I left my house and talked to strangers
What's done is done
Hello friends,
It’s taken me years, but I’m finally emerging from my shell. I never thought I’d spend so much time in it, but if I’m being honest with myself, I never quite recovered from the seismic shifts the pandemic created in my life. Prior to COVID, my public speaking career was blossoming. I never missed an outdoor industry trade show, hosted community events, and attended even more. When that all disappeared one day, I told myself I’d be fine because I was exhausted by pretending to be an extrovert for all those years, and what my business needed was for me to put my head down and work.
What is normal?
For a while, that strategy paid off. I grew my team, revenue soared, and then, as life got back to “normal” (whatever that means), all those gains were lost. It wasn’t just me—just about every outdoor business you know, big and small, has been wrestling with how to let people go, re-evaluate product lines, cut marketing budgets, and more. The glimmers of hope we saw at the end of 2024 have been all but erased by an authoritarian administration whose erratic and childish behavior is simply bad for business, to put it mildly. Beyond the unnecessary and seemingly impossible challenges, I’ve also been struggling with a gnawing tension of insignificance. How can we carry on with selling widgets, given what we’re witnessing and what many of us are experiencing?
While I’ve been forced to scale back, I’ve been thoughtfully untangling myself from the growth that created more hamster wheels than flywheels.
Didn’t have to ask anyone but myself
I’ve let myself off the hook with forcing old ways into a new and uncertain future. And with that, I’ve given myself permission to do the things I once used to, the things that I had thought were not the best use of my time, like closing this computer up for two days to walk a trade show floor, discover new outdoor brands, and surround myself in community.
While I feel a bit discombobulated today as I attempt to cross off my to-do list, I’m also feeling inspired by the new connections and ideas sparked by talking to people, strangers, and old friends alike. Turns out, lots of people are feeling similarly. You just have to make them feel safe enough in sharing their stories of how it’s not all going according to plan to realize we have so much to learn from one another. And that we’re not in this alone. Commiserating with people who fundamentally understand that we are so far past business as usual was exactly what I needed to gain clarity on how to manage the unpredictability of the moment and the inevitable transitions we’re facing.
We make the rules
It feels incongruent with the world to tell you I’m optimistic and excited. But if I can’t tap into either one of those emotions, I’m not sure I’ll be any good to anyone. We have to believe that things can be different and that we have a role to play. What an opportunity to consider who makes the rules and to question if they even fucking matter anymore. Why do we do what we do? Because it’s how it’s always been done? Because it’s what people expect of us? Because we’ve never tried anything else? I’m exploring all of these questions, and if you are too, know that you’re not alone, and together, we can find the courage to do it all differently.
xxoo,
Jen
UPCOMING WAYS TO CONNECT —>
Do you like to read non-fiction books, do you fall asleep on page four, do you need space for gentle accountability, do you not want to get on a Zoom once this summer? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you'll want to join me for my Summer Book Club (that I'm a bit nervous to start because I have no idea if anyone will show up, but here we go...). Get all of the details here.
PS: I paywall most of my posts and offers are only for paid subscribers because Redefining Radical is a reader-supported newsletter.
ADD THIS TO YOUR FEED —>
There’s nothing like a good booth hang with the emerging and tried-and-true women-owned brands at the Grassroots Connect tradeshow. If I thought it was worth my time to connect with them, you just might too:
🌸 Alpine Fit—adventure-ready, premium outdoor apparel made in Alaska
🌸 Bronwyn—artisan jewelry designed for active women
🌸 Heather’s Choice—the best and last stop for your backcountry pantry
🌸 Hikerkind—premium women’s lifestyle brand and hiking community
🌸 Halfdays—outdoor apparel for the mountain year-round
🌸 NoSo Patches—add flair or repair!
🌸 Swoop—for the ones who do it all and still make time to chase the sun
DROP IT IN THE COMMENTS —>
When was the last time you did something that set you free? What conversations have inspired you? Who are you following?
Thanks for reading! All typos are intentional to make sure you’re paying attention.
Love this! Me too! Thank you!!