I recently read an article called Learn to Love the Moat of Low Status, and it really stuck with me. Jesse heard someone say on a radio show once that 99% of people talk about doing things, but never actually do them. Only 1% are willing to truly try. And honestly, I think that’s true.

Because starting something new feels embarrassing.

People love the idea of doing something different, but very few people are willing to go through the awkward, humbling beginning stages that come with it. There’s a certain kind of shame that comes with being a beginner. You don’t fully know what you’re doing yet. You know people may judge you. You know you look small compared to people who have been doing it for years. And that feeling alone stops most people before they ever start.

When we first started our microdairy, Jesse was honestly embarrassed to tell other farmers about it. We had 20 acres, 12 cows, and milked once a day. Compared to most dairies around us, it felt tiny. Different. Honestly, it felt like something people would laugh at. So for the first couple of years, we really didn’t talk about it much with local farmers. And maybe that sounds silly now, but if you’ve ever started something from scratch, you probably understand exactly what I mean.

That’s the “moat” the article talks about. The moat is the shame and awkwardness of doing something before anyone else understands it. It’s the uncomfortable space between dreaming about something and actually becoming someone who does it. Most people never cross it because it requires you to feel vulnerable for a while.

We started our farm in 2018 and became official at the end of 2019. Back then, there weren’t many examples online of farms like ours. Social media wasn’t what it is now, and there wasn’t endless content showing people building small dairies from scratch. There was one YouTube video we watched over and over again of a woman milking a few cows on a tiny farm. We absolutely clung to that video because it was the only proof we had that maybe this dream of ours wasn’t completely ridiculous.

I think that’s one reason we try so hard to share what we do now. I remember what it felt like to stand at the edge of something new and feel almost ashamed to begin. I remember wishing someone would simply show what it looked like in real life. Not polished. Not perfect. Just possible.

I don’t think this lifestyle is for everyone, but I do think there’s something powerful about being willing to try. About being willing to start before you feel fully ready. Before you know exactly how to market your product, label your product, create your product, or explain your ideas clearly. You learn by doing. You grow by doing.

And honestly, it still hurts sometimes.

The other day someone left a comment on our Instagram criticizing our limited number of products and saying we needed “new ideas.” And if I’m being honest, it stung. It’s hard not to take criticism personally when you’ve poured yourself into building something from nothing. I think that sting probably never fully goes away.

But I also reminded myself of something important: the people willing to create something will always be vulnerable to the opinions of people who never will. That doesn’t mean criticism doesn’t hurt. It just means I can feel the sting and still be proud of myself for trying anyway.

Most people stay in the dreaming stage forever because they never want to risk looking small, inexperienced, or foolish. But beautiful things grow when you’re willing to begin humbly.

So if you’re standing on the edge of something right now — a business, a farm, a creative project, or a completely different kind of life — and you can’t seem to start because you feel embarrassed or unqualified, this is your nudge.

Start small anyway.

It might feel uncomfortable. People might not understand. You might not fully know what you’re doing yet. But that’s how every meaningful thing begins.

We're cheering you on!

Jesse and Lisa