The Asperger Language: Why Holding Back Isn’t an Option Anymore

Facing my Fear of Success, Embracing the Challenge, and Going All-In on Building Something Extraordinary

It’s me—I’ve been holding myself back.

That truth hit me like a freight train on Sunday during a conversation with S.B. She’s the type who reviews pitches like it’s her morning coffee, digests investments for lunch, and lives for dissecting strategy. Her message to me? We’re ready.

The numbers? They’re solid. The pitch deck? It’s launch-ready. Sure, we could strip out some extra words, make it even sharper, but the follow-up presentation? It’s dead-on. And yet, I’ve been underselling us. Playing it small. Happy to ask for €150K, as if that’s the ceiling we should aim for.

Then S.B. dropped the hammer: Why the hell are you playing so small? Why scrape together funding for just an MVP (minimum viable product) when we could fund the full journey? Why stop at proof of concept when we could move straight into proof of value? Her advice was clear, her tone unmistakable: shoot for €1.35M.

Yes, €1.35M. It’s bold. It’s terrifying. It’s exactly what we need to make this vision come alive. She’s right—we need to go big or stop pretending this is serious. Because this isn’t just an idea anymore; it’s a blueprint for something that could change lives.

Why Have I Been Holding Back?

Let’s get real—I know why. It’s not because I’m afraid of failing. I’ve done that already. I’ve lost everything before. I’ve been at rock bottom, scraping by, even spending time on the streets. That fear burned itself out a long time ago. Failure? I’ve walked that road before, and I know I can get back up.

But success? That’s what terrifies me. What if this works? What if we actually pull it off? Suddenly, there’s real pressure. Suddenly, I’m responsible—not just for the idea, but for people’s jobs, their livelihoods. I’ll have a team depending on me to steer the ship, to make this succeed, to ensure they don’t end up left out in the cold. That weight is crushing just to think about.

And yet, I can’t shake the other truth sitting just underneath it all: I want this. I want it more than I’ve ever wanted anything in my life. I want this to work. I want to prove to myself, to my team, and to everyone who’s believed in me that we can build something extraordinary.

From Hesitation to Action

So here’s the deal: I’m done holding back. From today on, we’re going for it—no excuses, no half-measures. €1.35M.That’s the goal, because that’s what we need. Not just to build an MVP, but to see this through to POC (proof of concept) and POV (proof of value). This isn’t about overshooting; it’s about being honest about what’s required to make this vision a reality.

I know it’s going to take every ounce of focus, drive, and resilience I’ve got. I know there will be moments of doubt. But I also know that hesitation isn’t helping anyone—not me, not my team, not the people we want to serve.

The Bigger Picture

This isn’t just about me. It’s about everyone who’s been part of this journey—the team that stands behind this vision, the experts who’ve challenged me to push harder, and the people who’ll one day benefit from what we’re building. This is about creating something that matters, something that leaves an impact.

And yes, I’m scared. I’m scared of failing. I’m scared of succeeding. But more than anything, I’m scared of looking back and realizing I didn’t give this everything I had. I refuse to let that happen.

So here we go. I’m saying yes. Yes to the vision. Yes to the challenge. Yes to myself. It’s time to stop holding back, embrace the fear