dear founder,
at first, the dream looked like a list.
a title. a spotlight. a signal that it was working.
forbes 30 under 30. investor buzz. a round that closes fast.
but the closer it got, the less it felt like truth.
pay to play. perform to be picked. status over substance.
that’s when the shift began.
there’s a game underneath the game.
most come in chasing freedom. impact. the quiet knowing that something real was built.
but somewhere along the way, it gets blurry.
the inbox starts to matter more than the instincts.
the metrics become the mission.
the feedback loop replaces the inner one.
and suddenly, it’s not about what feels aligned—it’s about what looks impressive.
even when it works, it doesn’t always feel like it.
money isn’t wealth.
status isn’t success.
visibility isn’t validation.
because the real thing—the thing we were chasing before we even had the words—is harder to quantify.
here’s a better frame:
wealth is the impact you make on the lives of your team & customers.
money is the recurring revenue. the paychecks.
status is the headline. the social post. the vanity metrics.
one transforms.
one sustains.
one distracts.
all have a role. only one defines the legacy.
so if the headline still feels like the prize—pause.
why?
what meaningful change will that make in your life?
imagine it happens. the press hits. the timeline explodes.
does it last? does it satisfy?
or is it just another fix before the next milestone?
not crazy for feeling the tension.
just finally seeing clearly.
just honest enough to ask a better question.
there’s a deeper game.
the one where alignment replaces applause.
where what you build reflects who you are.
where you don’t have to prove anything—because the work already speaks.
validation won’t come from anywhere else.
but maybe it doesn’t need to.
maybe it’s been waiting inside this whole time.
with purpose, vision, & appreciation,
Brook
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Brooke SherwoodCEO & Founder +1 (719) 565-9196 |
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