Real is True.

There is nothing romantic about being a startup founder, and it rains all the time in Ireland.

There, I burst two bubbles in one.

I would not change a thing about either one.

We can hate what we love and love what we hate. Humans are complex creatures, no doubt.

After months and then years of the same exact day, it is possible that a person might lose perspective.

When Standing Still is a Choice—It becomes a matter of perspective to choose observation over action and solitude over community.

The world is moving incredibly fast and faster with each passing day, with uncertainty at the bleeding edge; the tsunami amounts to an intolerable overflow of noise without a signal in sight.

Standing still is the choice that opens the aperture of perspective.

Not Never

Without a doubt, the day-in and day-out routine becomes a tunnel without an end in sight.

However long the journey, we humans must find milestones, touchpoints, and breadcrumbs while we learn to realize we are always worthy of more than mere crumbs. Though no one expects any trophy for lack of trying.

We continue labyrinth-like with milestones to indicate that our orientation is directionally correct enough. Precision is less critical than the ability to iterate quickly and build with dynamic intentions.

✨You only need the vision of your future to hold your attention long enough to get there✨ 

The ultimate act of self-belief is the step required to exit the prescribed life and open the other door.

The Other Door

You wondered. As did I. Trying in vain to convince more than one of the good bosses in the (under-appreciated) world of upper middle management whom I respected (and believed in) along my corporate tech journey.

I finally opened the door after the one I loved for too long kicked me out.

That is a story of my hopes and dreams for many years. A time when I aspired to hang my hat on the certain door of a cloud-based software enterprise. The CEO ethos can charm talent from a global market. That is the most business-logical reason for remote teams.

Only scaredy cats don’t believe remote work can work when it works, which it does… silly.

Turns out the cloud and dreams of landing are a young fool's errand.

Once learned, the vision is cleared by perspective, and no need to repeat the process, at least with such earnest naiveté.

Prior to understanding neurodiversity and recognizing myself in the many awkward ways I show up to others, I wore a permanent mask.

It is easier to mimic and do a bad job at fitting in than to feel different to the point at which you no longer have a clear connection. Labels can be good when they help us find similarities and acceptance.

At said cloud company, I landed amidst the storms of post-pandemic tech.

The world looked different everywhere; no empire is beyond demise, especially those with a titular CEO whose magnetism-sell-by-date is near.

I won't soon forget many friends and faces, and some of the stranger lacks of structure in a multi-teared organization I have yet to forget.

Alas, the crest of my cloud surf was over with the tech layoffs of 2023, and with that end, a new beginning not long after was the door I kicked open wide.

See Past Your Past

Josef Adler, the most excellent advisor to the seekers of the present moment, taught us to act with the knowledge of now and the spirit of community and connection. The ideal language is never hierarchical or diminishing but constructive, generative, and supportive of growth.

You choose the words you speak, write, and indeed think.

Your perception of self will be realized fully when you must rely solely on your own mind to guide you. This is the non-romantic side of startup life, creative solo-preneurism, the hustle, the "awkward path."

When Rain Showers Bring Flowers

Friends gather together, speaking in the many colorful pubs that dot most streets in Ireland for a reason.

The rain is tiresome; the company is old blood that is good and true and merry after a few.

Sundays, the rain will not prevent the football pitch from catching mud-covered players slipping in the drizzle before gathering in one of the cozy pubs for a pint or two and conversation until the night is no longer so young.

We find moments of peace and cheer; when we don't, our body lets us know we are letting her down. Learning to listen to the long-ignored signals of your body is new for most of us who have been forced to ignore the repeat calls of burnout.

This is one of many lessons we don't learn as easily.

The cost of stopping always seems too high, yet the further you push on, the farther the rest stop fades into the distant future.

Celebrate Wins and Birthdays

Birthdays are about celebrating the person, not the time spent alive — a wise woman taught me this.

So allow yourself some sunlight to be silly under, and if you have forgotten how to smile because it has been a while, watch a funny movie, or better yet, watch it with a friend. I am advising my own medicine, and we all need reminders to take time to play and be.

This can be a luxury still.

In the many periods, we must press on to meet a deadline or a show, the consistency of our toil must remain unwavering. In these times, our ally may come from a tool or digital assistant who reminds us of the simple act of breathing.

Mindfulness apps such as Headspace (this affiliate link supports my work) and our own app for creative solo practice, AICharmLab. We are building the app to capture the amazing process uplifts that AI is bringing to our collective and individual creative flow(s).

Click the button below to learn more about the app and join the waitlist.

I look forward to sharing more about AICharmLab. In the meantime, on Friday, I will digest the news of the week curated by me based on what I believe is noteworthy in AI.

My opinions are biased, and I know it, which is the first step to either change or not caring and being the way you are. Also, it is a privilege to write your own articles and a perk of being a startup founder/content creator/solopreneur. ✨

Until next week — Your faithful writer, Sonia a.k.a. SuperSonic

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