The Road Less Traveled: A Reflection for our Fourth Birthday

I love these birthday celebrations. They happen right around Independence Day here in the US and right before my daughter Londons birthday. I always have a little extra time and feel reflective. Im thankful that I get to zoom out and celebrate with all of you.

This has been quite a year! Weve accomplished a tremendous amount in our work together. I wont list all that weve done, but we should all be proud of each and every achievement - no matter how big or small - because it is our collective effort that makes 7 Cups work.

7 Cups is now 4 years old! I kind of cant believe it. 7 Cups has evolved way differently and way better than I could have ever predicted. It ended up being so much cooler than I initially envisioned and that is largely because so many of you helped author it. You infused it with your talents and strengths. You spoke into the broader stream and made 7 Cups deeper, richer, and far more colorful. Thank you!

How did we create this beautiful thing that is 7 Cups?

Im convinced that it comes down to a simple formula: caring for one another + problem solving = 7 Cups. There isnt a grand design or a master strategy. 7 Cups just evolves and emerges out of mutual aid and problem resolution. Kind of amazing right?

It is just that simple.

I had to learn this. I initially thought it was more complicated. Now I know it - deeply in my bones know it - and it is a huge relief. These two ingredients - this very basic formula - of caring for one another and problem solving have taken us very far and I know they will take us all the way to fulfilling our mission.

We have our quarterly and annual goals. We map them all out and we track details. We keep a very close eye on things. All of this is good and necessary and very important. However, this planning is not why 7 Cups is where it is today. We couldnt have planned our way here in a million years. Plans require things to work out as specified and on schedule. Things - especially in a startup - never work out as specified and 99% of the time they are not on schedule. As John Lennon said, Life happens when you are busy making other plans.

I used to think our success was tied to us reaching our goals on time and according to plan. If we hit them, then Id feel delighted. If we didnt, then Id feel frustrated and wonder what we did wrong. Fortunately, through many, many, many lessons (I can be a stubbornly slow learner), I realized that the plans actually end up being less important. The core thing - the most important thing - is the engine. If the engine is right, then youll get where you are going. Some roads might be closed or you might have to make extra stops or perhaps youll get a flat tire. All of that is to be expected. If your engine is in good shape, then youll get there one way or another.

Our engine is really strong.

Our engine, or our formula, of caring for one another and problem solving is what has taken us this far and it is what will continue to drive us forward.

Im not going to suggest that this has been an easy road. For many of us, 7 Cups has been one of the most challenging things we have ever faced in life. It has been amazingly rewarding, but it has also been very tough. Those challenges are not to be avoided, because they make our engine stronger. They help us grow and they make us more resilient.

There is a statement by Ray Dalio that succinctly captures this: Pain + Reflection = Progress.

This is also the message of Scott Pecks great book - the Road Less Traveled. Weve tried to take the road less traveled with 7 Cups, because I think it matters in a whole bunch of ways that are not necessarily seen as important to other people. Making a company that is primarily oriented around making money is the road often traveled. Creating a company that primarily focuses on caring for people, especially people with limited financial resources, is the road less traveled. Hoarding power is the common road. Giving up power is the road less traveled.

Im much happier on the road less traveled. I like the people better that walk down this road. I can camp on the side of the road at night and not worry about anyone stealing my stuff. If I need something, then I can ask and someone will offer it. I share my things too and it feels good to help others out. There is always a campfire and friendly people around. This mutual dependence and the scarcity helps us lean on each other to figure things out. It works and I love it.

I dont ever want us to lose it.

7 Cups is now in a place where it is much more established. We dont have to worry - as much - about paying the bills. We are not nearly as stressed out as we once were. Things are much more stable. The new threats will be less around scarcity and survival. They will instead likely be perceived as positive and consist of new and exciting opportunities. We need to keep in mind that positives can get us off track just like negatives could get us off track. It took real discipline and commitment to stay focused through the minuses; lets make sure we keep focus as we experience some pluses.

I dont want this to sound too somber. Im incredibly proud of all that weve accomplished. They call it the road less traveled, because it is in fact the road less traveled. People start on it and have every intention of staying on it and then they get distracted. Things get too difficult and they quit or they end up really liking a little town they stopped in and they never get going again. Weve got a lot of this journey left. Lets rest up and celebrate all that weve accomplished, but lets also keep in mind that we have a long ways to go.

We wont get there according to plan and we wont get there on time and the journey will end up looking quite a bit different than anything that we envisioned. And all of that will be very good, because we will have stayed focused on the two primary things that matter the most, the simple formula that has taken us thus far and will take us the distance: caring for one another + problem solving. It is indeed the road less traveled.

Thank you for walking with us down this road. It has been an honor to walk with all of you!

With gratitude,

GlenM