Do I have an answer or a magic lesson to self-doubt? Unfortunately not. Is this something that many people experience? Absolutely. All I can say is that despite all of the negative tendencies, as I sit here, I couldn't be more excited about what we are doing with The Man Ride and the future of the brand. And there must be something in how I have gotten to that place.
“What is more important to me, and to our staff, are the initiatives we are able to do if we are successful in selling the stuff we make.”
Not to sound cliche, the only answer I have to me still being able to be positive is my unrelenting focus on what it means to be a "Black Sheep". Not the frequently-copied wank vision that brands now state of "being different", but more importantly, "just being me – just being us". Black Sheep is a brand that makes apparel and sells apparel. We're good at both, but we are not exactly changing the fucking world. What is more important to me, and to our staff, are the initiatives we are able to do if we are successful in selling the stuff we make. It's The Man Ride, it's #lovewomenscycling and, it's Racing Club. Some of are simply fledgling initiatives, but what is consistent is their goal to promote the enjoyment of cycling, and the benefits it has for personal and community health.
So where am I going with this? When you doubt yourself, stay true to yourself. You will keep making mistakes, you will keep fucking up, but you at least know exactly why you do things your way when someone questions you otherwise. Most of the time those other voices are wrong, you just need to have the answer ready to go and not let the question beat you down.
I hope you join us for The Man Ride 2017. I will be in Wales riding 1000 kilometres. Pray for me. It's more than my yearly volume to date.