The Comeback Kid
Hi there, and welcome (back) to Path Nine. It’s great to be here with you :)
Let’s pick up where we left off…
Before we begin: If you’re reading this but haven’t joined the Path Nine community, hit the button below to join the entrepreneurs and future leaders that read Path Nine to learn the strategies reshaping our work and lives.
Honestly, the last few months have been particularly challenging.
I’ll spare you the gory details, but work and personal projects have presented some incredible obstacles that I’ve been working through. But, while the break from Path Nine has been quite long, I hope you all understand that it was just that — a break.
Nothing more. Nothing less.
Many friends and readers asked about the newsletter, and I wish I could say that I’ve just been lazy, or that I couldn’t find the energy to write. Or maybe even better, that I didn’t know what to write about.
But sadly, that just wasn’t the case.
The truth is, I’ve been overwhelmed and burnt out.
Both personally and professionally.
And it sucks to say that, because it’s no excuse.
It sucks to let all of you down.
It sucks to feel this way.
It just… sucks.
But here’s the rub: it happens to all of us.
And most of us are told to just power through, or “keep your head up.” The American way is to pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and just move on. There’s not time for thinking or feeling, life is about taking action. We’re taught that if we just adjust our mindset, everything will improve.
And yet, when it comes down to it, we know that’s not always true. Sometimes, we need to just sit in the difficult times and let it be. There may be problems, but that doesn’t always mean we can solve them. Or at least not right away. Sometimes we just have to ride it out and see where it goes.
Over the last few months, I’ve been reminded of how important it is to do the things that bring you fulfillment, especially in times of uncertainty. When we’re stressed, burnt out, or overwhelmed, we seek comfort in what’s predictable and safe. For some, that might mean mindlessly scrolling through Tik Tok and Instagram, for other it could mean binging (TV shows, etc.). For me, I find solace in working.
When life gets chaotic, my brain switches into ‘fix it’ mode. I seek control in every way possible, and use work as an escape. But oddly enough, as most of you probably guessed, the escape never comes.
So I decided to take a different approach. Instead of fighting it and creating more opportunities for anxiety, I decided to let it happen. Watching and anxiously waiting, as the world spun around me. And, what slowly became clear was that, writing is important to me. It’s important for me, and it’s important to me.
And that’s what brought me back. Not some extrinsic motivation to pump out a newsletter just because I was “supposed to,” but from the intrinsic motivation to create. And that drive is what keeps me going.
Moving Forward, Together.
When I started writing Path Nine in 2019, I wasn’t really sure where it would go. There was no concrete goal. It was simply something I wanted to do — and that was enough for me.
For the last few months I’ve been writing extensively in private, documenting and detailing everything I explore and learn. Now, I am prepared to share some of my most recent experiences and insights, despite the imperfections.
Going forward, you can expect Path Nine to continue the bi-weekly newsletters with the content you’ve come to expect and support. I’ll not only be sharing systems and strategies to help you think, work, and live better, but I’ll also be sharing some templates. Stay tuned for more updates on these in the coming newsletters.
I’m thrilled to share a lot of the systems, frameworks, and learning currently in the backlog, but what excites me even more are the conversations and connections that will take place within this community. The support from the community is what keeps this all going, and I am thrilled to be able to share and learn with you all.
Most of the content will remain free. I have added paid tier for the people who want to support my work and help turn Path Nine into a sustainable endeavor. If you wish to see this newsletter grow, vote with your feet, and become a subscriber (or even a paid subscriber). And for anyone who has pledged their support, thank you so much — it means the world.
How You Can Help.
Send your questions. What’s something you could use help with? What questions do you have that I can help with? Let me know and I’ll answer them in future posts.
Share Path Nine. Get the word our and share P9 with as many people as possible. Let’s grow together!
A Parting Gift.
A few things I’ve enjoyed reading, listening to, and learning this week:
That’s it for this week.
I am incredibly excited and energized to get back into the groove, and to connect with each and every one of you.
Until Next Time!
If you’d like to support this newsletter, and the path that I’m taking, here are the ways you can become a supporter:
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Thanks for reading, and see you soon,
— Kevin K. (@kkirkpatrick)