Celebrations seem few and far between right now as we look at the landscape of the world around us. We aren’t hearing choruses of “Happy Birthday” at neighboring tables because none of us are dining out. We cannot lift a glass with friends because of social distancing and closed bars and restaurants. For many of us, we are even beginning to lose track of what day it is because we haven’t left home in so long. Many of us are too vulnerable to feel much like celebrating anything because we have too many reasons to be afraid. So, it makes complete sense that celebrations seem few and far between. We cannot “see” the celebrations happening in one another’s lives and don’t feel like there are many reasons to celebrate.
Here at Ncite Partners, we completely missed our own anniversary because of the state of things. A few weeks ago, we achieved four years in business, and in thinking back on those years from where I sit today, I see that some of the things we’re seeing and feeling in the world right now can easily be found in the efforts it took to get Ncite to where it is today.
Being an entrepreneur comes with a lot of risk, hope, fear, and requires a lot of patience. Going out on your own is one of the scariest and most rewarding things someone can do. It includes the day where you sit at the bank and they ask what you want and you realize there is no one “up the chain” who is supposed to tell you what to do. It is hoping for the biggest and best outcome you can possibly imagine and believing it’s actually possible to achieve. And through it all, it takes the patience and perseverance of getting out of bed and giving it your all, relentlessly, day after day.
It also, though, comes with an incredible community of people who are rooting for you to succeed–your clients who invest in you and trust you, the candidates who are putting their lives, dreams, and careers in your hands, your spouse, your mentors and advisors, and the incredible community of entrepreneurs around you. More than ever—in looking back on these last four years and forward in the face of a pandemic, I value the importance of supporting others and surrounding myself with people who will help in times of worry and doubt. Right now especially, my gratitude goes out to the healthcare workers, grocery store employees, pharmacy techs, and everyone else who goes to work every day despite their own fears and prioritizes the health and safety of the whole community over their own. Community matters and when we treat one another well, it propels us all forward.
So, I ask you to join me (separately) in raising a glass to celebrate all of the people who make us who we are—in life and in business, in our communities and in times of fear, doubt, need, and care. It is only through this kind of dedication to one another that we can step out in uncertainty to face big things.
Health and happiness to you all,
Corey Walker
