Issue 9. What business would you start today if you knew your mind was lying to you about the risk?
Dear Collective,
A week ago, as I’m sending this, a group of friends and I that I met at Hoa’s Homestay in Sa Pa, Vietnam, climbed Mt. Fansipan, the highest peak in Indochina. While I wasn’t thinking of it at the time, we were all in several places at once. The beginning of the summit. The middle of our time together. The end of the selves we were in our home countries.
The past ten days have been full of starts on grab bikes and sleeper buses and in the cabins of trains across Vietnam. And of course, the start of the journey is the most exciting part. The anticipation of what is to come. The energy you have to discover something new about the world. The quiet hopefulness that you’ll find out something unexpected about yourself.
And then there are endings like climbing to the peak of Mt. Fansipan, 650 steps later, and being in the clouds. Endings like being on the cover of Forbes. Endings like record-breaking IPOs. Everyone loves a satisfying ending to the story.
But rarely does the middle get depicted as anything other than a brief character arc in the middle of the story. But if you’re an entrepreneur, you know it’s much more than just the second act; it is the crucial part of the journey where all the doubts and fears and anxieties creep in. It’s the part where you almost give up.
But instead of a triumphant climax, 75% of the way in, your second act can drag on for way longer than it does in what Hollywood portrays. The middle, when you’re not sure how much longer it’s going to take for you to blow up? That’s where the real work, externally, but perhaps mostly internally, is done.
So my question to you, Collective, is this—what are you in the middle of right now in building your business? And how are you sitting with it and not rushing the process?
Vietnam, so far, has been a lesson in patience for me. I came in with grand ideas about creating schedules and being more disciplined, and instead got my ass kicked by jet lag. I’ve been inconsistent and messy and frustrated with my business and myself.
But that’s the middle. That’s where I am right now. Where are you?
Wide Awake, Now What?
Bethany
P.S. If you’re tired of building in the middle alone, I have something special for you that’s coming soon. It’s called The Founders’ Room, and it’s a small (4-6 person), 6-month incubator hub for women who are building purpose-driven businesses. Stay tuned for more information coming soon.
Current Obsessions
Hoa’s Homestay, Sa Pa, Vietnam: Hoa’s was the homestay I stayed at for a week. It’s about a 20-minute drive outside of Sa Pa proper, and the surrounding areas were absolutely stunning. Hoa and her family are so welcoming, and the nightly family dinners always have a huge selection of different traditional Vietnamese dishes. Oh, and there’s plenty of plum-flavored happy water to share as well.
Cat Cat Village: Yes, it’s touristy, and, yes, you’ll be subjected to a lot of hard sells, but it was a really beautiful village just outside of Sa Pa. The waterfalls and scenery were stunning, and although overpriced, the souvenirs were beautiful as well. It’s a nice place to kill a few hours in the afternoon, not to mention the rainbow slide.
Closing
It’s hard to believe that I’m almost a month into my journey in Vietnam—I’m truly in the middle of things and discovering more and more about myself every single day. That, I think, is the reason for middles—discovering.
Busy discovering myself,
Bethany
Question of the week: What are you in the middle of right now in building your business? And how are you sitting with it and not rushing the process?
