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The Crazy Brave Life of an Entrepreneur

Writer's picture: Lisa LiberatoreLisa Liberatore

Updated: Jan 27


"Entrepreneurship is like this puzzle—you can see the big picture, but the missing pieces can feel overwhelming. Success comes when you keep finding and fitting them together, one by one."
"Entrepreneurship is like this puzzle—you can see the big picture, but the missing pieces can feel overwhelming. Success comes when you keep finding and fitting them together, one by one."

You have to be some kind of crazy brave to venture into the entrepreneurial world. There’s no job description for it. In fact, if you do well enough, you end up hiring people and writing job descriptions—not just for them but also for yourself. That’s when it hits you: you need clear boundaries and roles to ensure success is even remotely possible.


Being an entrepreneur means listening—truly listening—and seeking feedback to take this hunch, this burning desire, and turn it into reality. It’s a vision you can barely articulate. The steps are unclear, but the pull to keep going is undeniable. You’re driven to solve something, even if you’re not sure what the “solution” will ultimately look like.


Let me tell you: I am NOT a puzzle person. Any puzzle over 30 pieces makes me want to walk away. I don’t have the patience or desire to focus on that level of detail. But as an entrepreneur, you have to systemically do both—see the big picture and then track down that tiny interior piece that completes it. It’s a constant shift between the macro and the micro, and that can be overwhelming.


Having built multiple ventures across various industries, I can confirm that those feelings don’t change. The excitement, the fear, the doubt—they’re all part of the process. The difference now? I’ve learned to accept the fear and use it as fuel. Instead of letting it paralyze me, I’ve learned to let it motivate me.


I’ll never forget the sting of early feedback on my first big idea, Baxter Tea Company. A retired corporate guy—my mentor at the time—told me it would never work. He said the tea market was too saturated, and he didn’t like my business name. That criticism hurt. For a while, it sat heavy, threatening to derail my momentum. But as the sting faded, it turned into something else: fuel. It became the motivation to prove him wrong and a reminder that he wasn’t my ideal customer. More importantly, it taught me to be selective about whose feedback I take to heart.


Entrepreneurship is messy, exhilarating, and downright terrifying. It’s a balancing act between dreaming big and sweating the details. It’s about trusting yourself enough to take that next step, even when the path is unclear. And it’s about finding the courage to keep going—even when someone tells you your idea won’t work.


As I was looking at my Facebook memories, I saw a picture of Lisa's Legit Burrito sign being installed 14 years ago. Eight years ago on this day, I had a ribbon cutting for CoVort, Bangor's first coworking space. And just one year ago, I was selling my first investment property—the one I bought for my son and me to live in after going through a divorce. These milestones remind me of the incredible journey this entrepreneurial life has been and continue to fuel my passion.


So, to anyone standing on the edge of this crazy brave journey: embrace the chaos, listen carefully, and let the fear push you forward. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it.

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