Issue 10. Getting a Concussion Taught Me This About Business.

Dear Collective,

Ten days ago, I arrived in Hue, and as soon as I got to my hostel, I took a shower and promptly slipped, twisted my bad ankle, and hit the back of my head on a concrete step. The next five days that I was in Hue, my mood didn’t improve, from that point in time, one bit. Perhaps it was the mood change from the concussion—I ended up going to the hospital to get a CT scan. In case you’re curious, the total cost was $150. But more than the effects of an ill-timed slip, I think that Hue and I simply didn’t agree with each other on a somatic level.

I’m presently in Da Nang, a city right on the beach, and the difference in how my body feels here versus Hue is night and day. I have always felt at peace at the beach, and now I’ve gotten to go every single day that I’ve been here. I originally booked my stay here for five days, but now I’m in the process of renting out an Airbnb for an entire month. That’s how different being here feels in my body. I can tell that my nervous system is more regulated in Vietnam than it ever was in America. But there’s something extra special about Da Nang that I can’t quite put my finger on. And you know, I don’t have to be able to name it. I just have to be able to listen to the somatic signals that my body is giving me.

Over the years, I’ve found that listening to the signals in my body for my day-to-day life is exactly the same as listening to the somatic signals my body gives me when it comes to my business. And it will be the same in yours as long as your nervous system is regulated enough to hear the hints your body is giving you. Everything can look “right” on paper—you can have the perfect business plan and strategy—but if it feels dissonant in your body, something needs to change.

I’ve spoken about the feeling of forcing as opposed to the feeling of discomfort before. But it’s worth repeating. When you’re forcing something, your body might have different manifestations of symptoms, but the underlying feeling is that working on your business is going to feel effortful. Now, I’m not saying building a business is easy; I’m saying it doesn’t have to feel like a constant uphill battle.

When you feel discomfort, you’ll be able to tell because in the back of your mind, there will be a little voice that is saying you should be doing the thing that will move your business forward, you just don’t want to. When you’re feeling discomfort, it’s important to highlight the underlying reason. Hint—it usually comes down to feeling afraid. It’s up to you, as an entrepreneur, to be able to identify that fear and work through it.

I want you to think of your nervous system as a compass—something that will lead you in the right direction if you trust in it enough to let it. Because I believe, and chances are you do too, that the world doesn’t need more force, more effort, more rigidity. It needs more softness and compassion and understanding. That’s how everything changes for the better.

P.S. If your business is making the world a better place, I’m building something for you. It’s called The Founders’ Room, and it’s a small, 4-6 person innovator community for women who are building purpose-driven businesses. At the end of the 6-month program, you’ll walk away with a new business or product launched. It’s coming very soon, so stay tuned for more information.

Wide Awake, Now What?

Bethany

Current Obsessions:

Business Class by Vicky Owens: I’m back in my entrepreneurship era and consuming a lot of business content. Business Class is a business podcast that talks about entrepreneurship, social media strategy, and interviews people who have built their own successful businesses. It’s a great listen, and every single episode is packed with value.

Closing

I can’t believe we’re already on the 10th newsletter—time goes by so fast! We’ve already had a couple of iterations so far, and I want to thank you for sticking around as I figure this out. As of this week, I’m launching “Dear Founder.” It will be a series that will take place in the newsletter where you can ask questions about your business, and I, as well as members of our community, will answer your questions. Each week, the answers that I’ve curated will be featured in the following week’s newsletter. To submit your question, please respond to the emails or DM me on TikTok (@bethanyrosemorris).

Bethany