ENTREPRENEURSHIP AFTER 50
The First Step is the Deepest
A bit of sand in your boots is a reminder of what lies ahead
Sleeping Bear Dunes is one of the most famous geological formations in all of Michigan. Spanning four square miles between the serene Glen Lake and the vast expanse of Lake Michigan, these dunes are more than just a natural wonder — they are a breathtaking relic of the Ice Age. As the continental glaciers retreated, they sculpted “Perched Dunes” from glacial sands, leaving behind towering plateaus high above the newly formed lake basins.
Sleeping Bear’s dramatic landscape is visited by almost two million people a year, the heartiest of which attempt and/or complete the Dune Climb, a 3.5 mile round trip trek from the base of the Dunes to Lake Michigan and back.
As my wife and I approached the Dunes we scoffed at the description of the Dune Climb as “strenuous.” Surely no 3.5 mile hike could truly be described as such, right?
We have hiked much longer distances that we’d describe as “mildly challenging” to “fairly tough,” so calling this one strenuous seemed like a stretch. Until, of course, you take your very first step into the six inch-deep sand.
That first step at the Dunes feels like a plunge into quicksand. The ground swallows your foot, almost as if it’s warning you to reconsider your journey. The initial climb up the east face is a trial, each step a test of your willpower to keep heading upward. Your heart pounds furiously, a stark reminder of the physical challenge ahead, and you can’t help but wonder if you’re truly prepared for the ascent.
Those who push through that initial climb and persevere through the next 1.75 miles to Lake Michigan are rewarded with one of the most serene spots in the Great Lakes. The view is not only gorgeous, but the setting is one of the better spots on the planet for a well-deserved picnic lunch.
The Parallel
My thought almost immediately when I took that first step was the parallel between it and the first step you have to take to launch a business. That first step seems innocuous, but it can swallow your foot, making you immediately question your decision.
Once you’ve taken it your brain begs you to take the next one, and the next after that, ultimately sending many down the most rewarding career path they’ve ever taken.
The good news about the first steps that kick off both your Sleeping Bear adventure and your entrepreneurial journey is you actually have a while to decide whether to turn back or not. In that way, the first step is both the deepest but arguably the easiest.
Respect the Rangers
At Sleeping Bear, those who continue are reminded that national park rangers actually know what they’re talking about when they label the Dune Climb as strenuous. In their entrepreneurial journey, those who continue are quickly reminded of something equally as compelling: that the millions of steps they took to get to this point are what prepared them to keep going.
Like all great adventures, the entrepreneurial journey is about using what you’ve learned prior that first step as the reinforcement for taking the second step, the third, and the thousands after that.
At the Dunes, park rangers are there to offer guidance and guidelines. On your entrepreneurial journey, you’ll receive both of these from your own rangers: peers, mentors, friends, and family who have been down similar paths.
So pack lunch, note the signs the rangers have posted, ignore the sand that’s about to enter your shoes, and take that first step.
