GNT #153: They're going to misunderstand you

Welcome to Grow North Thursday - One idea each week to help you grow with purpose, earn sustainably, and design a life you love.

Forwarded this? ​Subscribe here.

read time: 2 minutes

They're going to misunderstand you.

Do it anyway.

↓

You're sitting on a decision you know you need to make.

Maybe a shift in direction, a change in how you position your work, or a boundary you haven't said out loud yet.

Not everyone will understand it.

And maybe part of you keeps wondering if you should wait... until people get it more cleanly, or there’s less friction.

That instinct makes sense. Wanting to be understood is human.

But please hear me when I say:

→ this is often the moment when some of your most meaningful work stalls.

In today’s newsletter, we’re talking about what to do when conviction comes before consensus, when you know in your gut this is the right direction for you, even though the room hasn’t caught up yet.

Let's dig in.

1. What conviction > consensus means

Conviction is not certainty.

When we have conviction, we don't have all the answers or perfect data. We are not immune to doubt.

Conviction is quieter than that.

It's a grounded sense of "this is the direction," even if some details are still unfolding.

Consensus is external.

It's approval, agreement, buy-in, or understanding from other people.

The challenge is that consensus often lags behind conviction, especially when you're changing something that's been familiar or comfortable for others.

Waiting for consensus can feel responsible.

But sometimes it is simply postponing a decision you already made internally.

2. Being misunderstood is part of being specific

When you choose a clearer direction, some people will not get it.

That does not automatically mean you explained it poorly. Often, it means you stopped trying to make it work for everyone.

Specific choices create edges. Edges clarify what this is and what it is not. Who it is for and who it is not.

Not everything meaningful comes with universal understanding.

That does not make it reckless or premature.

It makes it specific.

3. The first version is allowed to be imperfect

The version of this decision in your head is probably very clean.

The first version in real life might not be.

That gap is not a sign you misjudged things. It is part of translating something internal into something real.

You do not get clarity before you act. You get it through action, feedback, and adjustment.

Movement creates information.

Takeaway 

You do not need consensus to take your next step.

→ This week: Identify one honest, small “do it anyway” move you can make.

How did it feel, and what did you learn?

I'm always rooting for you. See you next week.

-Colleen

📩 If you’ve found value in this newsletter, please forward it to a friend. It’s the biggest way you can support my work, and I appreciate it so much.

For more short, grounded ideas throughout the week, you can follow me on LinkedIn.

If someone forwarded this to you, you can subscribe here to get it each week. I never spam.