05/28/2026
Warning: This is my emotional story time of what life is life behind the scenes of owning a business. ❤
"There’s a version of entrepreneurship that looks really pretty from the outside. It’s the highlight reels, the big wins, the “we sold out again” moments, and the excitement of building something that’s yours. And while those moments are real, and I’m incredibly grateful for them, they’re only a small part of the story.
The truth is, owning a small business is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. It's been incredibly beautiful but also very hard.
This business didn’t start from a perfectly mapped out plan or a lifelong dream of becoming an entrepreneur. It started from something much more personal. It started from a moment that changed everything—when my Uncle Andy had a stroke. Watching someone you love lose their speech and independence overnight shifts your entire perspective on life. It slows you down. It makes you pay attention to what really matters.
In the middle of that, something unexpected happened. I shared Uncle Andy's story on TikTok to try and raise money for his care he deeply needed at the time at the beginning of his stroke rehab. I was trying to sell pet bandanas to help pay for the therapy and continuous care he had to have...and his story resonated with thousands of people on the internet. It went viral and touched the hearts and homes of many people across the world. What started as a fundraiser then branched into a small business, to keep Uncle Andy motivated throughout the day when life looked incredibly different.
I didn’t just start a business. I stepped into something that felt bigger than me. A deep desire to help someone I loved. And that’s where both the beauty and the weight of entrepreneurship really come in.
Because when your business is tied to your story—when it’s rooted in something deeply personal—it’s not just about sales or numbers. It’s about impact. It’s about honoring something that matters. And that can be incredibly fulfilling, but also incredibly heavy.
There are days where everything clicks. Orders are coming in, ads are working, customers are connecting with the message, and you feel like you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be. Those are the days people see.
But there are also days where nothing goes right. Ads stop converting. Costs go up. Things break. You question your decisions. You feel the pressure of every responsibility sitting on your shoulders. There are moments where it feels like you’re holding everything together with sheer determination and hoping it doesn’t fall apart.
Entrepreneurship will stretch you in ways you don’t expect. It forces you to grow—not just as a business owner, but as a person. It teaches you resilience, patience, and how to keep going even when things feel uncertain.
And maybe the hardest part is that you don’t always get a clear answer on whether you’re doing the “right” thing. You make decisions with the information you have, you take risks, and you learn as you go.
But here’s what I’ve come to realize: the hard days don’t mean you’re failing. They mean you’re building something real. For me, this business has never just been about selling products. It’s about creating something meaningful out of something that was once incredibly hard. It’s about sharing a message that reminds people to keep going, to be kind, and to understand that everyone is carrying something.
That “why” is what keeps me grounded on the hard days. Because when you’re building something from the ground up, especially something rooted in purpose, you have to hold onto the reason you started. It becomes your anchor when everything else feels uncertain.
To anyone else in the middle of building something—especially on the days that feel heavy—you’re not alone. The highs are incredible, but the lows are part of the journey too. And both matter!
Because in the end, entrepreneurship isn’t just about what you build. It’s about who you become while building it."
Read the blog here:
There’s a version of entrepreneurship that looks really pretty from the outside. It’s the highlight reels, the big wins, the “we sold out again” moments, and the excitement of building something that’s yours. And while those moments are real, and I’m incredibly grateful for them, they’...
