• Blog
  • Archives
  • Bio
  • Awards
  • Speaking
  • Book
  • Contact

I don’t have time for that

Published: Tuesday, 24 February 2009

Do you ever think to yourself that you can’t do this? That you’re not smart enough? That you haven’t practised enough? That you’re not ready? That you’re not good looking enough? That people won’t like you anyway? That you don’t know what to do? That people will think you’re weird? That you’re going to fail? That you’re going to disappoint someone? That you’re going to embarrass yourself? That you’re wasting everyone else’s time? That you’re not important enough? That he-said, she-said, and hence that means that he-thinks, she-thinks? That the conversations in your mind go round and round in circles?

We have all these conversations going on in our minds all the time. We don’t think we’re good enough, we think of how we screwed up last time, we think of all the decisions we make based on our past activities, we think of what other people think of us… But, do you ever stop and think: what am I actually thinking about? And is it actually helping me?

Because if it’s not helping you achieve what you want to achieve, then give it up. If saying to yourself that you can’t do something is not going to help you get something done, give it up. If you’re letting what other people may think about you affect your actions, then give it up. For in the infinite wisdom of Dr. Suess: Those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.

When the Fonz was younger and attending lots and lots of auditions, he would see lots of guys who were taller than him, more good-looking, and who seemed so much more accomplished. Instead of letting it affect him and his performance, he would say to himself, “I don’t have time for that thought,” and not think about it anymore. He usually got the part.

What are you thinking about? Is it worth your time?

About Me

Marita ChengForbes named me a world's top 50 woman in tech & 30 Under 30. I founded Robogals and Aipoly and was Young Australian of the Year 2012. Currently working on robotics company Aubot. I'm the youngest Member of the Order of Australia (AM) and I give speeches around the world.

I tweet @maritacheng and I'm on Facebook.

Subscribe

Enter your email address to receive my latest blog posts: 

 

Random Articles

  • Your work is never done

    When I started Robogals, I thought going to schools and teaching girls robotics should get more to choose physics, chemistry and advanced maths;...

  • How I manage

    For one of the projects I’ve been leading for over the past 2.5 years, I manage a team of 20 people remotely. I meet with all of my direct reports...

  • Speaking with Teleport

    I gave a speech with my robot on stage at the Australian Water Association’s National Conference.  It was super cool!  My engineer Mack drove it from...

  • MBN Y Forum, South Korea

    I’m fortunate to be invited all around the world to deliver speeches. In February, I was invited to the MBN Y Forum in Seoul, South Korea for a...

  • How to expand

    Are you doing the same old things that you know how to do, that you know won’t fail, that you know won’t make you look bad, over and over again?  It...

  • Sandra Sully AGENDA coffee book

    Through speaking on stage together at Vogue magazine’s Vogue Codes event together in Sydney in 2018, Sandra Sully invited me to take part in her...

  • Learn so much from done

    Whenever I read a business book, I always think I've got the general gist of it and put it down sometime through.  Otherwise, I read it...

  • Lack of inhibitions

    Getting myself in the mood to write can be difficult. Sometimes, when I'm out and about, my brain comes up with one or two ideas at once, and I...

  • Life Purpose Event

    From July 2020 - March 2022, I worked really, really hard on achieving a big goal and having a huge impact on the world. By March 2022, when we’d...

  • Regaining focus

    During my time at Robogals, towards the end of every year, I would lose focus. Why?  All my major projects for the year would have been wound up.  My...

Enter your email address to receive my latest blog posts: 

 

Scroll to Top