Slowing down when it seems impossible

How to cultivate a calendar that allows you to rest while scaling a company inside a capitalist society

We live in a culture that is in constant motion.?

It's odd.?

And it's highly in contrast to the way that the world actually works.?

One that lives in alignment with the rhythm of the seasons, the sky, the tide, and the general turning of the Earth around us.?

If we were to actually be in touch with the elements, winter would be a season where we slow down, where we would get still and grow strong.?

But instead, we in the Western world have decided to make it one of the most absolutely inane and insane seasons there is.?

If you're a mother, I know you feel me on this one.?

This month alone, my children will not be in school for any complete and consecutive week for all of November. In addition to covering them on days where there is no school, I will also be responsible for gearing up for a bunch of things like conferences, projects that are due, and required volunteer hours.?

Of course, this also overlaps with the season when I'm doing the most to get both my business and my clients up to speed for the year ahead.?

I keep wishing and hoping that December will give us all a chance to take a deep breath, to slow down.?

But it's becoming absolutely evident that the only way that's going to happen is if I ensure it does.?

One of the hardest lessons I've had to learn over the last couple of years is recognizing that rest is just as essential as the work that I do.?

After all, so much of what comes out of Fearless comes from my brain and the brains of the brilliant minds that choose to collaborate with us.?

But we're only as good as we've been good to ourselves, which means we have to make proactive rest a part of our creative practice.?

I was sharing a lot about the lessons I've been learning in this sense with our mastermind community this week, and one thing became abundantly clear:

With the state the world is in right now – we all need more rest than usual.?

So what do we need to get December to be a place where we can take time off, time with our families, time to reflect and just slow down for a second?

Ultimately, in the spirit of my never-ending mantra – it's going to start with strategy.?

For me, this looks like sitting down this week and carving out time in my calendar for time off,? time working on financial projections for the year ahead, time to do my own marketing strategy + plan, and time to spend alone for my birthday.?

After years of entrepreneurship, I know that if it's not on my calendar, it's not going to happen.?

And that I have to be the one to set the boundary first to ensure that rest and respite happen.?

What I've learned over the years is that our culture is not going to slow down, and as long as we exist inside a capitalist construct, the world will always be asking for more from us.?

But it's up to us as ambitious entrepreneurs who are striving to rebuild this world for the better to say:

No, thank you. That's enough for me.?

Whatever you're seeking in the seasons ahead, I hope that you make space for yourself so you can find it and rest fully so you can bring your brightest and best self to the New Year.?

Yours in solidarity and slowing down as the season of winter approaches,?

- Madeline?

We believe in entrepreneurship as an important path to equity. And we also believe we can only get so far as the guidance we're given. That is why we are bringing in a core partner and collaborator Anna N'Jie-Konte, MBA, CFP? of Re-Envision Wealth to help support our community and an amazing session about building lasting wealth and legacy. This conversation is an amazing opportunity to hear firsthand strategies that help entrepreneurs create the financial freedom they're looking for, as well as ask questions of an incredibly seasoned financial advisor who specializes in working with women and people of color. If you're looking for guidance on how to get your money in order as you head into the new year, this is the session for you.

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You all know the drill - Networking is a huge way we recharge our batteries around here at Fearless. If you're looking for support, connection, and community as the year winds down,? please take us up on the invitation to join this incredible community event. It's an amazing opportunity to make asks and offers of like-minded founders who care about building mission-driven businesses that put consciousness and core values first.

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How do you cultivate your company’s story – and better yet, how do you get comfortable with sharing it on camera? Well, if you ask us, this is one of those areas where the support and guidance of an expert can be absolutely golden. Enter one of our new favorite Friends of the Foundry, Mariana Henninger of the Brandmagnetic. Mariana offers a brilliant masterclass designed to help fearless founders understand and articulate their story so that they can develop captivating video content that drives qualified leads toward your company. Sounds like something you might be interested in? Check out the link below to learn more.

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