What Thailand and Vietnam Taught Me About Work, Worth, and Letting Go

During two months in Thailand and Vietnam, one thing stood out: entrepreneurship was everywhere. Whether we were hiking in the mountains or strolling through a quiet, residential street, someone was always ready to offer a good or service.

What amazed me most was the informality of it. People weren’t waiting until things were “perfect” before launching their business. They put their offerings out into the world.  Quality mattered, but the aethetics didn’t. Some of the best food and coffee we had came from a simple shed on the side of the road – no branding, no Instagrammable design. Just good work.

And while people wanted customers – often calling out with a smile to a passerby – they weren’t consumed by their business. They chatted with neighbours, napped during quiet hours. There was no frantic energy, just presence and persistence.  

Watching them made me reflect on how differently I approach my work. I overthink. I tweak. I wait for perfection – often driven by fear that something won’t be good enough. But that delay is rarely helpful. It stifles momentum and robs me of the chance to learn by doing.

I’m also realizing that not everything has to be a grand success. Sometimes the value is in simply trying. In showing up. In the lessons you gain from the process itself.

What if we stopped measuring everything by its outcome and started valuing the effort, the experience, the growth?

One challenge I set for myself during this journey was to just try. To not care about the outcome. To put in my best effort (without overthinking everything) and simply enjoy what I’m doing, no matter how much traction it gets.

It’s a work in progress, but I invite you to do the same. Try something you’ve been putting off – not because it’s perfect, but because it’s ready enough.

Start small. Start imperfect. Just start.

 Best wishes,

Lauren

P.s. Sometimes all we need is a nudge and a space to think clearly. If you're ready to start—before it's perfect—our coaching can help you take that next step.