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Everyone talks about "beginner's hell.”

Supposedly, it's this grim phase every entrepreneur, creator, or anyone learning something new has to endure. The story goes like this: you suffer through months (or years) of confusion, failure, and frustration until you finally "make it" and things become enjoyable.

But here's the thing — I don't get it.

I'm a few months into my own journey, right in what everyone calls the thick of "beginner's hell." And honestly? I'm having the time of my life.

Which made me wonder: What if we've got this completely backwards?

Why "Beginner's Heaven" Is Real

I think what we call "beginner's hell" is actually "beginner's heaven."

And I can prove it. Because when you're starting out, you have something experts lost long ago: complete freedom.

1. No reputation to protect. You can experiment wildly, try weird ideas, and pivot on a whim. Experts? They're trapped by expectations, brand consistency, and the weight of their own success.

2. No established audience to disappoint. Every small win feels massive because you're not measuring it against years of previous achievements. Your first $100 hits different than an expert's $10,000 month.

3. No mistakes are catastrophic. Even better, mistakes are expected. There's no pressure to be perfect because nobody expects you to be.

But here's the best truth: You're improving faster than you ever will again.

Every single day, you're improving at a rate that would make seasoned professionals jealous. You're getting dopamine hits from constant discovery. Everything is new, everything is possible, and that genuine curiosity? You literally cannot fake that as an expert.

The Plot Twist

So here's my challenge to the conventional wisdom:

What if "beginner's hell" only exists because we expect it?

What if the misery isn't inherent to being new, but comes from believing we should be suffering?

Because I realize deeply: this phase is temporary. In a year, I won't have the same freedom. I won't get the same thrill from small wins. I won't have the excuse to ask "dumb" questions that lead to breakthrough insights.

This isn't hell I need to escape.

This is heaven I need to experience fully while I can.

And if you're in your own "beginner" phase right now — whether it's starting a business, learning a skill, or building something new — maybe it's time to reframe what you're going through.

You're not in hell waiting for heaven.

You're already there.

Much love,

— Martijn