Money on the line
Starting a new chapter in a strange book
My stomach dropped. Just like that, my personal runway and my start-up runway merged into one. What had been a comfortable six months' worth of savings suddenly transformed into a panic-inducing three.
No one had prepared me for this feeling. Despite the countless books I've read, Twitter threads I've followed, and articles I've saved, I was blindsided by this distinct moment of anxiety.
Suddenly, the excitement and conviction I'd felt for my new venture were overshadowed by fear, anxiety, and uncertainty. All the hours spent refining pitch decks and engaging in passionate conversations with close friends seemed insignificant in the face of the reality that my business, my bank account, and my financial security were now inextricably linked.
Ironically, after spending three years exploring our thoughts, feelings, and decision-making processes around money, I still found myself at the mercy of the numbers in my bank account. Modeling cash flows is one thing, but experiencing it is entirely different.
That's where this series comes in.
Countless clichés exist about launching a start-up and being an entrepreneur. Most of these stories are told in hindsight—either as success stories or cautionary tales. But aside from a few exceptions—Gimlet Media's StartUp podcast comes to mind—I've found very little about the emotional rollercoaster accompanying these early days.
Starting a new business is simultaneously exhilarating and terrifying. Discussing money and the emotions it stirs up can feel equally vulnerable. Yet, that's exactly what I'm setting out to do: launch a new venture focused on our feelings about and use of money, and share the journey with you.
Join me as I document the emotional rollercoaster of launching a new business, raising capital in a challenging environment, and managing my own relationship with money.
Today marks the beginning of a new chapter, a new adventure, and a new business bank account—with a modest $5,000 staring back at me. More to come soon.