July Newsletter: Wind, Work, and the Space in Between
- Katie Kolon
- Jul 30
- 4 min read
Welp, July is almost gone and I'm barely getting this newsletter out by my self-imposed, totally arbitrary deadline. I never committed to a regular monthly send, but I've found it's a good way to reflect on the past month. And while it may sound self-absorbed, if you are a solopreneur like me, you get it. Sometimes you need to regularly remind yourself of your small successes in order to propel you towards the larger ones. And the winds are building. I can feel it.
At the same time, I took a much-needed break this month. I just got back from a working vacation of sorts, delivering a fancy sailboat (a Pogo 36, for the sailing nerds) back from Mackinac Island after the Chicago to Mac race. I didn't do the race itself, because I prefer buoy over distance racing, and I'm still recovering from knee surgery. But I did help with the return trip. It was work: docking, setting course, motoring for hours, keeping watch. Still, the long stretches of water and spotty cell service meant I couldn’t check my phone even if I wanted to.
One day we had an exhilarating downwind sail, hitting 10 knots of boat speed! I also tore through half a novel in just a couple of days. It was five days with not much to do and nowhere to go but above and below deck apart from our stops in port. Now I’m back, and after that kind of break, it’s taking me a minute to ease into things again.
I love a good sailing metaphor, so bear with me. I usually operate more like the powerboats we saw racing across the lake at 30 knots: fast, focused, and burning a ton of fuel. Sailboats are slower and quieter. Ten knots doesn’t sound like much, but you can sail all day or night and still enjoy the journey. I don’t like feeling like I’m always working, but maybe, as a friend recently suggested, keeping a strict work schedule isn’t the best fit. I’m grateful to have the flexibility to take breaks and work when I need to. I just need to lean into slow and steady a bit more. I can’t go fast all the time, but maybe working in focused spurts, even on weekends or at odd hours, is what sustainability actually looks like.
Maybe you’ve felt that same tension, the push to move fast and the pull to make it last. What if balance doesn’t mean a perfect 9–5 rhythm, but something more fluid, like adjusting your sails to match the wind? That’s one of the benefits of being a solopreneur: I get to decide what the rhythm looks like.
Back on land in Chicago, July had a few other highlights worth sharing . . .
📰 The Groundwork Blog + Newsletter Update
The Groundwork Blog now houses both blog posts and past newsletters. So if you missed one, or want to revisit something, you can catch up anytime here. Each month's newsletter will also include that month's blog post(s) going forward. I will no longer send email notifications for every blog post.
What's New on The Groundwork Blog
Over the past five years, I've gotten into competitive sailing, and it's taught me a lot about the importance of relationships. I've spent a lot of time learning how to read the wind, trim sails, and react fast. But the biggest lessons haven't been tactical, they've been about trust, communication, and what it takes to function as a team.
I recently joined Brian Lofrumento on the Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur Podcast to talk about something I care deeply about: how we handle conflict. Whether at work, in business partnerships, or in life, every conflict is an opportunity for learning, understanding, and growth. You can listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts or click the link below!
📣 Speaking Engagements on Conflict Resolution+ Open to More
I've been having fun teaching people about what I do and how conflict resolution skills and process work. I have a couple more upcoming podcasts and am looking for more opportunities to put teach what I know. If you're planning something for the fall, or know a group who needs this kind of support, please reach out.I've been having fun teaching people about what I do and how conflict resolution skills and process work. I have a couple more upcoming podcasts and am looking for more opportunities to put teach what I know. If you're planning something for the fall, or know a group who needs this kind of support, please reach out.
📗 The Mutual Method now available in print!
I'm excited to announce the spiral-bound printed version of my Playbook for Navigating Important Conversations. It's a four-step process with templates, checklists, and worksheets to help your way through the conversations that matter.
That's the latest from me. Thanks for reading, and I'll see you in next month's reflection.
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