These are a few lessons that changed my approaches toward growth.
✅ Consideration trumps speed: Ensure that you have a proper understanding of the audience, your value, and goals before scaling.
✅ Marketing isn’t slapping your logo on stock photos. It’s the story you tell when you’re not pitching.
✅ Systems Aren’t Sexy, But Neither Are Nervous Breakdowns
For two years, I was the “Swiss Army Knife CEO”—doing everything from accounting to fixing the office printer. Then I got food poisoning and realized my team had no clue how to send an invoice.
Now: We document everything. Even “how to mute Dave’s mic on Zoom.” Boring? Yes. Empowering? Hell yes.
✅ Tools Are Overrated. Your Team? Priceless.
I once spent $8k on a “revolutionary” project management tool. Turns out, it was just a fancy to-do list. My breakthrough? Hiring a sarcastic, spreadsheet-wizard ops manager who said, “Your workflow is a dumpster fire.” She was right. Tools don’t scale—people do.
✅ Data Doesn’t Care About Your Genius Idea
My ego once cost me $12k. I launched a “guaranteed hit” product because I loved it. Turns out, my audience thought it was as useful as a screen door on a submarine. Now I test everything—even my “lightbulb moments.”
The unfiltered truth?
Strategy isn’t about perfection. It’s about showing up, screwing up, and course-correcting without romanticizing exhaustion.
So if you’re knee-deep in spreadsheets today, remember:
Your business isn’t a race. It’s a choose-your-own-adventure book. Sometimes you fight dragons. Sometimes you trip over your own sword.
What’s your “I learned this the hard way” lesson? Drop it below. Let’s normalize messy, imperfect growth. 🫠