Meet Patrick Murphy: Entrepreneur & CEO

We had the good fortune of connecting with Patrick Murphy and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Patrick, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk and fear always go hand in hand. It’s really important for me to sit with the fear and evaluate how it feels in my body and in my gut. It generally falls into one of two categories: risk that concerns survival and risk that concerns vulnerability. More often that not I’m dealing with the latter, and what’s bubbling up is fear of rejection, fear of judgment, or fear of the unknown. Any time I find myself uneasy or stagnant, it’s usually due to a lack of risk taking or challenging myself. The risks I’ve taken in my life and career have led to my greatest successes and biggest periods of growth. Moving from NYC to Colorado with no job and barely knowing anyone here is one example. Leaving my career in advertising sales to start Inlet is another good one. Each time I’ve been met with exactly what I needed once I “jumped off the cliff,” but the universe wasn’t going to show me head of time. I had to take action first. 

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I founded Inlet in early 2020. It’s a digital platform that empowers conscious communities and their members to mindfully communicate, share knowledge and resources, and find true belonging within their community, all while promoting wellness, mental health, and personal growth. It’s a place to connect and thrive in a supportive environment without the privacy issues and noise that plague so much of the digital world. It sprung out of my own mental health and wellness journey, mostly from a very strong desire to bring to others the same help and healing that I received. I have always had an entrepreneurial mindset, and I knew from a young age that I’d start a company someday. As a teenager I subscribed to Inc. and Entrepreneur magazines (yes, I was really cool and clearly did not go on a ton of dates). I’ve had some good business ideas in the past but was always afraid to take the leap. In late 2019 it became very clear to me that it was time. Being a startup founder has simultaneously been the most challenging and most rewarding journey I have ever undertaken. Every day is something entirely new, unknown, and never-been-done-before. It takes a ton of energy and focus, but I have learned that my soul thrives in that environment and I wouldn’t have it any other way. My biggest lessons have been around self care, listening to my gut, and calling in the support of others. The only reason that I have made it this far has been through the help of others. I have an incredible support system of friends, mentors, wellness professionals, and other founders. Building a company is just as much a mental health challenge as it is an business challenge. They’re really one in the same, and if you don’t have a solid support system then your chances of success are really diminished. Plus it’s way more fun building something with others than doing it alone! Starting a company in 2020 has exacerbated any normal challenges that come with being a founder. I decided early on that in 20 years when someone asks me about 2020 I want my story to be, “in a year that most people want to forget, I want to remember it as the year Inlet came to life.” That’s what I’m most proud of right now. I have had a million reasons to quit, and I didn’t. We’re all going to come out of this year more resilient, and I’m no exception.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Ohhh you got me here! I love playing tour guide! Obviously you’ve got to balance city time with mountain time, which is the great thing about living in Colorado. First stop has to be a brewery, duh! I’d start in RiNo at Ratio then walk to Our Mutual Friend. Or if they’re more of a cocktail person we’d hit up Death & Co. Then dinner at Super Megabien and then a nightcap at Seven Grand. Day 2: Breakfast at Snooze, see an exhibit at the Denver Art Museum, lunch at Denver Central Market, and bike rides along the bike paths in the afternoon. Dinner would be at El Five on the patio overlooking the city and then catch at show at Comedy Works. Day 3: I’ve got to give a shoutout to Beet Box, even though they sadly just had to close their doors. But I’d go there for breakfast, explore Tennyson St. before having lunch at Vital Root, and then we’d go tailgate at Red Rocks for whatever awesome show we’d be seeing that night. Day 4: Wellness day! We’d do a reiki session with the amazing Megan Slattery at Tender Heart Healing, lunch at Nurture while grabbing some locally made Color Up CBD products while we’re there. Then we’d finish at Sushi Den in the evening before catching a breathwork session with Claudia Nanino. Day 5: Into the mountains! My newest favorite getaway is Beyul Retreat outside of Basalt. We’d go there for the remainder of the time with day trips to Carbondale, Marble, and the other surrounding areas. On the way back we’d go to Hanging Lake and finish with a stop in Idaho Springs to grab BBQ at Smokin’ Yards.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to dedicate my Shoutout to my therapist, Christy Schneider. I wouldn’t be where I am today without her guidance and support. She has helped me work through anxiety, relationship and family issues, and the stress and challeng of founding a company. I am forever grateful for her.

Instagram: @myinlet
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/murphp