Hello Reader,

Last weekend, I found myself in a "founder grief circle".

During DazzleCon with Zebras Unite, fellow Zebra Dror Yaron opened up a space for mission-driven founders to share their grief that comes with putting your heart on the line to make a difference in the world.

Because the world doesn't always reciprocate.

Because social enterprises fail.

Because our mission to create a better world does not shield us from failure and disappointment. If anything, it puts us at greater risk.

Back to our grief circle.

I don't consider myself a founder or entrepreneur. I didn't bring any grief (or so I thought). But I knew that this would be a place for vulnerable, real and deep conversations.

And that's what I experienced. We agreed that stories would stay in the circle, but lessons may very well leave the room.

One such lesson for me was that the entrepreneurial journey can be grueling and lonely. And sometimes it ends sooner that we anticipated.

With that ending comes grief and disappointment.

But one door closing also gives opportunity for a new door to open up.

This summer, stretched thin and teetering on the edge of burnout, I decided to put the podcast on hiatus. I haven't been able to give the show the attention it deserves and without any sponsors, I felt worn down from carrying the financial responsibility for the show.

The grief that came with this decision took me by surprise. Ending something that I'd put so much of my own heart, sweat and tears into cut deeper than I had anticipated.

And worst of all? I felt like nobody would care about the show ending, and that brought up feelings of shame, hurt and immense disappointment. I whimpered in silence and licked my ego's wounds.

But last weekend showed me that an ending also opens up the opportunity for new beginnings in other ways.

It also reminded me that we're not supposed to do this life and journey alone. Systems change is a team sport and suffering in silence is the worst self-harm.

If you're going through a tough time or shutting down a project that is close to your heart, please feel free to shoot me an email. I will hold space for your grief. And if you need a professional coach to help you through this (which I'm not equipped to do), reach out to the wonderful Dror Yaron.

We have one more episode in which I close out the show and introduce you to two wonderful Unsung Heroes of Ecosystem Building that are doing great work in Wyoming and Chicago:

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Between my ears

Life, most recently: Things I'm excited about, pondering and trying out:

• ​Create for Community. Born during the pandemic, my wonderful friend Molly Korroch has brought this creative community back to life. Each Monday evening, we log onto Google Hangouts and share what we're working on for the night. Then we do the things can log back in to share how it went. Creating in and for community.
• If you're looking for free creative field trips with a global community of creatives, check out Creative Mornings Field Trips!
• I've been telling all my girlfriends in the U.S. about Tori Dunlap and Her first 100k because I truly believe that financial education is key to living up to our potential. Grab the book, listen to the podcast, learn how to invest and manage your finances.
• I finally finished Think Like a Monk by Jay Shetty and am in the middle of The Bones of Paris - a dark yet delightful suspense novel set in 1920s Paris. What's on your reading list between now and the new year?
• Fellow B Corp Champion Christina Marie Noel just launched a marketplace for socially conscious goods. So as you plan out your Christmas shopping list, check out better made easy:

better made easy

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On my desk

What I'm working on right now:

• ​My first OpEd got published on Impact Entrepreneur and let me just tell you: Writing OpEds that a national outlet wants to publish is hard.
• I'm putting the finishing touches on this newsletter during the Shenandoah Valley Entrepreneurship Summit, our annual flagship event for entrepreneurs here in the Valley. Follow along via Instagram if that's your thing!
• So what exactly does an ecosystem builder do? I share my insights and experiences from my work as Director of Ecosystem Development in my monthly blog series Field Notes:

Field Notes

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From the podcast

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Meet the Unsung Heroes of Ecosystem Building In my 7th Logbook, I'm excited to introduce you to Alax Foreman and Nicholas Giraldo, and share why I'm putting the show on hiatus: Listen & subscribe

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On my radar

I come across a lot of resources that I want to share with fellow ecosystem builders and changemakers. If we're connected on LinkedIn or Instagram, they might already show up in your feed! In case you missed any, here's my curated list from the last two weeks:

Events

• October 23-24: Shenandoah Valley Entrepreneurship Summit. For the second year, we're hosting an entrepreneur-first conference for founders in the Valley. If you're in the area, come join us (and stay for Creative Mornings on October 27!)!
• October 23-25: SOCAP Global, San Francisco
• October 24-26: Startup Champions Network Fall Summit in Phoenix, AZ. I won't be able to go but guarantee that you will have a wonderful time!

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I will be back in your inbox in two weeks.

In camaraderie,

Anika