The only way to the other side is THROUGH

Dear {NAME}, It was one of those ‘pinch me’ moments. Don’t they always seem to come at the most innocuous times? I was sitting in the Delta lounge with my husband and children, waiting for our flight to Europe. We were headed there for an international educational program for the kids. While waiting, we let the children have screen time and snacks while my husband and I jumped on Zoom for an investor meeting for one of the companies we invested in a few years ago. It was an exciting meeting where lots of wins and opportunities were reported. As I sat there next to my husband and across from my children, headphones in, with obligatory Delta lounge cheese plate in hand, it hit me: “wow, I’m actually living the dream. Like right now.” International travel? Check! The best education for my children? Check! Doing business with my partner in life? Check! Investing in thriving companies? Check! Excellent snacks? Checkity check! But what does it take to get here? Or maybe a better question is: what is it gonna cost you to get here? Quick side story: in May 2020 my best friend, Robert, called me and said “I found my house!” To which I answered, “were we looking for a house???” To which he answered, “No, but I found it nevertheless!” (Note the conviction). A mere month later, he was the proud owner of [Hartwell House](=). (Yes, the man immediately bought it in cash!) Did I mention that this is a house that was built in the early 1800s? And while it was a stunning historical home on the outside, on the inside? Fixer upper would be a massive understatement! Four years later, the renovation is complete, and the transformation is absolutely jaw dropping. Not only did my best friend finish this renovation, he filmed an entire stunning TV show about it, produced by the Oprah Winfrey Network! You can go watch the first episode right now on HBOMax (but finish reading this newsletter first!) I interviewed him on stage at the screening of his TV show in New York City. I asked him: “how did you persevere when surprise expenses for the renovation kept coming up, challenges with filming the show kept happening and it felt like every odd was against you? How did you keep the faith and not quit for four whole years?” His answer? “The only way to the other side is THROUGH.” To Robert’s point, let’s go back to my pinch me moment and my glorious family travels. Shortly after that pinch me moment in the Delta lounge, I boarded my economy flight with three kids and seven pieces of luggage (not dreamy), was notified that the short boat ride that was to take us to our final destination was canceled due to weather conditions (not dreamy), and that we would have to take another route that would require 3 taxi rides, 2 ferry trips, a 4-hour layover and my sanity (not at all dreamy). This one detour added THIRTEEN HOURS to our travels. Thirteen hours of additional, unexpected travel after a long overnight flight with three children in tow? NOT DREAMY! As this longest trip ever continued, I was exhausted, my children were hangry and my husband and I were fighting (cause that’s what happens with 13 hours of additional, unexpected travel!). At one point, during hour three on one of the long ass ferry rides, I was curled up on a bench trying to sleep with a sweatshirt on my head looking like some semblance of a wild animal (how far I’d come from my fancy Delta lounge moment!) and I had to coach myself. I said to myself: “Rachel, the only way to the other side is THROUGH.” People often ask me how I got from growing up low income and struggling to building a successful business and thriving? The answer is: “the only way to the other side is THROUGH.” How did Robert get through a four-year renovation that broke his pockets and (almost) broke his spirit? How did I make it through the early days of entrepreneurship where nobody knew my name, three people would show up to my webinars, and I barely ever had more than two clients at a time? How did my husband and I survive a 27-hour hell ride with three kids and our sanity intact? You already know the answer: “The only way to the other side is THROUGH.” If you want your dreams to happen, like they have for Robert and I, my advice to you is to stop looking for it to be easy. Stop trying to get your dream for free. It ain’t free! Dreams cost. They cost time, they cost money, they cost energy, they cost discomfort, they cost your ego, they COST. And if you are not willing to pay the price, be honest with yourself about that, and then move on. But if you want it like you say you do, know that it will cost you, likely more than you thought you were willing to pay. And like any dreamcatcher, you will be faced with a decision, do I turn around and go back? Or do I keep going? Do I give up, sell what little assets remain and move on with my life? Or do I keep going? Do I go find a job I hate? Or do I keep going? Here is my message for you on this Sunday: keep going. I believe that you will make it. But it will cost you something. Be prepared to fight because “the only way to the other side is THROUGH.” xo, R PS: Surprise! I’m hosting a retreat at Hartwell House! If you want to go THROUGH with me as your guide and a small group of fellow entrepreneurs who are also passionately pursuing their dreams, this might be just what you need. [Learn more about my Million Dollar Vision Retreat at Hartwell House right here.]() Space is very limited so fill out the application today. I’ll be reviewing applications starting tomorrow. ​[Unsubscribe]( | [Update your profile]( | PO Box 1124, Summerfield, NC 27358 [Built with ConvertKit](=)