The Middle Ground: Redefining My Relationship with Skool

Nov 8

You know that moment when you publish something honest and raw, only to have life throw you a curve ball that makes you reconsider everything?

Well, grab your coffee (or tea, I don’t judge), because that’s exactly what happened to me.

A beautiful cup of tea. Teacup with painted flowers sitting on a marble counter top with dried flowers scattered around. — Photo by Vero Manrique on Unsplash

After my last post about leaving Skool, a dear friend reached out. Not with the usual “you’re missing out” spiel, but with something different: an invitation to see Skool through a different lens.

And honestly? It got me thinking.

The Power of Selective Engagement

Here’s the thing about online communities…they’re like all-you-can-eat buffets. Just because everything’s available doesn’t mean you need to pile your plate with every dish. Sometimes, the magic lies in choosing exactly what serves you.

A beautiful buffet with the same size white casserole bowls with different salads and colorful vegetables. — Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash

My friend suggested focusing on just two groups: Inspire Action and her own group, “Check In, Check Up.” The latter, focusing on overcoming self-sabotaging behaviors and mental blocks, particularly caught my attention.

Because let’s be real…who among us couldn’t use a little help getting out of our own way?

Finding Your People

Cool people are everywhere. They’re in high-energy spaces and quiet corners, in bustling communities and intimate groups.

What I’m learning is that it’s not about the platform — it’s about finding your specific tribe within it.

Remember in high school when everyone thought you had to stick to one clique? Well, turns out adult communities don’t work that way (thank goodness- and I never did anyway 🤷‍♀️ I always found beauty in allll the groups).

You can be the person who shows up for focused business strategy AND the one who needs a safe space to work through mental blocks.

The Art of the Second Chance

Sometimes, our first impressions are like trying to judge a book by its cover while wearing sunglasses at midnight. Not exactly accurate. While my initial experience with Skool’s high-octane environment wasn’t my cup of tea, I’m learning that maybe I don’t need to drink the whole pot.

A stack of old books with the spines stacked outward. — Photo by Chris Lawton on Unsplash

Instead, I’m sipping slowly, choosing carefully curated spaces where authentic connections can flourish. The Inspire Action group offers practical steps forward and a beautiful…you guessed it…an inspiring philosophy, while “Check In, Check Up” provides that crucial mental health support that I found missing in my first go-round.

A Different Kind of Success Story

This isn’t your typical “I was wrong about everything” post. Rather, it’s about the beauty of nuance. About how spaces can be simultaneously not-for-you and perfect-for-you, depending on how you choose to engage with them.

The entrepreneurial world doesn’t have to be all hustle culture or all zen mindfulness. Maybe the sweet spot lies in finding your unique balance… taking what serves you and leaving what doesn’t.

Zen stacked stones with a vibrant background of greenery. — Photo by Sean Stratton on Unsplash

Moving Forward

So here I am, giving Skool another shot, but this time on my own terms.

I am laid up presently: Got the hardware out of my leg after a snowboarding accident in January 2023. So…when I am feeling well enough to reintroduce myself, I will give it a second chance.

No FOMO, no pressure to be everywhere at once, just intentional engagement in spaces that align with both my business goals and mental wellbeing.

To those who resonated with my previous post about leaving — your feelings are valid. Sometimes stepping away is exactly what we need. But sometimes, like in my case, we find a middle ground we didn’t know existed.

And to my friend who gently nudged me to reconsider — thank you. Sometimes the best gifts come wrapped in second chances.

Remember, it’s okay to change your mind. It’s okay to try again. And most importantly, it’s okay to create your own path, even if that path looks more like a meandering stream (ha. guilty!) than a straight highway.

Here’s to finding our way, one carefully chosen step at a time.