Most people who know me know I hate drawing attention to myself. But turning 50 has a way of making you pause. It’s less about a number and more about finally doing the things we keep saying we want to do.
One of those things I’d been putting off was a solo trip to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. I wanted to hike Pictured Rocks at my own pace, visit spots like Tahquamenon Falls, Presque Isle Park, and Kitch-iti-kipi, try car camping, and explore Marquette’s high points and coffee houses. For years, I found reasons I “couldn’t” go:
“My car isn’t right for this type of trip”
“I don’t like driving long distances”
“I’ve never camped before”
“What if the weather is terrible?”
“I can’t afford to be off-grid, I’m a solopreneur”
Sound familiar? These aren’t just travel hesitations; they’re the same fears that can paralyze a business owner. We get comfortable in our routines, and the risks of trying something new, whether a service, software, marketing strategy, or pricing model, can feel overwhelming.
But this September, I went. Standing on Miners Beach, listening to nothing but Lake Superior’s waves, I realized this trip was more than a vacation; it was a masterclass in entrepreneurship.
Camping wasn’t a part of my family’s culture. I’d never camped a day in my life and had no idea how to get started. But as I got older, car camping started to look fun (I’m still not sold on tent camping). So, I did my research, asked people who knew more than me, and kept the first setup simple.
In business, complexity poses as progress. There’s endless and expensive camping gear advertised as necessary for an enjoyable and successful camping experience. But most of it is completely unnecessary. Progress is a checklist and a first iteration.
Apply it:
In my next blog, I’ll talk about what happens after you’ve been running that starter kit for a while, and how to know when it’s time to upgrade your tools instead of just making do with what you have.
Of all my excuses for not taking the Upper Peninsula trip, “I can’t afford to be off-grid, I’m a solopreneur”
One of my hesitations about the Upper Peninsula trip was the long drive by myself. But once I was on
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Intuit, QuickBooks, and QuickBooks ProAdvisor are registered trademarks of Intuit Inc. Used with permission under the QuickBooks ProAdvisor Agreement.