Just ask.

Imagine a 12-year-old kid picking up the phone and calling one of the most influential founders of the time. No fear. No hesitation. Just curiosity and the drive to build something.

That kid was Steve Jobs.

When he called Bill Hewlett, co-founder of Hewlett-Packard (HP), and asked for spare parts to build a frequency counter, Hewlett didn’t just give him the parts—he gave him a summer job at HP. Jobs spent his summer learning, building, and observing. It was a small moment that laid the foundation for a big future.

What made this moment so defining? Jobs wasn’t afraid to ask. He didn’t wait for the “perfect time” or worry about rejection. He acted.

“Real artists ship.”

Years later, Jobs would sum up his philosophy in these three words. It’s a phrase that applies not just to creativity but to life. Real artists—whether they’re building products, solving problems, or chasing dreams—don’t wait for conditions to be perfect. They act, they ship, and they figure things out as they go.

This is the same mindset that drove Jobs to pick up the phone as a kid and shaped Apple’s culture years later. Hesitation, overthinking, and perfectionism stop most people in their tracks. Jobs understood that taking action—even imperfect action—is what sets the doers apart from the dreamers.

What Stops Most People?

Jobs once said, “Most people never pick up the phone and call. And that is what separates the people who do things, versus the people who just dream about them.” Fear, self-doubt, and the worry of rejection stop most of us from taking that first step.

But the truth is, the world doesn’t reward hesitation. It rewards action.

The Power of Asking

Whether you’re building a product, starting a company, or simply reaching out for help, the principle remains the same: you have to ask. The worst that can happen is someone says no. The best? It could change your life.

The greatest part is, once you start getting responses, there’s no turning back. You’ll only improve from there onward.

Your Turn

What’s your “phone call”? What’s the thing you’ve been hesitating to start, ask for, or build?

Success isn’t about waiting for the stars to align. It’s about acting. Whether you’re creating art, designing the next big product, or simply chasing a dream, remember: real artists ship.

The question is, will you?