This week I ran two onboarding calls for our new 6-week AI challenge.
Twenty people. All smart. All motivated.
I asked each person: “Why did you join?”
I expected answers about skills. About AI. About career goals.
Instead, I heard this (exact quotes):
– “I took a course a year ago. Haven’t made progress since. I don’t know why.”
– “I started with deep learning many times before. Could never finish it.”
– “I keep jumping to the next shiny thing. I have an issue with finishing.”
– “I’ve been building things, but I’m shy about sharing them. I don’t think they’re good enough.”
– “I know what to do but I could use some accountability”
Notice what’s missing?
Nobody said “I don’t have access to good courses”, or “I can’t afford to learn”, or “I don’t have time.”
The blocker wasn’t resources. It was psychology.
I’ve heard Tony Robbins say 80% of success is psychology. I’ve seen it in my own life.
But watching it play out live — hearing person after person describe the same internal blockers — hit different.
These aren’t beginners. Some have been data scientists for years. Some have taken dozens of courses.
They know what to do. They just don’t do it.
Sound familiar?
If this resonates, I’d love to hear your story. Reply to this email and tell me: what’s your choking point?
This weekend I’ll share the 5 psychological fixes I gave the group.
Be honest with yourself,
Kirill
P.S. The first step to fixing a problem is admitting it exists. What’s yours?