NWV Brief #22: maybe the “right” path doesn’t exist

Dear Founder,

We all want a map—a foolproof plan that tells us where to go, when to turn, and how to get there with the least resistance. 

But have you ever met anyone that actually got one?

Probably not, maybe because the “right” path doesn’t exist.

There is no single road, no preordained sequence of steps that guarantees success. We’d like to believe if we just make the "right" decisions, everything will fall into place. But in reality, every path is shaped by trial, error, and adaptation.

Instead of a map, we get something else. Hints. Patterns. The right conversation at the right time. A failure that forces us to rethink. A roadblock that nudges us in a new direction.

We don’t always get what we want. But if we’re paying attention, we get exactly what we need.

• The founder who doesn’t land the investor they were banking on? They get the lesson that forces them to refine their pitch—so when the right one comes along, they’re ready.

• The team that keeps hitting walls with their product? They get the insight that shifts their approach—leading to a pivot that finally resonates.

The truth is, every decision we make carves the path forward. We don’t find the "right" path—we create it.

The challenge isn’t about getting the perfect roadmap. It’s about learning to read the signs—the subtle clues that tell us we’re heading the right way, even when the path isn’t clear.

So this week, I invite you to stop searching for certainty. To stop expecting the whole map to reveal itself. Instead, look for the next indicator. The next conversation. The next unexpected lesson.

With purpose, vision, and appreciation,
Brooke