The rubber has met the road and it's wearing thin fast. If you're here, you didn't stop Ideating and settle back into "normal" life. Between you and me, though, at least a few of your friends and family are wishing you'd return to your old senses.

Which either you'll do, or you'll figure out how to use your new ones.

The Valley of Death is the crucible forge of the Bootstrap venture, where the dross of grand design is smelted and the alloy that remains is stronger and brighter than its constituent elements. You chose this path. You set out to build a thing—a company, a love, a widget—that didn't exist before. And you insisted on doing it on your own terms, with no strings attached.

Did you think it would be easy? With no strings, you have to discover how to tie this thing together on your own.

The purpose of the Valley is to find out whether you love what you think you love, what's essential, and what's essentially b.s. And in the end you'll discover that your "missing pieces" are actually the windows that offer a truer perspective on the puzzle.

Just as the Ideation sticker is its own question, the Valley of Death bumper sticker is its own answer. (Next)