The Breaking Zone
Where Resilience Meets the Sea
Dear Reader,
In this entrepreneurial journey I’ve chosen — and one I hope you’ll embark on too — there comes a stage that tests us deeply: the breaking zone. Let me explain.
In open-water swimming, there are critical moments — each carrying its risks. If you want to get to deeper waters quickly, you catch a rip current. But if you want a smoother swim or sail, you need to move past the area where the waves form. That region, right between the shore and the open sea, is called the breaking zone. It’s the most difficult part: the wind and waves push you backward while you fight to move forward.
Life works much the same way. Sometimes, it’s easier to turn back — but progress only comes to those who keep swimming. Returning to shore may feel safe, but you’ll eventually need to face the sea again.
And yet, there’s wisdom in stepping back. If you return better equipped and with the right technique, you increase your chances of breaking through. The same applies in business: success is uncertain, so it’s wise to keep small projects running in parallel — but also to recognize when it’s time to rebuild or let one go.
A speedboat will always move faster than your arms, but if you don’t have one yet, learn how to build your raft. In entrepreneurship, the principle is simple: you don’t need to create something worth a million dollars — you just need something that can be sold a million times.
The breaking zone is exhausting; it feels like everything is pulling you back. But hold your focus. Stay consistent. Refine your technique. Soon, that turbulent stretch will fade behind you — and the open sea will be yours.
Warm regards,
Augusto Machado