The Space Between…

About 45 years ago, my dad and I went on a backpacking trip in the Jemez Mountains of northern New Mexico with a few other fathers and their sons. We drove to the top of the mountain, shouldered our backpacks, and began hiking about seven miles down a narrow trail toward the Rio Grande, where we planned to camp for a few days.

First of all, let me point out something that made perfect sense to adults but absolutely confused my younger self. We drove all the way to the top of a mountain, just so we could walk all the way back down it. Even then I remember thinking, “Couldn’t we have just parked at the bottom?” Apparently, that would have taken all the fun out of carrying a backpack that felt roughly the size and weight of a small refrigerator.

Going downhill wasn’t the hard part. We all knew the real challenge would come later when we had to hike those same seven miles back up the mountain carrying everything we hadn’t eaten. Funny how life works that way. Sometimes the hardest part isn’t getting started. It’s getting back.

The scenery was absolutely beautiful. There were tall pines, fresh mountain air, wildlife and peace and quiet. It was the kind of place that makes you appreciate nature. It was also the kind of place where I was quietly hoping nature appreciated staying over there and not wandering over to where we were sleeping.

About halfway down the trail, our small group fell behind the others. It was just my dad, another father and his son, and me. The trail became harder to see as it wound through the trees, and after a while we stopped for a quick drink and a snack. I still remember looking around and realizing something that made my stomach tighten. We were in the middle. We weren’t close to where we had started anymore, but we certainly weren’t anywhere near where we were going either. We were somewhere in between.

I remember feeling nervous. What if we had missed a turn? What if we were on the wrong trail? Keep in mind, this was long before smartphones, GPS, satellite maps, or that wonderfully reassuring voice saying, “Recalculating.” Back then, if you got lost, your navigation system was basically one calm dad and a kid trying very hard not to imagine living with the squirrels.

My dad calmly pulled out his compass. Yes, an actual compass. For some of my younger readers, that’s the little round gadget people used before our phones started telling us where the nearest coffee shop was. He studied it for a minute and then he unfolded the map. Now, I have to admit, I never quite understood that part. We were standing in the middle of thousands of trees. The map wasn’t exactly going to say, “You are currently standing next to Steve’s favorite rock.”

But that’s my dad. He looked at the compass, he looked at the map, he looked around and he looked back at the compass. At this point I think he was mostly making sure I didn’t realize he was double-checking himself. Then he smiled, pointed down the trail, and simply said, “We’re fine.”

Looking back, that sentence probably lowered my blood pressure by about twenty points. Sure enough, we were. We made it to the Rio Grande, spent several wonderful days camping beside the river, and eventually climbed every one of those seven miles back to the top.

The Rio Grande wasn’t the slow-moving river many people picture. There were rapids, beautiful scenery, and a sandy area where we camped. It was absolutely worth the hike. Especially once someone else confirmed we weren’t hopelessly lost.

Looking back, I don’t remember every meal we cooked or every fish we didn’t catch. Actually, I remember catching about enough fish to keep the mosquitoes entertained. But I do remember that feeling of being in the space between. The gap. The place where you aren’t where you used to be, but you haven’t yet arrived where you’re going.

So, what does this have to do with running an online business? Well, I’m glad you asked!

I think just about every entrepreneur spends time in that same space between. At the beginning, everything feels exciting. You have an idea. You have enthusiasm. You can clearly see the starting line. Then reality shows up. The path starts winding. You wonder if you’re making the right decisions. You question whether your website is good enough, whether your marketing is working, whether anyone is paying attention, or whether you should turn around and head back to where things felt safe.

Welcome to the gap. This is where many people quit. Not because they made a bad decision and  not because they aren’t capable. They quit because uncertainty is uncomfortable. The successful people I’ve met don’t avoid the gap. They expect it. When things become unclear, they don’t panic. They pull out their version of a compass. Maybe that’s a mentor. Maybe it’s trusted training. Maybe it’s data. Maybe it’s experience. Maybe it’s simply taking a deep breath and remembering why they started in the first place.

The goal isn’t to know every twist in the trail. The goal is simply to know the next step.

Success isn’t found by standing still while waiting for certainty. It’s found by continuing to move, one decision at a time. Eventually, almost without realizing it, you arrive where you hoped to be. Maybe your destination looks a little different than you imagined. Maybe it’s even better. But you’ll never discover that if you stop in the middle.

Why The Space Between Matters

• Growth almost always happens between the starting point and the finish line, not at either end.
• Uncertainty doesn’t mean you’re lost. It often means you’re making progress.
• Good mentors, good training, and good data become your compass when emotions try to take over.
• Every successful entrepreneur has spent time wondering if they were on the right path.
• Keep moving forward. Small, consistent steps usually beat perfect plans that never leave the starting line.

The older I get, the more I realize that life isn’t made up only of beginnings and endings. Most of it happens in the middle. That’s where we learn patience. That’s where confidence is built. And that’s where character quietly develops while nobody else is watching.

If you’re feeling like you’re somewhere in the space between today, don’t assume you’ve taken a wrong turn. You may simply be exactly where growth happens. Trust your compass and keep walking. The view at the end of the trail is worth it.

One of the reasons I enjoy being part of the Internet Profits Academy so much is because nobody expects you to hike the trail alone. You have experienced mentors, practical training, an encouraging community, and a proven system that helps you keep your bearings when business starts feeling uncertain. Even better, there’s now a FREE option available, so you can explore what it’s all about. If you’ve been thinking about building an online business but weren’t sure where to begin, or if you’ve found yourself somewhere in the middle wondering what comes next, this is a great place to start.

I’d genuinely love to hear from you. Have you ever found yourself in “the space between?” Maybe it was in business, your career, a relationship, or another challenge in life. What helped you keep moving forward? Share your story in the comments. I read every one of them, and I think we can all learn from each other’s journeys.

And finally, I was telling my wife about this idea for today’s blog and said, “You know, sometimes life is all about the space between.” She smiled and said, “That’s funny, because judging by the pile of projects in your garage, you’ve been living in the space between ‘I’ll start it’ and ‘I’ll finish it’ for years.” She’s not wrong.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I suddenly feel the urge to go organize the garage or at least find my dad’s old compass.

“Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” — Martin Luther King Jr.

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson

And of course, a few VERY BAD Dad jokes:

I wasn’t lost. I was just between knowing where I was and admitting I didn’t.

I’m not stuck. I’m just strategically paused between brilliant ideas.

BONUS:

Being in the middle is like microwaving leftovers. You know something’s happening, but you’re not sure if the center’s ready yet.

Until next time, STAY FRESH, Friends!