Sometimes we just need to hear it, so I’ll say it: you have permission to build things you’re not an expert in.

For those of us who strive to create, a common struggle is the gap between our interests and our expertise. We’re drawn to big ideas but feel miles away from being knowledgeable enough to lead the charge. At least, that’s the story we tell ourselves.

This is a familiar pattern in tech, where we often see people building solutions for other tech people. It’s the low-hanging fruit—solving problems we face personally. And while starting with what you know is a great first step, it can also mean we’re only solving problems for a small subset of the world.

Maybe your true passion lies elsewhere. You might have an affinity for woodworking, a deep interest in agriculture, or a fascination with architecture. These are fields you’re drawn to, but you feel your knowledge isn’t deep enough to build a business around them.

In all this, we forget one crucial thing: we don’t need to be the expert.

Look around. You’ll find people who have dedicated their lives to mastering those very crafts. These are the woodworkers who know which joints are strongest, the architects who can navigate complex building codes with ease. These are our friends, our neighbors, and our potential partners.

They hold the industry secrets and the solutions to its biggest problems. We don’t need to do it all alone; in fact, we can’t. Solving the world’s big problems requires collaboration. Finding a co-founder who is that expert is often the most powerful move you can make.

Is this idea obvious? Perhaps. It’s a truth repeated in countless books and articles. But the most obvious truths are often the ones we need to be reminded of the most. Consider this your reminder.