The Inmost Cave
Tips for Facing Monsters
Momentum puts you in the fast line, but it’s more than just speed:
It’s a victory.
If your new project is up and running, if you’ve put in the work to the point of cruising as it all pays off, then momentum’s perfect: a swell problem to have.
It might even mean you’re walking on water—or hell, doing a riverdance—right where you once thought you’d sink and drown.
But you’re not the only thing moving fast. Momentum means the next big wave, the one out on the horizon and inching closer, is moving faster than you think.
Maybe you’re ready. Maybe you’ve got a backup plan, or even better, solid Allies who have your back. And maybe you’ve built muscles from taking that first, gnarly step.
But when the tsunami crashes… what are you going to do?
It’s naive to think that it won’t ever happen, or that some of those smooth-talking friends won’t drop you when the pressure’s on.
Somewhere along the journey, everyone approaches an inmost cave—a dark one with heavy breathing noises and a really foul smell.
Don’t kid yourself…the monsters are real. They’re in there all right, and they’re eager to meet you.
But with the right guide in your corner—someone who understands you, sees the stakes, and sees the value in every part of the struggle— you’ll understand what most people miss:
Monsters are the golden ticket.
They’re exactly what you need to grow.
A Timeless Test
Entering the cave and facing them means developing brutal honesty; it means testing yourself in new, unforeseen ways.
As much as we’d think we’re good to go, it takes monsters to apply the pressure, to help us shed old beliefs and assumptions like used snake skins. From Luke Skywalker and Walter White to Dorothy and Toto, the inmost cave is where rebirth happens.
And as Luke and Yoda show us in The Empire Strikes Back, that cave is dark and murky—a cesspool buried in the swamps of Dagobah.
When a spooked-out Luke peers into it, and asks his guide ‘what’s in there?’ Yoda’s response is timeless:
‘Only what you take with you…’
While Luke doesn’t quite understand it, the Jedi Master cuts right to the chase. The cave with monsters is where you find out what’s lurking in yourself—and where you face it.
It’s a crucible that melts you down, battering and shaping you.
It’s where you forge the strength for more battles, becoming the fighter who will live to fight even more battles.
Enter Dare Capital
So what does this have to do with Dare Capital?
What makes us that trusted guide, the one right beside you in the cave that’s dark as hell?
One word: empathy.
It’s who we are —a driver of everything we do.
And it’s not for everyone. Because when we say empathy, we’re not talking cheap flattery, some pat on the back that you’re better off without.
Our empathy is barrel-aged, and branded fighters only.
Need an example?
Enter Debra (a co-founder and Dare’s chief of credit) ), and a long time client, one who went all in on a new venture. When the bank said no, Debra loaned the client thirty thousand out of her own checking account. Zing, and see more details below!
If you’re in the cave or getting close, you’ll need empathy. You’ll need someone who sees the process for what it is—an anvil for real change, real growth.
We’ve got exactly what you need—empathy with a backbone. If you’re all in, then we’re right there, listening without making rash assumptions, staying with you for as long as it takes.
And like the good samaritan, we’ve also got money.
Most Banks Won’t Even Touch This
They trip up. They go wobbly right when you’re approaching the cave. And that means no zing…
Why?
Because something beyond your control triggered one of their fears:
– You lost business, causing a decline in revenue.
– A customer didn’t pay you, making you face a loss.
OR it’s the opposite:
-You’re growing too rapidly. Your chaos is too hot for them to handle.
Whatever the reason, being at the foot of the cave means you’re “out of the bank box” , as far as they’re concerned.
But this is right where we differentiate ourselves. Where others wobble, we listen, paying attention from a larger perspective, (not one of ‘what can we get’, but one of what can we ‘Dare to give’)
How?
It’s in our programming.
We built our entire business on this concept. And that means we measure it.
Our strategy for portfolio management includes proactive listening; it’s designed to give our clients actionable insights that improve their lives and help them meet their objectives.
Need more proof?
Here’s an example of how our listening and empathy led to life-saving action:
“Dare also provided extended availability to a temporary company when their largest customer defaulted, owing them three months of billing. We worked with them for seven months to ensure that they could continue to service all of their other customers while pursuing legal remedies against their former customer for payment that was due to them”
And here’s another—an example from our C.C.O. Debra:
“Our client lost a dear loved one who she had been caring for over the course of many years. This loved one left her a very nice home in her will, but she had taken out a reverse mortgage prior to her death to help with the medical expenses. Because our client is self-employed and her business revenues had declined over the prior six months due to her attention being on the care of this loved one, she was unable to qualify for a mortgage quickly enough. She was going to lose this highly valuable property for the want of $30k. I loaned her the $30k myself to ensure this did not happen. She paid me back as soon as she was able to sell her house and she was able to retain the property that was much more valuable.”
Stories like these fire us up.
Unlike other banks, they show that we can tell the signal apart from all the noise. We give to our clients, with the ultimate goal of meeting their objectives.
We’re right where the action is, cheering as our clients emerge from that inmost cave, sharpened, reborn, and ready for the next challenge.
If you’re fired up to face some monsters, then give us a call.
We’re always ready—time to gear up and roll with the changes.