3 minute read
Portsmouth
In mid-May 2025 at the 16th Annual Bigelow Forum, we released our newest book INTENTION: Unlocking the Lifeforce Inside High Performing Entrepreneurs. During the session of the Forum where we introduced the book and walked through some of the back story on it, I quoted Author James Clear who famously said: “Entrepreneurship is a personal growth journey merely disguised as a business pursuit."
Sure, Entrepreneurship is often perceived as a purely economic pursuit—an endeavor driven by ambition, profit, and competition. That’s kooky because at its core, entrepreneurship is far more than starting a business; it is an act of creation, a leap of faith, and, in many ways, can be a profound spiritual journey.
One of our friends/clients heard that introduction at the Forum, read INTENTION, and then sent along this article published on Substack that he thought captured his views well, so we are linking it below.
Look, entrepreneurs are creators. They imagine something that does not yet exist and then bring it into the world through vision, courage, and persistence. This process of creation is an act of alignment—aligning one’s values, passions, and unique gifts with the world’s needs.
Living as an entrepreneur teaches surrender and humility. Even the most meticulous plans are subject to forces beyond our control. The markets shift, customers’ needs evolve, and setbacks arise. In these moments, entrepreneurs are invited to let go of rigid expectations and embrace the flow of change—trusting in the process, much like a spiritual seeker learns to trust life’s unfolding path.
Ultimately, living as an entrepreneur is a way to serve. It is about uplifting others, offering something of value that can make people’s lives better. In this light, entrepreneurship is not merely about building businesses. It is about awakening to one’s highest potential, forging meaningful connections, and contributing to the greater good. It is a journey that transforms not just what we do, but who we are.
Entrepreneurship is the Ultimate Spiritual Journey by The Raw Founder
Beneath the strategy and hustle is a deeper calling, to remember who you really are.
What I am Reading / Listening to
Small Things Like These (2021)
By Claire Keegan
Contributed by Mari Lister
What happens when you see something that no one wants to talk about—and you decide not to look away?
Some stories rattle you not with what they say, but with what they leave unsaid. Small Things Like These is one of those. Claire Keegan’s writing is sparse and matter-of-fact—almost cold—but it somehow makes the emotional weight hit even harder. There’s a darkness to this book, the kind that creeps in quietly. The kind that lingers long after you’ve finished reading.
Set in a small Irish town in the weeks before Christmas, the story follows Bill Furlong, a coal merchant and family man, who stumbles into something quietly horrifying at a convent. What unfolds is not loud, not dramatic—but deeply human. Bill is faced with a choice. One that asks: When faced with something unjust, do you act? Or do you protect your comfort and look the other way?
That question hit me. Hard.
As someone who thinks often about what it means to live with intention and integrity, this short novel felt like a punch to the gut. Moral courage isn’t usually about big public gestures. More often, it’s about quiet moments. Split-second decisions. The risk of doing the right thing when it costs you something—and no one else is clapping.
Keegan’s descriptive prose is gorgeous in its restraint. I could feel the frost in the air, smell the coal dust, sense the silence between characters. It made me feel like I was right there, walking alongside Bill, wrestling with the same uneasy questions.
Small Things Like These is a short read. But it leaves a long shadow.
Entrepreneur Owner-Manager Quote
"Congratulations to you and your team on another great job. It was great working with you guys and seeing your approach to it all. So much more refreshing than how others handle deals. You are close to your clients, and they trust you. I saw that with how our mutual client interacted with you. Everything was professionally done, and it was such a thorough job ensuring he went with the best fit and not just the one with the most money.”
© 2025 Bigelow LLC. All rights reserved.