Surviving the Gap

June 24, 2025

I was recently listening to one of Jack Ma’s speeches on YouTube.  He is the co-founder of Alibaba Group and a straight shooter who cuts through the fluff. One phrase he said made me stop and think:

“Survive the gap.”

The gap. That space between where you are and where you want to be.

Some of us are facing a wide gap that feels like a canyon, others a small creek we can jump over, but we’re all standing on one side of something, looking toward where we hope to go.

And surviving the gap? That’s the hard part.

I often share the story of my mother, because she showed me what it looks like to not just survive the gap but to do it with strength, sacrifice, and relentless determination.

When we first migrated to the U.S., my mom, once a respected teacher back home, took her first job here as a housekeeper and nanny. But she didn’t stop there. She pursued her CNA license and began working as a home aid, caring for others. Eventually, she set her sights on becoming a registered nurse. But going to school full-time wasn’t an option. She had two daughters to raise, rent to pay, and food to put on the table.

So, she did what she had to do.

She took one class at a time and worked the third shift at Walmart stocking shelves so she could attend school during the day. It took her seven years to earn her associate degree in nursing.

That’s what surviving the gap looks like. Being intentional, staying disciplined, and holding the vision even when the path is long and hard.

The Gap Isn’t Glamorous

It’s messy. It’s exhausting. It’s full of doubt.

Right now, I’m in my own gap building my financial coaching business into the vision I hold in my heart. And let me be honest: there are days when it feels impossible. Like I’m pouring and planting and praying. . .  and nothing’s blooming yet.

But here’s what I’ve learned:

You don’t survive the gap by making one big, flashy move.

You survive it with consistent, intentional, daily action.

You survive it, by doing the little things well, the unglamorous, unnoticed, unpaid things that stack up and move you forward inch by inch.

Questions to Ask Yourself in the Gap

• What’s one thing I can do today that aligns with my long-term vision?

• Where am I wasting energy waiting for a miracle, instead of building momentum?

• Who or what is giving me the strength to keep going and am I leaning into that support?

Practical Tips for Surviving Your Gap

1. Define your gap.

   Be honest about where you are and where you want to go. Clarity brings strategy.

2. Break it down.

   Don’t get overwhelmed by the big goal. Focus on the next right step.

3. Create structure.

   Build routines and habits that support your growth even if progress feels slow.

4. Celebrate small wins.

   Every step forward is worth acknowledging. You’re doing more than you think.

5. Stay rooted in purpose.

   When the gap feels endless, remember why you started. That “why” will carry you.

Your Story Isn’t Over

If you’re reading this and you’re in a season of survival know that you’re not alone. We all have our own version of the gap. And just like my mother, just like me, you can move though it.

Don’t despise small beginnings. Don’t wait for the perfect moment to start.

The change you want is built on the discipline you show today.

You’re not stuck – you’re becoming.

You’re not lost - you’re learning.

You’re not failing - you’re in the gap

And you’re going to survive it.

About Petra-Ann Brown

Petra-Ann Brown is the founder of Brown Financial Solutions, LLC, a financial coaching practice that empowers individuals to take control of their financial lives. She is also the host of Island Money 365 podcast, where she shares inspiring immigrant stories and provides invaluable financial resources to the community.