When You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know
You don’t know what you don’t know. A funny little phrase that sounds like a riddle—until it hits home. It’s awareness.
That’s exactly where I found myself recently: working hard to launch a charity aimed at providing homes for the temporarily homeless, only to be completely blindsided by all the red tape I didn’t even realize existed.
I thought I had done everything right.
- We had donors lined up.
- We had sponsors ready to give.
- We had real solutions for real people.
But what didn’t we have? A simple .org domain. And without that, no one would take us seriously.
The Lawyer, the Paperwork, and the “Celebrity Signature”
I spent three months trying to get a meeting with a lawyer. Three months. And when I finally did? I was told it would take another two months to get the domain secured.
I don’t have a law degree, but I’ve written up all the necessary documents for the charity. It felt like I was doing everything right… Yet it wasn’t enough.
What I read was someone with a legal degree to sign off on it—to give me what I now think of as the “celebrity signature.” That precious autograph that makes your work officially “real”.
It hit me: this is how systems work. The ink itself isn’t valuable—it’s the permission it represents. That’s awareness right there. Understanding how systems operate so you can navigate them, even when it feels unfair.
Awareness Hits on Dog Walks
Awareness doesn’t always arrive with a drumroll. Sometimes, it comes on long, slow dog walks.
My dog Pip and I have a routine: two-hour walks where we meet people like Robo, Jono, Marco, and several women with tents, cats, and stories. They aren’t nameless; those aren’t just “the homeless.” Those are people in transition.
They call themselves temporarily homeless.
Not hopeless. Not helpless. Just in between.
These walks have opened my eyes more than any book ever could. I used to walk right past people like them without even seeing them. Now, I stop. I listen. I ask questions. That’s the power of slowing down. That’s awareness.
The Best Time to Cultivate Awareness
When’s the best time to become aware?
When you’re frustrated.
When things aren’t going to plan.
Even when you feel stuck.
That’s when I’ve learned the most—because discomfort forces reflection. It nudges us to ask better questions:
- What am I now seeing here?
- Who can help me figure this out?
- What belief is holding me back?
The worst time? When you’re comfortable. When everything’s “fine.” That’s when awareness sleeps.
A Story I’ll Never Forget
Not long ago, I spoke with a young man who was on the verge of doing something irreversible. The kind of thing we don’t name online, but you know what I mean.
I didn’t offer advice, and I did not assume. I simply asked.
“What do you need?”
“What are you running toward—not just away from?”
That short conversation changed the energy entirely. We connected. I understood. And I realized that awareness isn’t just about facts—it’s about feelings.
You don’t need a degree to be empathetic. You just need to care enough to notice.
Awareness Through Action
Trying to launch this charity has become a crash course in cultivating awareness. I’ve learned that:
- People don’t want handouts. They want dignity.
- The homeless are often resourceful, generous, and proud.
- The systems meant to help can be slow, complicated, and deeply flawed.
But even knowing all that… we are making progress. Slowly. Meaningfully.
We’re not just offering food or shelter—we’re offering belonging.
How I Practice Awareness Daily
It’s become a conscious habit for me now. Here’s what I do to stay aware:
- Walking without my phone. No distractions, just observing.
- Asking more thoughtful questions. To others, and especially to myself.
- Writing down surprises. Every time something catches me off guard, I make a note of it. That’s where growth hides.
Awareness Is the Ignition
If purpose is the engine, and habits are the fuel, then awareness is the ignition. Without it, you won’t even know your car isn’t moving.
And here’s the beautiful part: awareness compounds. Every insight builds on the last.
For instance:
- I didn’t know how language shaped my attitude—until I caught myself using negative words and reframed them. (I’m not mad, I’m passionate.)
- I didn’t know how much systems rely on credentials until I hit a wall with legal paperwork.
- I didn’t realize how disconnected I was from my community until I started walking with open eyes.
Final Thoughts: What You Don’t Know Could Change Your Life
Today, I’m still learning what I don’t know. But now I see that as a good thing. It means I’m growing.
So, let me ask you:
- What don’t you know you don’t know?
- Who could help you see it?
- And what will you do once you know?
Start Small.
Go for a walk.
Talk to someone new.
Ask one more question than you usually would.
Because awareness doesn’t just shift your mindset—it shifts your life.
Join the Challenge
This week, I challenge you to cultivate awareness in your daily life. Whether it’s with your team, your family, or yourself, start noticing more. Reflect more. Be more curious.
And let me know what shows up. Because your “aha” moment might just be the spark someone else needs.
