Lately, I’ve been reflecting on a advice a dear friend shared with me: “You need to get comfortable in the gray.”
That landed hard because, for most of my life, I’ve seen things as black or white. Right or wrong. Building or executing. Gray didn’t exist in my vocabulary. But her words reframed everything. The gray isn’t indecision, it’s building without immediately seeing the fruit. It’s the quiet middle ground where growth is happening, even when the evidence hasn’t caught up yet.
In this season of my life, I am deeply grateful for the things that ground me:
- The health and well-being of my family and friends.
- The clarity of my purpose.
- The ability to persevere, even when uncertainty stretches longer than expected.
These blessings remind me that gray doesn’t mean standing still — it means steadying myself on the foundation that matters most.
From Corporate Clarity to Entrepreneurial Chaos
Corporate life was clear-cut. Every role — from entry-level to CEO — came pre-defined, tied to business units, OKRs, and quarterly reviews. Success was measured against structure. I thrived there because the rules of the game were written down.
Entrepreneurship? Different story. There is no playbook.
I’m building from the ground up — literally. The product is live (catch the podcast every Wednesday, and watch on YouTube every Friday), but it’s evolving every day. Some weeks I’m shaping new markets, other weeks I’m restructuring operations, onboarding resources — and yes, sometimes offboarding them too. This business is alive, breathing, and constantly shifting. The gray isn’t temporary; it’s the landscape.
As a systems person who loves structure and efficiency, the gray used to feel unbearable. But now, I see it as strategy in motion. It’s the path from okay to great — from average to excellence.
Living in the gray teaches me:
- Grace: Giving myself permission to not have all the answers.
- Gratitude: Celebrating milestones without rushing to the next.
- Growth: Building a brand organically with partners and allies who align with the mission and vision.
The gray is long. It stretches across years and across every area of the business. But with each step, it starts to feel less uncomfortable — and more like home.
The Beauty of the Gray
The truth is, the gray isn’t as bad as I thought. It’s where foundations are tested, partnerships are nurtured, and the blueprint for profitability and scale begins to take shape.
I used to resist it, but now I’m learning to embrace it — with gratitude for what is, and anticipation for what’s still to come.
Because thriving in the gray is what makes the future possible