5 Years: Lessons of Starting and Growing a Business

Five years ago, I started this business. According to data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, only about half of new businesses make it this far. So, on one hand, eating cake feels earned. But on the other hand, the journey here has been less of a smooth sail and more of a clumsy climb up a very steep hill, filled with sweat, cussing, and moments of ah-ha.

If you’re starting a business, growing one, or just tackling a big goal, you know the feeling. It’s that quiet (or sometimes loud) question: What the F am I doing?

After five years, I still ask that question. But now, I have a few answers. Here are the five biggest lessons I’ve learned.

Five years ago, I started this business. According to data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, only about half of new businesses make it this far.

1. It's a Season, So Stop Beating Yourself Up

No one tells you that business growth happens in seasons. One moment you’re structuring one service, the next you’re building a different service, and then you pivot again. It’s normal to feel lost in the fog sometimes. The real danger isn’t changing course; it’s being too rigid to adapt when the market, your customers, and everything around you is screaming for something different. Growth is about building on your success and shifting to keep the momentum going.

2. Don't You Dare Get Comfortable

Closing your biggest client yet is a reason to celebrate. But it’s not a reason to sit back and relax. In business, things change in a heartbeat. Budgets get cut, your main contact leaves, or a client gets acquired. The pipeline is your lifeline. Keep filling it. Always be working on that top-of-funnel awareness, because leveling up means you’re just preparing for the next challenge.

The real danger isn't changing course; it's being too rigid to adapt when the market, your customers, and everything around you is screaming for something different.

3. You Don't Need a Million Followers

It’s easy to get caught up in vanity metrics—the numbers that stroke our egos but don’t pay the bills. The truth is, most people on social media are lurkers. They scroll, watch, and consider your value quietly. They might never follow you, but they are still consuming your content. What really matters is providing genuine value. Know their pain points and do what you can to help.

4. Just Be a Good Human

The world has enough money-hungry, icky salespeople who oversell and underdeliver. You don’t have to be one of them. Showing up for your customers and employees with integrity isn’t just good karma; it’s good business. Don’t look at every conversation as a transaction. Focus on how you can contribute, not just what you can gain.

Showing up for your customers and employees with integrity isn’t just good karma; it's good business.

5. You're Supposed to Be Uncomfortable

Growth happens just outside your comfort zone. It means learning new skills, delegating when you want to control everything, and putting yourself out there when you’d rather hide. It’s the uncomfortable stuff, the networking, the sales calls, the public speaking, that pushes you forward. Good things don’t come without the hard things.

These five years have been a masterclass in resilience, strategy, and humility. I’ve packed all the raw stories, detailed frameworks, and unfiltered advice into a new e-book.

Want the full story? Download my free e-book, “What Am I Even Doing? 5 Lessons in Starting and Growing a Business,” to get a deeper dive into the strategies that helped me navigate the chaos and build a business that lasts.

5 Years: Lessons of Starting and Growing a Business