Build Ecosystems, Not Empires™

A newsletter for BIPOC founders growing businesses that make them and their communities flourish. You can unsubscribe any time.

By Gelaine Santiago of Founding Possibilities​

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Hey Reader,

It’s been two weeks since the Build Ecosystems, Not Empires (BENE) Summit officially ended. I had all these grandiose plans after the summit: Launch a new program! Create all the content! Do all the things!

But every time I’d sit down to work, I’d be… blocked.

I’d clear my morning to write, and emerge with barely a few sentences. I caught a cold which derailed my plans. And then I wound up in the ER this week (false alarm, thankfully).

Looking back, it’s clear my body was telling me to slow down. The months leading up to the summit were intense, and then of course there was the summit itself and the week of additional events for folks who upgraded their tickets. Of course, I needed to rest. Like duh.

But my stubborn ass refused to listen. In between tests at the hospital, I was still taking calls, organizing an event, and making plans to launch my group program. I lied to myself that, because these were projects I was excited about, it wasn’t really work 🙃 Sound familiar, Reader?

After yet another block happened this week, I finally stopped pushing and thought: maybe I really am going about this the wrong way. Again, duh.

Here’s the thing: As BIPOC folks, especially if you’re a woman of colour, resting is one of the hardest things for us to do.

We’re conditioned by systems to be constantly labouring. We’re told our worth is based on what we produce. We're constantly reminded that resources, especially time, are scarce, so we have to maximize and work at inhumane speeds.

These beliefs are so deeply ingrained in us that if we pause and stop producing, something short circuits in our brains. Our deepest fears and insecurities about our self-worth reactivate. This is especially true if you’re an overachieving, highly ambitious go-getter (add 1000+ points if you’re the eldest daughter ☹️).

For me, the past 2 weeks made me realize I was buying into empire narratives of urgency and scarcity. My brain invented the story that if I didn’t launch something immediately after the summit, y’all would lose interest and unsubscribe. Maybe some of you will and that’s okay. But my brain took the idea and produced a whole damn horror movie.

And the irony is that unlearning these empire narratives was the whole point of the BENE Summit. My life's work is about helping purpose-driven BIPOC founders release the harmful narratives that have been fed to us, and embrace more regenerative and joyful ways to grow our businesses.

I’m giving myself grace though. This isn’t a moral failure, but a reminder that to Build Ecosystems, Not Empires is a lifelong practice. It’s not something you can learn about in a 3-day summit and expect to be changed forever. It takes intentionality, ongoing learning, and a community to support you along the way.

And it means making mistakes. Lots of them. And being kind to yourself when you do.

So whether you’ve just joined this newsletter during the BENE Summit or you’ve been a longtime reader, thank you for being here and learning, unlearning, and building with me. You're in great company ❤️

I’d love to hear: What’s an empire narrative that you want to unlearn in your business? Reply to this email and let me know. I may take a while to respond but I read every email you send me.

Wishing you a weekend of REST (the real kind) 😌

Gelaine

PS - We did launch one thing this week: The BENE Summit Library Pass is now available! 🥳

Didn't get to join our virtual summit, or missed out on a presentation you wanted to watch? The Build Ecosystems, Not Empires Summit Library Pass gives you access to all 20+ summit presentations and live workshop recordings for up to one year.

Watch all the presentations on your own schedule, take time to implement the strategies, and revisit the recordings as many times as you like.

PPS - The BENE Founding Circle is still coming! A 3-month immersive community for purpose-driven BIPOC founders.

Want to be in community with other values-aligned founders who just get it? Where you don’t need to explain yourself or justify your existence? You’re gonna love the BENE Founding Circle!

Reply Ecosystem to this email and I’ll add you to the waitlist to update you directly as soon as I have details to share.