Approximately half of all new businesses fail within their first five years. Most people are familiar with this statistic, but few understand why. While many factors contribute, a common root cause is simple: they sell products nobody wants.

Four years ago, my partner, Romi Wallach and I launched a business that sold something everyone wanted.

A framework and resources to share stories, insights, and expertise. A platform to amplify voices and build  authority. Visibility among thousands of local business leaders. A community of support for aspiring thought leaders and personal brands.

It’s a solution many are seeking. And yet, year four still almost broke us.

“What got you here, won’t get you there.”

As we closed out 2024, we realized everything that had fueled our growth so far wouldn’t take us to the next level. If we were serious about achieving our vision, it was time for bigger moves, bolder risks, and critical changes.

It felt like launching all over again. The self-doubt. The fear. The exhilaration.

It began with SPARK, our first signature speaker series. The single biggest program we’d ever produced, a curated experience for over 200 attendees and thousands online, featuring eight speakers each giving eight-minute talks. It was also our fourth (and largest) collaboration with the City of Boca Raton and this time, part of the city's Centennial Celebration.

It wasn’t just a new initiative- it was a leap. A public declaration that we were ready to lead louder. There were moments, many moments, I felt paralyzed by the pressure.

Was our first speaker program perfect? No. We learned a ton. Was it successful? Hell yes!

SPARK broke nearly all of our event records. The City recommitted to partnership that same night. New sponsors outreached us immediately. And we executed the whole program on budget.

Then, just as we were celebrating the win, our website crashed from the surge  in traffic following the event. Just the curveball you want right before your next big leap.

What could be bigger than our first speaker series? Opening our first physical location: The Daily Drip Studio.

To become an elite thought leadership platform, we needed a space for our community to create more (and better) content. A place where our creative partners and members could push boundaries.

We never expected to manage the design and construction ourselves. But, Florida contractors- if you know, you know! With limited options, Romi and I rolled up our sleeves. In the nooks and crannies of our days, we sourced vendors, priced materials, designed layouts, built furniture, and coordinated every detail, including a grand opening we’ll never forget.

2025 was full of big risks and flying curveballs, including back-to-back maternity leaves and unexpected medical emergencies for me and our Director of Operations, in the middle of our most high-stakes year. And yet we kept going, putting one foot in front of the other. We followed through on every initiative. We didn’t even miss a single weekly newsletter.

"First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they hate you. Then they copy you."

Creating something out of nothing is so grueling that you can find yourself blindsided by the negativity that often comes with success.

It showed up in many forms. Some rooting for us to fail quietly from the sidelines, some obnoxiously from a stage, some cowardly behind our backs, and some even blatantly imitating.

Some parted ways with us simply due to misalignment. Growth demands change. As they say, be unwavering with the vision, flexible with the how. Even though we expected to lose some members and partners through the evolution, it was still hard to say goodbye to people who had become friends.

There were moments it all got in my head. Were we making the right decisions? Did we have what it takes to make the vision real? Would it even all work out?

But I didn’t dwell. There wasn’t time. Too many people were counting on us. Our platform was growing fast. Members were achieving real results. Partners were relying on us for lead generation.

So, I focused on the ones who stayed (and why they stayed), the ones we served, and the ones who we will serve one day. I became relentlessly focused on building the things they want. I stayed rooted in the vision and let it be my compass. And as new initiatives and partnerships formed, the future felt more exciting than ever.

All Grit, No Quit

This year was hard. Really hard.

We ran on fumes. But also on vision, integrity, professionalism, and conviction. We leaned into teamwork and our incredible community. We let the mission carry us during the hardest times.

The result?

Our biggest year by every metric.

Our best year by a demonstration of values.

This year taught us that grit isn’t just about pushing through, and resilience is more than bouncing back. It’s about recommitting. Over and over again. To your vision, your values, and your belief in yourself. As we launch The Daily Drip Magazine Vol. 4, we’re not just celebrating another year of thought leadership. We’re celebrating the commitment it took to get here.

Here’s to Vol. 4. and the many who support us every step of the way. We’re just getting started!