the 0.1% tax

you notice something before the people around you do.

you try to explain it, but they ignore you or miss the point. with each week that passes, they think you look a little dumber.

i call that period the 0.1% tax. you pay through self-doubt and awkward conversations while other people gain reasons to think you are wrong.

once you have proof, you can tell a clean story about seeing the idea early. you forget how bad you looked while waiting.

you arrive on time once you have agreement and clear evidence. if you arrive early, you work without either one.

set a reason for staying and a condition for leaving before you start to doubt your judgment. without those limits, you may protect your ego and call it conviction.

i choose to pay that cost on a few ideas i understand. waiting for other people to make them feel safe costs me the early advantage.