You’ve Kicked the Cones—Now It’s Time to Move the Barricades

You’ve Kicked the Cones—Now It’s Time to Move the Barricades

You weren’t born to live behind limitations. You were born to bulldoze past them. This year, it’s time to stop kicking cones—and start removing barricades.

If you’ve read No One Prays for the Lion or heard me speak recently, then you’re familiar with the “kicking the cones” concept—removing the small, mental blocks others place on us. But recently, one of my friends sent me a photo holding not a cone… but a barricade. Her message: “I’ve graduated. I’m not kicking cones anymore. I’m removing barricades.”

And that hit me.

Because at some point, growth demands we shift from clearing surface-level doubt to dismantling the massive roadblocks standing between us and the life we’re meant to live.

Cones Are the Lies. Barricades Are the Beliefs.

Cones are the little things people say to limit you:
“You’re not qualified.”
“You always mess things up.”
“You’ve got potential… but.”

At first, you dodge those cones. Then you kick them. Eventually, you realize the real problem isn’t what people said—it’s what you started to believe about yourself. Over time, those little doubts snowball into barricades that trap you in fear, false narratives, and self-imposed ceilings.

Are You Playing Small Because Someone Told You That’s All You Deserve?

Maybe you think you’re “not good at sales” because one rejection at age 13 stuck with you.
Maybe you say “I’m just not a people person” because a few bad interactions made you retreat.

What started as a moment became a mindset.
What started as a cone became a barricade.

But ask yourself:

  • Is that still true, or have you just never questioned it?

  • Is that a fact, or a belief you adopted without proof?

Growth Isn’t a Destination—It’s an Ongoing Demolition Project

Pablo Picasso once said on his deathbed, “I’m just beginning to understand the basics.” This is a man whose paintings are worth millions. If he still felt like a student, what does that tell us?

It tells us: there’s always another level.

When you master one mindset, you’re not done—you’re just being invited to level up. When you remove one cone, a barricade appears. That’s not failure. That’s proof you’re progressing.

Stop Waiting for the Road to Clear—Clear It Yourself

Success doesn’t come from waiting for the perfect moment. It comes from taking a hard look at what’s blocking you and saying:
“I’ll go around it. I’ll go through it. I’ll go over it. But I’m not letting it stop me.”

Your past failures, insecurities, and fears may feel heavy—but they’re not permanent.

🔹 You can be a confident speaker.
🔹 You can be a great leader.
🔹 You can build a better relationship, career, or life.

But first, you have to stop letting old narratives barricade your future.

Action Steps to Start Moving the Barricades:

  • Identify Your Cones: What limiting beliefs were given to you by others?

  • Spot the Barricades: What beliefs have you adopted that are no longer true?

  • Choose One to Challenge: What’s one area of life you’ve been “stuck” in—and why?

You don’t need permission to move forward.
You just need the courage to remove what’s blocking you.

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