When you keep hanging out in the smartest room, it's easy to feel behind.

What's up Indie Hackers. This is my first post, but I've been listening to the podcasts for a few months now.

I had a realization today as I was listening to a Y Combinator podcast episode.

It's amazing that there are founders and creators out there absolutely crushing it.

It's awesome that there are stories of normal people like you and I having super successful launches on Product Hunt and going off to change the world.

I love hearing those "rags-to-riches" stories where the protagonist raises millions of dollars and experiences massive momentum from their years of consistent effort.

I'm new on this journey, but it's very inspiring.

That being said, as I was watching an interview on Y Combinator's YouTube channel with Ryan Hoover of Product Hunt today, I looked down at the view count.

37k.

It took me back.

37,000 is a lot of views, don't get me wrong.

But in the grand scheme of YouTube, that's a number a niche channel or a newer, successful channel would get.

And then it hit me.

I'm listening to a top 1% of entrepreneurs talking on a podcast that's listened to by a fraction of the US population.

I frequently tell my friends and colleagues about the stories from the newsletters and podcasts I'm signed up to: TechCrunch, IndieHackers, The Hustle, Not Boring, etc. etc.

They look at me like I'm growing antlers.

It made me realize that every time I read an article or listen to a podcast, I'm entering a small, virtual room with people much smarter than I am.

I don't say this in a negative way, but I mean this more along the sentiment that it's easy to feel like you're behind or out of place when you're constantly in the "smartest" room.

There's nothing wrong with that room.

But remember you're in it.

The fact that we are out here trying our best to create something and hit our goals shouldn't be taken lightly.

That alone is worth applauding.