I used to think letting go meant you were giving up. That walking away from something you’ve poured your heart into meant you’d failed, or worse, that you weren’t cut out for it in the first place.
I know better now.
Cool Wow has been part of my life for almost three years. I’ve re-recorded and re-written things countless times, but more often I had the courage to just hit publish. I’ve sat on Zoom alone, but also I’ve been surrounded by the most inspiring, supportive humans. I’ve answered member DMs late at night and squeezed campaigns into every spare hour because I believed in what we were building. And I still do.
But over all that time, I’ve felt the tension grow. Two businesses, not enough capacity, too many trade-offs.
I never felt like I was doing a good job in either business. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had so many incredible moments and wins but I know what I’m capable of and I knew I could do better.
I kept pushing, because I’d tied my whole identity to running two businesses which seems so incredibly impressive and successful from the outside.
The bravest thing you can do is admit when something good isn’t quite right anymore. It’s true about your high school boyfriend, and in this case, it’s true about this business.
I knew deep down that despite all the love I have for this community, it just wasn’t right for me. There are many, many contributing factors. But it took me a really long time to admit (even just to myself) it was a mismatch.
The decision to sell wasn’t an easy one.
I worried what people would think. I worried no one would want to buy it when I’d bought and sold it within three years myself. I worried I’d be letting our members down.
It turns out, those fears were worth facing.
I know the new owner is the right fit and the right way forward.
At the risk of sounding a bit woo-woo, I feel like it was meant to be. Like maybe I was only ever meant to be the custodian for a short while.
Since making the decision to sell, and making it public, I’ve felt more creative than I have in months. I feel ready to go all-in on my other business, Assembld. I’ve found myself doing bolder work, writing stronger content and showing up in ways that feel more me.
Most of all, I’ve reaffirmed the decision was the right one, again and again and again. (I’ve had plenty of time to dwell, I accepted the offer in early July and the legal process has been a slow one.)
Letting go doesn’t mean you failed. It means it served its season. It means you gave it everything you had and now, you’re ready to grow in a different direction.
If you’re in a season where things feel stuck or heavy or just not quite right, maybe the answer isn’t to keep pushing. Maybe it’s to take a step back and to honour what was. Maybe it’s time to make space for what’s next.
You’ll hear from me again before I officially hand things over. Until then, thank you for being here. I mean that.
I hope you’ll stick around for the new era to come.
Talk soon,
Rach
P.S. If this hit a nerve (in a good way or not), I’d love to hear it. Just hit reply.
