Hey There— It’s Alex,
Something I’ve come to realize is that I’ve been the one setting the ceiling for my own success.
Time and time again, I’ve set goals, reached them, and then, for whatever reason, gotten complacent. Reflecting on my journey in pizza and music, I can see that I’ve achieved many of the things I once dreamed of—but I’ve also fallen into a habit of capping what I believe I’m capable of.
This is something I’m actively working to change.
Society, the way we’re raised, and even our friends unknowingly impose limits on us. These limitations become so ingrained that, even if you sat down and really thought about what you could have or achieve if you truly wanted it, you’d likely still put a cap on your vision.
It’s as if I’ve been living life in HD when I should have been experiencing it in 8K. I’ve been holding myself back.
What I’m trying to say is this: expect more from yourself and from those around you. Push the boundaries of what you think you can do.
One exercise I recently revisited from the book Do the Impossible by Thibaut Meurisse has been especially eye-opening. In it, you’re asked to write down exactly what you want in life. Then, you multiply that vision by 10. After you finish, you multiply it again by 10,000. This exercise feels almost foreign because we’re so conditioned to limit ourselves—to think in line with what others or our inner voice tells us is possible.
I’m done thinking small, and you should be too.
“You can only create a better future by letting go of your past limitations. Stop letting the person you were dictate the person you can become.” – Thibaut Meurisse
We recently switched from kale to romaine for our Caesar salads at Hot Tongue, and wow—people were not happy. Of all the changes we made last year, this one really seemed to strike a nerve. Personally, I like both types of greens, but there’s something timeless about romaine that just hits differently.
This whole experience has been a reminder that not everyone is going to love every change you make—whether it’s on your menu or in your personal life. But at the end of the day, you have to trust yourself to know what’s best, whether it’s for you or your salad bowl!