# 2023 changed us Canonical source: [https://www.braver.net/en/blog/2023-changed-us/]() The Braver journal Courage is the root of change and change is what we are chemically made for. ![Marie-Lou Gagnon]() Marie-Lou Gagnon January 5, 2024 ![2023 changed us]() *— Elizabeth Zott, [Lessons in Chemistry]()* Over the holidays, I was watching this series, and this line particularly caught my attention. It is fascinating when you think about it: at a cellular level, a human life is constantly changing. As someone particularly interested in *macroscopic* change, this *microscopic* view offered me a completely different perspective. Those words also caught my attention because I love the word “courage”, partly because it has been tied to the name “Braver” since its very beginnings. As though we instinctively knew that the change we were about to bring about 5 years earlier would require so much courage. What we did not know, however, was that 2023 would be the year we would demonstrate it more than ever before. 2023 changed us: Braver matured, and we, its co-founders, evolved. There are things in life that we know, but whose meaning grows deeper when we experience them again through new challenges. Here are 4 things we learned as entrepreneurs in 2023: ## 1. Creativity can emerge unexpectedly in a highly constrained environment One thing that fascinated me over the past year was our ability to find solutions to problems. The more complex the situation, the more our brains got to work making unusual connections. But it did not happen by magic. Our recipe? Creating space, both physical and mental. Having time to explore without pressure. Letting go of the mental models that, most of the time, help us stay focused on our work. Having a space of trust in which to exchange possible solutions that sometimes make no sense at all. ## 2. Acting with authenticity and transparency can make an enormous difference When you are leading a business, it is not always possible to lay out situations with complete transparency. Because reality is often very complex, it can be difficult to make information about the whole situation accessible. Also, to act transparently, we need to be able to manage its impact. For example, it is not only about laying things out as they are, but also answering the why and the how. That said, there are times when transparency is called for. What I find hardest is not so much speaking transparently, but finding the balance between what we should and should not disclose. I am learning to juggle this new skill, and I have not mastered it yet. However, I believe that when the time comes to lay out an entire situation, it is essential to do so authentically. ## 3. Being realistic at the right time is necessary. Being optimistic at the right time is essential. As entrepreneurs, we often have an optimism bias. Statistically, the odds are that a business will not break through. So, by definition, entrepreneurs have a very optimistic view of their businesses. Having an unshakeable belief that we can succeed probably represents 50% of the journey toward doing so. Yet at certain critical moments, we need the courage to face reality. That sounds easy, but moving between optimism and realism is not always straightforward, because sometimes it has to happen within just a few hours. It is anxiety-provoking and uncomfortable. It requires honesty with ourselves and courage, but only by looking reality squarely in the face can we take the right actions at the right time. ## 4. Our limits are often further away than we think, but they do not disappear What I observed over the past year was that my limits were not only further away than I had thought, but also shifting. Just because a limit was there one day does not mean it will be there forever, since the environment in which I am evolving and who I am are also changing. My limits are therefore constantly being redefined. Becoming aware of this is extremely powerful. Consequently, what guides me should not be so much these abstract limits I project, but rather the sense of confidence I have in a situation and what it stirs in me. In short, our own limits are a whole world to explore! --- There was so much change in 2023. So many situations that pushed us to redefine our plans, our limits, our approaches and our strategies. This had an enormous impact on the people Mathieu and I are, but also on the business: Braver took a giant leap forward. In particular: 1. A change in financing strategy in a context of scarce capital 2. Our role in organizations' change management 3. The need to measure change These three topics particularly captured our attention over the past year, and each will have its own article in the coming weeks! Stay tuned! And 2024? It will be a year of achievement and bringing things to life for Braver. I see the path more clearly than ever. Will it surprise me? I am certain it will. Will it surprise you? I hope so. We have big news we will soon be able to share with you, and we cannot wait to carry out all these major projects! I wish you a 2024 in which change becomes an opportunity to grow with courage! And above all, I wish you the most precious thing of all: good health.