Founder Stories: Power in the Pause

In this edition of Founder Stories, we explore the profound wisdom of pausing — a concept embraced in mindfulness, stoicism, and resilience. Drawing from Viktor Frankl's insights, we delve into how the space between stimulus and response holds the key to our freedom and power of choice.

"Between stimulus and response, there is a space. In that space lies our freedom and our power to choose our response." -Viktor Frankl

The Essence of the Pause

The power of the pause has been acknowledged by great minds across history, from musicians like Mozart to philosophers and writers. It's in this pause that we find the essence of meaning, whether in music, life, or the day of rest.

Personal Reflections on Mindfulness

My personal journey with mindfulness has led to a significant shift in mental well-being. It's about recognizing that constant noise without pause is just that — noise. To create resonance, to make music out of life, we need to embrace the pauses.

Wisdom from David Foster Wallace

David Foster Wallace said the freedom in life lies in what you pay attention to and care about, how to react or respond or think in certain bad or mind-numbingly boring situations.

(Very brief summary of his "This is Water" speech to Kenyon college, which is fantastic).

Bad and mind-numbingly boring and unfair, uncomfortable, or even painful things will happen. All the time. At a constant but irregular pace.

Drawing on David Foster Wallace's insights, we see that freedom lies in what we choose to pay attention to. Life will invariably present us with challenges — boring, unfair, or painful situations. Our power lies in how we choose to respond.

Choice in Response

When confronted with life's challenges, we stand at a crossroads. We can react instinctively, or we can choose a different response. Recognizing that we have this choice is where true power lies. It's about taking a moment to breathe before reacting, acknowledging our freedom to choose our response.

In the constant ebb and flow of life, especially in the demanding world of entrepreneurship, acknowledging the power in the pause can be transformative. It's about more than just reacting; it's about consciously choosing our responses and finding empowerment in these choices.