The Fear of the Unknown: Why the Right Team Changes Everything

September always carries a sense of new.

New routines. New beginnings. New emotions swirling between excitement and nerves. 

Watching my kids head back to school reminds me of when I was starting grade 9—the year a teachers’ strike delayed the start for months. I remember wishing it would just begin already. I didn’t know what to expect stepping into high school for the first time, and my body was constantly on high alert, primed for the unknown. 

That feeling—the fear of what we can’t yet see—is something I’ve carried through different seasons of my life.  

the calm before the storm - a mudroom before the joyful mess of backpacks, coats, and a myriad of shoes

Fear of the Unknown in Business 

When I was burning the candle at both ends in my design business, I resisted hiring help. I wore my strife and my struggle as a badge of honour, telling myself exhaustion meant I was “earning” my success. 

Until one night, after saying goodnight to my family and heading back to work in the kitchen, the room spun and I couldn’t see straight. 

It was my wake-up call: Cyn, you can’t do this alone. 

The Power of Alignment 

But leaning on others isn’t the same as aligning with them. 

Over the years, I’ve discovered that the people who help me grow aren’t just capable—they share my values: 

• responsiveness 

• care 

• efficiency 

• pride in their work 

For years, my dad was one of those people. After he passed, I realized how much I’d relied on his confidence instead of building my own. And that shook me. 

It’s been four years now since his passing, and what I’ve learned is this: I started this business on my own, and the confidence was always there—I just needed to trust it. Instead of feeling like something was lost, I carry his teachings with me and build on them. That shift changed how I approach both life and business.

When I look at potential trade partners today, everyone can say they’ll “do a great job”—and I believe most of them can. But what sets the right team apart isn’t just skill. It’s their willingness to go the extra mile, to stand behind their work, and to care about the people they’re serving and the partnership we are building.

That’s what true alignment looks like. And it’s what gives my clients (and me) the confidence to move forward, even when the unknown feels daunting.

It’s the same for homeowners I speak with in discovery calls. Renovations are full of unknowns. 

There are dozens of decisions you don’t even know you’ll have to make—and it can feel paralyzing. That’s why the most important decision you’ll ever make on your renovation isn’t about paint colours or flooring. 

It’s about your team. 

Why the Right Team Changes Everything 

With the right people by your side, the unknown becomes manageable—even exciting. 

My role as a designer is to: 

• be the light at the end of the tunnel 

• hold space for possibilities 

• see the forest through the trees when everything feels foggy 

If you’re standing at the edge of a renovation or new build and the fear of the unknown is holding you back, remember this:

the right team transforms uncertainty into confidence. 

Once you choose partners you trust, every other decision falls into place. 

And your role as a client? To ask questions, stay curious, and get clarity around whatever you’re unsure of.  

Takeaway.. 

Fear of the unknown is universal. But in renovations, it doesn’t have to be paralyzing. With a knowledgeable, trustworthy team, what once felt overwhelming can become an exciting new chapter. 

Choose wisely, align with the right people, and step forward with confidence. 

Thinking about a renovation? Book a discovery call with Soda Pop Design Inc. and take the first step with clarity and confidence. 

XO,

Cynthia