
They came from holding back. Just a little.
Just in case.

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That “just in case” will drain your soul.

Building something while saving a little energy...just in case.

It doesn’t work
It’s exhausting.

Playing small sucks.
Being cautious sucks.
Hesitation will wear you out faster than failure ever will.

I’m not talking about being reckless.
I’m talking about being all in.

No brakes.
No backup plan.
No shrinking.

I love my Nonna.
She was trying to protect me.

But that safety net started to suffocate me.

I don’t want to stay in the safe zone.
I want to feel what it’s like to go all the way.

I want to live full out.

That’s my intention.
And I’m working on it—every day.

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If you’re feeling this too...

Living full out doesn’t start tomorrow.
It starts with one small move today.
One move that says: I’m done holding back.

✨Need support getting started? I can help.

Learn more

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You Got This