The Uncomfortable Truth About Building Something New (and why I'm embracing the chaos)

This week has been… well, let's just say it's been a stark reminder of the exhilarating and utterly terrifying reality of building something from the ground up. After years navigating the (sometimes predictable) waters of corporate marketing, diving headfirst into my own venture has been like jumping out of a perfectly good airplane and trying to assemble the parachute on the way down.

There's a romantic narrative we often see around entrepreneurship – the visionary leader, the seamless execution, the overnight success. And while I admire those who make it look easy (genuinely!), my current experience is far more… messy. It's late nights fuelled by lukewarm coffee, juggling a million tasks I'm not entirely sure I'm qualified for, and the constant gnawing feeling that I've forgotten something crucial.

Honestly, there have been moments this week where I've questioned my sanity. Leaving the relative security of a well-established role to embrace this beautiful, chaotic unknown? Was I mad? Probably a little.

But here's the uncomfortable truth I've been wrestling with, and perhaps some of you can relate: progress isn't always linear, and growth often feels like stumbling in the dark. The perfectly curated LinkedIn feeds showcasing flawless launches and exponential growth can be misleading. Behind every success story are countless iterations, pivots, and moments of sheer panic.

As a marketer, I've spent years crafting narratives, highlighting the wins, and polishing the brand image. Now, as a founder, I'm realizing the power in acknowledging the vulnerability. The struggle is real. The learning curve is steep. And the self-doubt? Oh, it's a constant companion.

But amidst the chaos, there's also an incredible sense of purpose. Every small victory, every connection made, every tiny step forward feels monumental because it's mine. This isn't about climbing someone else's ladder; it's about building my own, even if the rungs are a little wobbly at the moment.

And this brings me to a broader point that resonates with my (perhaps predictably) liberal leanings. Just as we advocate for empathy and understanding in society, we need to extend that same grace to ourselves and others in the entrepreneurial journey. It's okay to not have all the answers. It's okay to stumble. It's okay to admit that building something meaningful is hard work.

So, this week, instead of striving for the perfectly polished update, I'm sharing the raw reality. The late nights, the moments of doubt, the sheer determination to keep going. Because I believe that true authenticity lies not just in celebrating the wins, but also in acknowledging the challenges.

To those of you also navigating the messy middle of building something new, or facing any kind of significant change: you are not alone. Let's embrace the chaos, learn from the stumbles, and keep building, one imperfect step at a time.

Connect with me and enjoy the ride together: Pauline Hicks | commiva.

#Entrepreneurship #Startups #Authenticity #Leadership #Marketing #TheRealDeal