I remember this day like yesterday.
We all hear about the overnight success stories of start-ups and famous exits. Few like to talk about the sacrifices behind the scenes. Yet, that’s where all the growth comes from!
Looking back at this picture, I was just beginning to understand what it means to build a direct-to-consumer business. While Princess was asleep in my arms, I had a million plates ready to crash at any time. I often wondered if the sacrifices were worth it and if we would make it…and we did!
So many lessons were learned from stumble-down moments and having the courage to face mistakes and get back up. Building a business will challenge your mind, body, and spirit beyond belief.
The one thing I know to be true about growth?
It’s not linear! It’s messy. It requires a growth mindset and building the grit muscle—every day is a training day!
If you want to grow, you’ve got to be willing to fall. The faster you fail, the quicker you learn.
I will forever be grateful for the lessons learned (painful as they may be), mentors who cared enough to hold space for me as I figured things out, colleagues who inspired me to do things I never thought possible, and my daughter who continues to teach me each day.
Today, I bottle up all of the experience over the past many years and help others start their journey of building brands, businesses, teams, and cultures. I love to help others shrink the learning curve on building DTC businesses and share the many lessons I’ve learned to make the journey a bit less bumpy!
Starting something new is the easy part. The late nights, rapid pace, hectic days, and sleepless nights are all part of the experience. And when you start to see the growth engine moving and customers responding… there….nothing like it!
If you’re just starting your DTC business or questioning whether you should move down this journey, I’m cheering you on because it’s a journey well worth the growth experience!
