Growth isn't Always Linear

Hustle culture/western society has us obsessed with upward trajectories. Something is broken if we’re not continually on the up and up, especially when it comes to our businesses.

“Accelerated growth”/”fast tracked”/”full of potential”/“expanding”

What about the seasons where you’re back pedaling? Or when you’re not profitable? Or when you’re unlearning rather than forging new paths? Is there still growth when you’re not necessarily moving forward? Hustle culture leaves out what, in my experience, feels like the majority of entrepreneurship (minus the random bursts of growth and slow, slow movement).

In nearly 4 years of coffee shop ownership and a decade of building little brands and “side hustles”, I wasn’t well enough prepared for the amounts of downs that would accompany the ups. To the outsider, Simple Coffee has been a roaring success…3 locations in 3 years?! Expanding from a hole in the wall shop with barely enough space for 5 people to stand in to two locations with a drive-thru and full customer seating. More big plans for 2023…(shhhhh).

But behind the scenes, things haven’t always felt like growth. There have been months I wasn’t sure we’d pay our rent (let alone our employees). I have yet to cut myself a real paycheck. The days are chaotic and systemizing things are not my strong suit. Working with a 3 year old every day certainly doesn’t feel I’m embodying the “badass entrepreneur” vibe I want to.

Do the many set backs still count as forward motion?

I’m convinced that they do.

If your journey has looked similar — not full of “aha’s” and rapid fire growth, but lots of slow, steady reframings and adjustments — you’re not alone. In fact, I’m pretty sure you’re on the right path.

I’m in it with you, friends <3