I just got back from a trip to Nepal with Mum. Was a “bucket list” trip for her and I was happy to join in the adventure. Kathmandu, Pokhara, and a few leisurely strolls along the Annapurna range in the Himalayas.
We were hosted by friend and collaborator, Mahabir Pun. He’s a social entrepreneur and the reason our family became connected with Nepal.* Our grant making foundation has been working with him and his home village off and on for many years. And finally Mum and I had the chance to travel to the village in person, meet the community, and see the school my parents helped build and other projects we support IRL.**
The unfamiliar mountain paths were steep, rocky, slippery. Even the trekking sticks Mum brought succumbed to the uneven terrain. But whenever she slipped, our friends in the village were there to pick her up. (And let’s be real: when I slipped, they picked me up, too!)
But the trip was a special one. The views of the Himalayas were truly breathtaking. And it was definitely worth the falls and scrapes we endured.***
Sometimes I’m on top of the world (Literally in this case. Figuratively most other times), thrilled to be doing the work I do. In a city I love. With colleagues and clients I respect, trust, and enjoy talking to every day.
But I confess I feel the pressure to say it’s going gangbusters. All. The. Flipping. Time.
Being here in Silicon Valley, I feel an unspoken rule that entrepreneurs need to always say we’re killing it.
Even when we’re not.
The thing is, though, I’m not. I’m not killing it.
Sometimes I’m barely injuring it. At times, I’m chasing it, catching, and slapping it around a bit before it laughs at me and escapes. But when I have drinks or a meeting with someone, I confess there’s a pressure to be all:
In reality, once in a while, there are days when I’m scared. Scared shitless that this isn’t going to work out. That the phone will stop ringing. My email will stop pinging. Or that I just can’t do this entrepreneurial thing after all.
Can I be totally real? Today feels like one of those days as I write this. In fact, I stopped and started writing this like 10 times in the past week second-guessing myself. I was thinking “should I even be writing this right now when I feel like this?! I don’t know if my people want to hear this stuff.”
But here is what I DO know, even when I’m feeling this way. It takes a village. Whether you’re raising a kid, hiking in the Himalayas, or growing your business….there’s no such thing as a solopreneur. I hate that word. Because it’s not true.
I have SO MANY people in my life who help me do this business thing and make it fun. My husband. Stephanie. Ali. Maud. Butler. Wayne. My son. My mom. Our friends near and far. Our general contractor. My clients, colleagues, and contacts who lift me up, open doors, and create opportunities for me to grab. You know who you are. And I thank you. I am grateful.
So I guess what I’m saying is - this feeling won’t last and thank you for accompanying me on this journey. I might slip and trip along the way, but I’m going to keep on.
So, do this. Think about the village that holds you up. Family, colleagues, friends, the grocer. Your mail carrier. The neighbor. Your parents. And thank them.
Because we’re all in this together. Even when we’re not killing it.
Thanks,
Emelia “I only drank a little bit of raksi” Rallapalli
PS: I learned more about the work Mahabir Pun is doing with his team at the National Innovation Center in Kathmandu, to help Nepal’s younger generation stay in the country, and bring their education, creativity, and talent back home to help their country grow economically and be self-sufficient. Currently, they’re working on initiatives like building drones for delivery of medicine to remote villages, incubators, and ginger drinks. Check out the Nepal Innovation Center here for more information and ways to support their work.
*Backstory: in 2001, My dad read a BBC article about Mahabir who was trying to bring wireless internet access to his village. Dad liked his idea and go-getter spirit, so he emailed him to start working together. So they did. That’s it. It’s easier to connect that we think, huh?
**Thanks to the introduction of helicopter service on the mountains!
*** I brought a first aid kit – so all good. If you want my first aid pack list, let me know!