Issue 8. What's the hardest part of building your business that you haven't been able to say out loud yet?
Letter from the Editor
Dear Collective,
Last night I arrived in Sa Pa, Vietnam. I thought the cliff faces of Ninh Binh were stunning, but Sa Pa’s mountain vistas and layered rice fields cascading down the mountain are a different kind of beautiful. After arriving and much Happy Water with new friends, we decided to summit, Mount Fansipan—the highest mountain on the Indochinese peninsula. I wasn’t nervous at the time—thanks to copious amounts of Happy Water—but this morning was a different story.
As we arrived via cable car to the base of the mountain, I started getting nervous. What if I wouldn’t be able to keep up? What if I had an asthma attack? What if my bad ankle gave out? All of these “whatifs” became so loud that I gave myself permission to quit the trek to the top if I needed to. I won’t lie, on the way up I, and everyone else in the group, took multiple breaks. Mine longer than others. My thighs burned, I was sweating, and I was breathing through my mouth towards the halfway point.
Despite the fact that it was difficult, and towards the end I needed longer stops to the top, I climbed 650 steps to the top of Mount Fansipan. After taking a much-needed break after the trek, I thought about the beginning of the day and how before I even started I gave myself permission to quit. The mind, likes to give up before your body does because it’s trying to protect you from danger. And anything that’s out of the ordinary will feel like danger to your mind.
Despite knowing this intellectually, I forgot this lesson again and almost didn’t go to the mountain today. And so I ask you collective, what is the Mount Fansipan of your business? What have you given yourself permission to quit before you even started? What is the bad ankle of your business—the excuse that you keep using not to start?
It’s okay if you forgot the same lesson that I did. Your job now is to correct your course and keep going, especially when your brain wants you to give up, because you know what? That means that you’re closer than ever to your dreams.
P.S. If you’re tired of navigating your Mount Fansipan alone, I’m building something for you. It’s called The Founders’ Room, and it’s a very small collective of femme founders who are building purpose-driven businesses. Stay tuned for more.
Wide Awake, Now What?
Bethany
Current Obsessions
Rice fields in the sun: Right now, the Vietnamese farmers are planting rice on the sides of the mountains in Sa Pa, and it’s one of the most beautiful things that I’ve seen in my life. Being in Vietnam is like seeing in HD; it’s absolutely incredible.
Happy Water: Happy Water is a fermented rice liquor that I tried for the first time last night. The one I tried had plums infused in it as well. I think it’s made differently family-by-family. But the best part of it aren’t the effects, although those are pleasant too, it’s the communal drinking of it that makes it so special.
Closing and Announcements
It’s been a long few weeks of travel, but I finally feel like I’m recovered from the intense jet lag that I had in the beginning of my journey. It’s strange because everyone tells you that routine is important, but traveling around, not knowing where I’m going a few days before I get there, feels like my soul is finally at home.
From the wanderer abroad,
Bethany
Next Week’s Question: What business would you start today if you knew your mind was lying to you about the risk?
