If the system is broken, the only hope is to create a new one.
There was a time when I stood in the shadows, shortly after leaving the corporate world that struggled to acknowledge my leadership potential and worth. I found myself in a similar situation in the start-up world, a world I thought promised equality and valued work ethic above all. I was quickly captivated and capitalized on. Groups built for support took my skills and handed off their annoying to-do’s to me. Little did I know these to-do’s gave me everything and left them with nothing but recognition and networking.
Somewhere in the shadows, I found strength I had not had before. One day, I looked at the broken systems I had been strong enough to escape, only to realize that while it was a new and invigorating environment, it was the same thing. I stood spinning, but not for as long as I had before.
I watched start-ups shut down and receive no support at the mere thought of legacy or non-tech endeavors. They were quickly written off the list of support services that should be received if trying to do things not held as the standard start-up practice of business. I realized that legacy businesses (craft, art, service, brick and mortar) are not scalable, so they decided they did not get support.
I kept witnessing that if that is the path you choose, you are quickly excommunicated, unimportant, and unfundable.
As soon as I woke up and stopped spinning, trying to correct a broken system, I started building my own. A system where there is support no matter what. A system where we work together to survive and thrive. A system of collaboration instead of a system built solely to celebrate the systems that “got us there.”
I vowed from that day forward to empower the people who need the help the most instead of shaming them for their beautiful, brilliant, balanced ideas. I continued building this movement of empowerment.
This movement leaves the old clubs right where they are.
Because this movement is more.
Every day, I still work to build a system of empowerment that allows small Iowa businesses to test, build, and expand in an environment that will never abandon them. An environment that builds systems that allow them to build balance as they build their business.
I will never regret no longer standing in systems that didn’t value me.
I will never regret building my own.
I built my own systems instead of wasting time to break the old.
We don't have to settle, we don't have to break. We can build.
Change the World,
Hanna Nuss
Local. Founder
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