Setbacks, Lessons, and Moving Forward

Setbacks, Lessons, and Moving Forward

In business — just like in life — things don’t always go the way you want them to. Today, I want to share some of the setbacks we’ve been facing as a brand, not to complain, but to remind you that you’re not alone and that nothing is ever as perfect as it looks on the outside.

A little over two months ago, we ordered custom shopping bags for our pop-up — the one that happened a month ago. Production took longer than expected, so we paid extra for express shipping to make sure they’d arrive in time. Not only were the bags and shipping expensive, but here we are, two months later… and we still don’t have them. They’re stuck at customs. After going back and forth with the manufacturer, they’ve agreed to redo the order and send it again for free instead of issuing a refund. I appreciate that, but honestly, it’s still frustrating.

As many of you know, we’ve also started working on our first cycling gear. We just paid to get our first samples made with a manufacturer that has over 15 years of experience, creating a fully custom cut-and-sew design. It’s exciting — but it’s also expensive. And, of course, this all lined up with the moment our business credit card started racking up interest. So now, we really need to start generating more consistent sales to keep building, pay off bills, and keep cash flowing for future projects.

Business is a gamble. You take a chance and bet on your vision, knowing there’s always risk involved. To succeed, you have to take those risks, deal with uncertainty, and learn how to get back up when things don’t go your way. If running a business were easy, everyone would work for themselves and be a millionaire by now.

Social media makes it easy to see the highlight reels — the big wins, the viral moments, the success stories. What you don’t often see are the delays, the setbacks, the stress, and the days you question if you’re doing it right. But that’s the reality of building something from the ground up.

At the end of the day, success takes time, hard work, and a little bit of luck. You can’t let adversity knock you down. Wisdom, knowledge, and understanding only come through challenges. So don’t quit. Learn from your mistakes, adapt, and keep moving forward.

Trust your vision. Trust God. And most importantly — keep growing.