# Note

> For ten years before DevBatch worked, almost everything I touched failed. Then I read a line that I cannot remember the author of. The line said...

Source: https://waqaspitafi.com/writings/notes/give-yourself-permission/

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Published

May 13, 2026

Pillar

Building durably

[Note](https://waqaspitafi.com/writings)

# Note · May 13, 2026

For ten years before DevBatch worked, almost everything I touched failed.

Then I read a line that I cannot remember the author of. The line said: “mentally strong people give themselves permission.”

The Google founders gave themselves permission to build the world’s twentieth search engine when nineteen had failed. The Wright Brothers gave themselves permission to build a plane out of bicycle parts when the government was spending tens of millions on the same problem.

I gave myself permission. It still took years.

If you are not giving yourself permission to build the thing that has not been built, the most likely outcome is that nobody will build it.

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